EL84 recommendations for Yellowjackets in Road King II

[sleepingtiger]

I'm going to experiment with replacing the EL34's with EL84's in my RK II. The Yellowjackets I got used came with no-name, beat looking tubes so I'm looking for any suggestions from you guys. I'd be willing to go NOS, but I don't want anything TOO pricey, as they WILL wear quickly, I know.
Thanks,
Tony

 

[andershoeg]

don't know about the yellow-jackets. but I changed the stock el84 in my f30 to JJ's. Like them alot. Better than the stock ones. "sounds "fuller". Hard to describe I think. But they are not pricey. So they may be worth giving a shot.
b.r. andershoeg

 

[Rocky]

I went from JJ EL84's BACK to the s tock Mesa ones in my Nomad 45 and am much happier with the amp now.

I find JJ EL84's to be rather honky and dull.

EH makes nice EL84s....as are TAD EL84s


Of course grabbing a set of NOS tubes isnt usually a bad idea but you have to be willing to pay.

 

[ja22y]

For NOS, for the money the Tesla el84 (not JJ) can't be beat. Usually $25 -$30 each. They actually are cheaper in the long run than new prod tubes, since they last much longer. These sound aggressive but without that hashness, mid-range 'honk' as with Chinees and Russian tubes.

 

[sleepingtiger]

****! I FINALLY tried the Yellowjackets in my RKII!!! They are exactly what I was hoping for! Glassy, full of cut & Kerrang! They even seem to have more bottom than the 34's. Unfortunately I have to wait a couple of weeks or so, when my music room is finished, to hook up my open backed 4x10 up in addition to the 4x12 Recto cab & try out even more tonal possibilites.
Now I'm a SUPER happy camper! Sorry for going on, but I'm juiced!

Tony
PS- Still open to tube suggestions, of course!

 

[andershoeg]

what kind of el84's did you try it with?

 

[sleepingtiger]

They had NO markings on them AT ALL! The seller said they were original, so I believe they are JJ's, but that is only an assumption...

Tony

 

[kingster911]

can you use 84's interchangably with 34's in the RKII? I've heard 84's got a lot of bite and from the amps that I've played that I think have had them (JVM) I like em.

 

[JW123]

I put 4 Yellowjackets in my Triple Rectifier and love it. The amp is more touch responsive than it was before. Its still loud.

 

[sleepingtiger]

can you use 84's interchangably with 34's in the RKII? I've heard 84's got a lot of bite and from the amps that I've played that I think have had them (JVM) I like em.

If you want to run 84's, you need Yellowjackets or their equivilent.

Tony