EL84's for my AC30

[IPlayHamers]

I have a AC30 CCH that I'm about to retube. I'm concidering EI and JJ for the EL84's. What would you guys suggest in a current production tube??

Thanks

[Sean French]

I've got a couple of El-84 amps.
For current production my favs are in no paticular order TAD,JJ's and the new Russian Mullard.
They are inexpensive so,you may want to get a few different brands to see what you prefer in the Vox.

[zzmoore]

FWIW my suggestion would be to replace them all as long as you are in there. Was in the same situation a few months ago with our AC30CCH. We went with JJ power, TungSol pre, and a NOS rectifier that made the biggest improvement and was only about $40.00 as I recall.

[blackba]

I went with EI EL-84's from Dougs tubes. I really like them, they are a brighter tube than the JJ. I would like to try some TAD EL84's....

What I find interesting about the rectifier is that its a tube that is debated whether it makes a difference. I changed my rectifier in my AC30CC1 to a JJ GZ34, but I did the change with other tubes, so I am not sure it if made a difference or not. I don't remember seeing NOS GZ34's for just $40 though....

[Sniper-V]

As suggested by the majority of this board for new production.

I'm going for JJ's for EL84s in my AC30HW and possibly my other EL84 loaded amps.

[guitarman_nebr]

i just retubed my AC30CC2 with JJ's in both the preamp and the power tubes. the rectifier is a JJ GZ34/5AR4.

all i can say is NICE!! this settled the high end fizz and really added punch to the amp.

i use JJ's because i need a tube i can trust, and these have never let me down.

contact Bob at eurotubes.com.......... :-)

[jlummaa]

Which TAD EL84 are you talking about? There are at least 4 different kinds of:

EL84-STR
EL84M
EL84-Cz
EL84-R

(TAD is not manufacturing these, they are just tested and relabeled by TAD as with all the tubes they are selling)

[Teleplayer]

Don't believe Ei is making tubes any longer - at least not their ECC83 (darn shame; great tube!!!).

IMHO, JJ ECC83/12AX7 really makes an AC30 circuit sound dark. It's like putting a blanket over the amp.

[Blue Strat]

Originally Posted by Teleplayer

Don't believe Ei is making tubes any longer - at least not their ECC83 (darn shame; great tube!!!).

Nice sounding tube if you're lucky enough not to get a microphonic one (less than a 50/50 proposition).

New production EL84s available today: TADs and JJs.

[Teleplayer]

Originally Posted by Blue Strat

Nice sounding tube if you're lucky enough not to get a microphonic one (less than a 50/50 proposition).

New production EL84s available today: TADs and JJs.

Luckily, I have 8 strong, well-tested and non-microphinc ones (all silver plates) in my stash. Actually four are sitting in two different amps right now, and four are sitting on the shelf.

Would love to find a few gray plates that are non-microphonic.

[blackba]

Originally Posted by jlummaa

Which TAD EL84 are you talking about? There are at least 4 different kinds of:

EL84-STR
EL84M
EL84-Cz
EL84-R

(TAD is not manufacturing these, they are just tested and relabeled by TAD as with all the tubes they are selling)

I was reffering to these from Doug's tubes: The EL84 STR, I would like to try them.

http://www.dougstubes.com/el84.html

What are the differences between the 4? I didn't know they didn't make them and were like ruby tubes, is that the same way with their 12AX7's?

[jlummaa]

Originally Posted by blackba

I was reffering to these from Doug's tubes: The EL84 STR, I would like to try them.

http://www.dougstubes.com/el84.html

What are the differences between the 4? I didn't know they didn't make them and were like a rube tubes, is that the same way with their 12AX7's?

I believe the Cz is made by JJ and M and R versions are made by New Sensor. I don't know where the STRs are made.

Yes, i believe all TAD tubes are made by others but as GrooveTubes, TAD has their own custom specifications for certain types and i think this STR is such of tube.

[HipKitty]

We've had a lot satisfied customers using the TAD's (EL84 STR's). Highly recommended. Many of these customers were using JJ's but have since flipped to the TAD's.