Yellow Jackets with EL34s in a JCM 800???

[bosstone]

I have a pair of Yellow Jackets with JJ EL84s that have been lying around, unused for a couple of years. I also recently got a Canadian Marshall 2204 that came from the factory with EL34s. Has anyone tried this setup in their JCM 800 EL34 50 watters? Do I have to rebias? What sound changes should I expect?

[nitehawk55]

I wouldn't trust putting those yellow jackets in any good piece of gear , I've heard they like to blow internals .

[bosstone]

I would be worried if I thought I was going to dime it but I know that won't happen. I have rarely come across any amp that actually sounded best dimed. They usually turn to incoherent mush by that point.

[HeeHaw]

Originally Posted by nitehawk55

I wouldn't trust putting those yellow jackets in any good piece of gear , I've heard they like to blow internals .

Internet hype.

[scott1568]

I've been running them in my Bassman since December with no problems at all. I'm using the ones from Groove Tubes.

You should always have a good tech make sure a vintage piece of gear has no "issues" to begin with, then start playing around.

[Deville2Rocket]

Originally Posted by HeeHaw

Internet hype.

+1
I use 'em in my Ampeg Reverberocket, volume up at about 6.5 or 7 and they sound great.

[Ed DeGenaro]

Originally Posted by nitehawk55

I wouldn't trust putting those yellow jackets in any good piece of gear , I've heard they like to blow internals .

they do?

[Ed DeGenaro]

it's plug and play...just swap the pair and you're good to go.
The result is 3 dB volume drop/bit earlier break-up. You'll loose a bit of bottom, gain some mids, and have more chime on top. Kinda lik an 800 meets an AC30.

[bosstone]

That sound very good to me.

Thanks all.

[mcgriff420]

+? for the yellow jackets. I've had a pair for 4 years and used them in nearly every amp that came across my radar. There were a couple amps that didn't really 'like' the YJ's -the hotcat30 comes to mind, in that instance it sounded splattery at medium volume.

However.. I did try them in a canadian 2204 I had for a while, but prefered slight attenuation with a PB100 to the sound of the el84's.

Personally I haven't had any issues with mine after using them in literally 20+ amps hi-gain and otherwise. I even tried them in a Bogner Ecstasy..but thats a different story.

[nitehawk55]

Originally Posted by Ed DeGenaro

they do?

I've read a couple reports where guys plugged them in and ...POW !! . Maybe they did something wrong but it made me wonder about them in some amps . Sorry to spread mis-information , guess you can't believe everything you read .

[rob2001]

I guess really the only way to know is to try them! I wouldn't use them as a means to reduce volume. I found they were more for tonal considerations. I tried a set in my 77' JMP non master and I didn't care for them. However, they performed fine, didn't blow up my amp and it definitely changed the amps tone and vibe. Some will like that change, others won't.

[bosstone]

Originally Posted by rob2001

I guess really the only way to know is to try them! I wouldn't use them as a means to reduce volume. I found they were more for tonal considerations. I tried a set in my 77' JMP non master and I didn't care for them. However, they performed fine, didn't blow up my amp and it definitely changed the amps tone and vibe. Some will like that change, others won't.

I am trying to get more grind out of the power section at the same volume and not have to depend on just the preamp for all the distortion.

[rburkard]

A guitar buddy of mine was using these for years without problems in a Plexi RI and in one of his original JCM 800's.
Rene

[tonemnstr]

I've been playing with them in two Marshall heads...one is El34 one is 6550. As someone said they are plug and play and allow you drive the amp at a little lower volume. They make a few versions, it's possible that somebody tried a cathode bias version in an amp not cathode biased and toasted something..