Anybody left EL34 land for EL84 land and made a quick U-Turn???

velcro-fly,

I know what you mean! I too love an EL84 amp for onthe edge stuff, but the ones I've had or have (Bad Cat Cub, ERT33, to a lesser extent Framus Ruby Riot, Orange AD30TC) have been difficult to pair with overdrives and did have that buzz when pushed.

My go to amp is also EL34 - an Orange. Sounds great cranked and takes pedlas so well. I'm thinking my Germino with KT66 will also fall into the "just right" category in the long run too.

I'm giving 84s one last try - my 65amps London is done and should ship tomorrow... we'll see!

Chris

 

It's not an either/or proposition. I've got one of each, works for me.

 

Best answer!! Same as my opinion.. BUT , I did go to el84's a few times to quiet down Marshally el34 -type amps, i.e. similar tones but quieter and the el84's share some of the characteristics but I tend to miss the bigger tube characteristics with those tones.. The only one I have that still sounds very Marshally is a very old ENGL stereo 35 watt 8 el84 3 channel jobbie, who's lead channel can still sound very boogie-meets -marshally with the el84's.. I love VOX ac30 tones tho so will once again someday need to get 1 of those

ERIC

 

I'd have to say it varies a whole lot depending on which EL84 amp we are talking about. I have a 212 Matchless Lightning 15 which could be the poster child for bratty. But then the 30 Watt Bogner Metropolis Reverb is an amazing roots amp. And if it's "bratty" it's like a nine foot tall brat. Then we have a pair of Lexicon 284s (I bet those are real popular around here) but you end up with a real creamy thing there which has no nasality or edge that would suggest brattiness.

But if you really wanted to get an interesting EL84 sound I would suggest something like a Stephenson LJ where you can get the dissimilar pair 6V6/EL84 power section. I have a mode like that in my Stephenson head and it's really interesting. Aspects of chime and also creamy furious tweed sound. Plus in the ultralinear mode that is yet another color.

 

Komet for EL 34.

1963 AC 30 & London 65 for EL 84.

1966 JTM 45 for KT 66.

1966 Super Reverb for 6L6s.

1959 Deluxe for 6V6s.

 

I know I only play a JCM 2000, but it still sounds way better than the PV classic 30 I tried to replace it with. I have tried the various Marhsall 18 watt clones and do while I do like them, I find they generally lack the thump of a full quad of EL34's.

 

ALso Steve Velcro FLy (from the Zztopp tune? ) , since you got that little El84 Vht, you might want to pair that with an el34 amp and a/b them.. I very rarely a/b amps at my gigs ONLY because I have a truckful of pa gear to unpack and setup and RUN , but if I didn't I 'd bring at least 2 amps ALL the time! I love different tones! ERIC

 

I prefer the clarity and articulation of el84's, and in the right amp they can sound pretty big, but I also like an el34 or even a kt66 flavored marshall as well, not as clear/chimey, but with a nice mid focus, and more "whomp" for lack of a better term, although 4xel84 has some pretty good kick to it too. I agree with the "gotta have both" crowd, both do have their strong and not so strong points.

 

Oh will you stop that. I'm trying not to just go out and buy one of those VHTs.

So tell me, your Metropolis, was it the reverb version? What do you like about the Super 30 better?

 

Those have ultralinear modes?

 

No, the mixing up tubes thing is different.

Ultralinear means that there is a tap of the output transformer that provides a signal dependent feedback to the screens.

It ends up keeping the response of the output tube more linear - (less distorted) which is why it is called "ultralinear" but what also is true is that the distortion of this mode is different than the distortion of the conventional mode.

 

I haven't played the 15 Watt Metropolis, but I would guess the 30 Watt has more headroom. It has a couple of those schizo voicings which are on the clean-ish side.

I'm still keeping my eye out for a Pitbull 45 or Super 30 to try.

 

I always figured I was an EL84 guy, I love my Subway Rocket, Fargen Sabre (which does the mixed 6v6/el84 thing), Zinky Blue Velvet, and Metro...but sometimes, especially the metro, almost has too tight a sound, too much grind, if that makes sense. Lately I've been really enjoying the tones from my Aiken Intruder and Mini-Plex. Maybe I'm just getting older and a bit less of a "gain-head."

Steve