Anybody try EL83's in their amp ?

[Zemaitis]

Was reading that Rory Gallagher had his AC30 rewired so he could use EL83 tubes.

http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/showp ... stcount=23

And I was wondering if any one here has tried them in an 18 watt or the 36 watt ?

They are a lot cheaper than the NOS EL84's.

Was reading about them, and some places say they last longer than the 84's.

Things that make you go hmmmmmmmm

[Phil_S]

If you want to save some money, a proper sub for EL84 is 6GK6. The pinout is different, but the tube itself is nearly identical in spec. Probably the biggest difference is that the cathode and screen are not connected internally, so you've got to jump the pins on the tube socket.

I've got a pair of blackplate Sylvania 6GK6 in my TMB18W. Very nice tubes at a fraction of the price for similar EL84's.

If you are adventurous, you might consider 10GK6, which is a 6GK6 with a 10V heater. If you've got a PT with an unused 5V tap, run it through a doubler to supply the heaters.

[Zemaitis]

Thanks for the reply. It's not so much cost as the sound.

I ordered a few and will try them out on the Hoffman AC30 clone I built. got some Siemens for $12 ea.

The tube sheet says 250v max, so maybe that with the treble booster gets me closer to the Rory sound.

I'll let you guys know how they sound.

[Phil_S]

Tube data sheets vary some. Check the Mazda here
http://tubedata.itchurch.org/sheetsE2.html

[zaphod_phil]

If you want to save some money, a proper sub for EL84 is 6GK6.

Aren't those actually mini 6V6s...??

[Plexi]

I posted about the 6GK6 a long time back on the forum.. they run 330v plate and screen..a little different pin out as was posted.. I bought a few 100, they work great.. also they put out about 1 or 1.5 more watts a tube

[Phil_S]

If you want to save some money, a proper sub for EL84 is 6GK6.

Aren't those actually mini 6V6s...??

Nope, the mini 6V6 is the 6AQ5, a 7-pin tube. Of course, you can also use a 6094 (9-pin), but the price on those is sky high, into 3 digits.

AFAIK, 6GK6 is a legit sub for a EL84. I bought them from Jim McShane. At the time, he commented something like, "I don't know why more people who homebrew don't use these. It's really the same tube."

[Plexi]

At the time, he commented something like, "I don't know why more people who homebrew don't use these. It's really the same tube."

I thought the same thing.. i got NOS mullard,and the USA brands,and Amperex labeled for about 5.00 eaxh,and i bought them at a time when no one was using them or buying them. Even when i suggesed them,i don't think many tried them.
A very simple rewire of the socket,and thats it.. I guess the good thing is, it just means more tubes for the ones that do use them

[zaphod_phil]

I posted about the 6GK6 a long time back on the forum.. they run 330v plate and screen..a little different pin out as was posted.. I bought a few 100, they work great.. also they put out about 1 or 1.5 more watts a tube

I remember you posting that. You also once mentioned them to me in an e-mail - but I forgot the tube number....

Nope, the mini 6V6 is the 6AQ5, a 7-pin tube. Of course, you can also use a 6094 (9-pin), but the price on those is sky high, into 3 digits.

There's a few other mini-6V6 versions out there, such as the 9-pin 6CM6 and 6BW6, both rated at 12W max dissipation.

AFAIK, 6GK6 is a legit sub for a EL84. I bought them from Jim McShane. At the time, he commented something like, "I don't know why more people who homebrew don't use these. It's really the same tube."

Now that's real good to know. I seem to remember there's also a tube called something like an EL184, that's the same as an EL84 with a different pinout. I have to say I never heard of EL83s before.....