Recommend the best overall current production EL84

[johnspeck]

I've seen some of the older threads, but I'd like to get some current info from folks with real-world experience... I usually get my tubes from Mike at KCA, so maybe he'll chime in, but I posted here to get some other viewpoints as well.

Looking for the best overall current-production EL-84. I'm playing a cathode biased AC30 variant, run at full volume. No harsh treble/white noise when overdriven HARD, tight bottom end, good reliability...Possible?

If not, what are the best bang-for-buck NOS choices that'll get me the performance I'm looking for? I can't afford $400+ for 1 quad currently, and ideally I need at least two sets for the next few months of touring.


Thanks in advance!

 

[anxiousmofo]

JJ's

 

[VinceM]

You might want to post this on the amp forum (if you didn't already) - Mike usually hangs out there. It seems like that's where most of the tube-talk is at TGP.

 

[onetubetone]

Yeah I second JJ's. They're perfectly passable.

 

[Dave]

In past threads on this subject everyone seems to like the JJs best, followed by the TADs. I tend to agree.

 

[nashvillesteve]

I vote for JJ/Tesla EL84s...

 

[DavidH]

JJs honestly sound fine in the amps i've tried them in.I stopped bothering with NOS for EL84s.Likewise with 6v6s.

 

[Teahead]

JJ EL84s sound fine and dandy, but they went downhill quickly in my cranked AC30. I was soon dealing with rattles and a general loss of performance after maybe two dozen hours of use.

Slighly Used NOS Sylvania Black & Grey Plates are $110 for a matched quad from www.tejastubes.com and they sound as good as anything I've ever used in my AC30 and I have splashed out on $400 quads before. Just bought a pair for my 18w plexi but my first quad is still going strong in my Vox and they've seen several months of hard cranking. Great value tubes.

 

[onetubetone]

Yeah, I got a quad of GE's from some of their last production runs in the early 80s. Those definitely beat out the JJs in volume and have a more articulate tone when cranked. However, the JJs do have a nice fat sound which rounds out EL84 amps.

 

[godotzilla]

Their quality control is for total crap, but I found the Ei's to have the best chime and classic Vox vibe. Lord Valve used to sift through his batches and hand-pick the best for sale, but I recall him complaining about the increasing failure rate of this brand.

I was fortunate enough to happen upon a good stash of NOS Tesla EL84s, so I haven't even considered new production tubes for the last 3 years (and it's been pretty blissful, I might add)

 

[Stratman76]

I'm going TAD EL84 STD next time...

 

[todaystomorrow]

I've tried current production JJ's, EI, Electro Harmonix, Groove Tubes...out of the brands I've tried I keep coming back to JJ's for reliability as well as the sound. I also really liked the EI's for bright and chimey, but as someone else stated I've had some problems with them.