Bad JJ EL84s. What else is good and cheap?

[Brett]

Hi.
I've got a Lite IIb, in which I usually have a pair of chinese 6P14s. They have a fairly tough sound. Recently, I bought a pair of JJs and they sounded very weak. Much less gain and less top end (which is a bit underdone in the Lite to start with). I tested the JJs (for emission) and they tested about the same as my "red star" 6P14s. Is the dull top end or low gain a typical result with JJs ? I got them from an e-bay "store", so maybe they were seconds or something ?

Anyway, I am going to buy another pair of basic EL84s. The 6P14s are good and were very cheap, but I need to be sure. I was thinking maybe EH or Sovtek miliatary?

Thanks for any advice.

[sgtoverdrive]

brett go out and raid grandpas grundig,yard sales .flea markets organs! radios! anything but what yovue considered buying .i didnt know jj made anything that sounded good.i have reasonable american nos im clearing out. ge rca sylvania.and some low price russian ebs. real tubes. not glow in the dark cockroaches .your mom will be proud!

[69SG]

I get mine from www.revolutionguitar.com
They are all good and bias readings are never off more than 2ma