Tube question

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famous beagle

famous beagle

Well-known member
I didn't get a response in the guitar and amp forum, so I thought I'd try here.

Hey y'all,

I'm building a Marshall 18 watt clone, and I decided to treat myself with NOS tubes for the first time. I got a matched pair of GE EL84's (as well as NOS 12AX7's), and I F***ing dropped one of the EL84 boxes, and the tube broke.

Here's my question:

Is it as important (or important at all) to have a matched pair of power tubes if the amp is cathode-biased (which my amp is)?

Thanks much!
 
famous beagle said:
I didn't get a response in the guitar and amp forum, so I thought I'd try here.

Hey y'all,

I'm building a Marshall 18 watt clone, and I decided to treat myself with NOS tubes for the first time. I got a matched pair of GE EL84's (as well as NOS 12AX7's), and I F***ing dropped one of the EL84 boxes, and the tube broke.

Here's my question:

Is it as important (or important at all) to have a matched pair of power tubes if the amp is cathode-biased (which my amp is)?

Thanks much!
Click to expand...

In short, yes.

There is a reason that EL84's come as "matched pairs".
 
EL34's might be overkill for an 18 watt amp. And aren't they a different socket?
 
commanda said:
EL34's might be overkill for an 18 watt amp. And aren't they a different socket?
Click to expand...

Doh! I meant EL84's. :) (Which is what I said in my OP anyway. Apparently, I have inconsistency issues.)
 
And slippery fingers...............so it was broke in the box ? sounds like shipping to me.
 
moresound said:
And slippery fingers...............so it was broke in the box ? sounds like shipping to me.
Click to expand...

No; unfortunately, I know it was me. I had them stored on the top shelf of a rack of shelves in my basement. When I went to grab something else, I drug that tube with me. As soon as I picked it up, I knew what had happened. And I had inspected them all when they first arrived.

Just a stupid dumb mistake on my part. :(
 
Dang, you've got to hate it when that happens! I built a hi-octane (ax84.com) and use the cheap russian/chinese tubes. I'm certain that better tubes would sound nicer, but since tubes don't last forever, I just couldn't justify the price of the NOS ones, knowing they'd be replaced.
 
Strumbone said:
Dang, you've got to hate it when that happens! I built a hi-octane (ax84.com) and use the cheap russian/chinese tubes. I'm certain that better tubes would sound nicer, but since tubes don't last forever, I just couldn't justify the price of the NOS ones, knowing they'd be replaced.
Click to expand...

Yep .. I'm gonna have to go that route (JJ's) this time with the power tubes (I still have the NOS preamp tubes). I guess I'll have to wait to check out the NOS power tube difference.
 
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