Using and attenuator with Yellowjackets.

[capnkid]

How much does an attenuator lessen the life of tubes on a 100 watt amp?

EL34's are kind of pricey and I'm using 4 at a time, I was thinking of getting some Yellowjackets to convert the EL34's to EL84's.

Now 4 Yellowjackets would be over $100 bucks. Would it be worth the investment, or shouldn't I worry about burning the tubes up faster?

 

[c7sus]

The Yellowjackets should cut the output of your amp by about 40% or so.

Also, THD claims you can use Yellowjackets in pairs by themselves or paired with your regular power tubes. I haven't tried this.

Using a pair of Yellowjackets in a quad setup should cut your output down to about 25% or so. I think they explain it all on their website.

That might eliminate the need for the attentuator. I have my YJ's in a 55w Rivera Quiana and they sound superb. They are a bit less loud than the 6L6's I had in there and break up sooner and differently. I'm happy with them and they do provide some degree of versatility to any 6L6-based amp.

 

[capnkid]

The Yellowjackets should cut the output of your amp by about 40% or so.

Also, THD claims you can use Yellowjackets in pairs by themselves or paired with your regular power tubes. I haven't tried this.

Using a pair of Yellowjackets in a quad setup should cut your output down to about 25% or so. I think they explain it all on their website.

That might eliminate the need for the attentuator. I have my YJ's in a 55w Rivera Quiana and they sound superb. They are a bit less loud than the 6L6's I had in there and break up sooner and differently. I'm happy with them and they do provide some degree of versatility to any 6L6-based amp.

How would you know which two Power Tubes to put the yellowjackets on?

 

[Outlaws]

Yellow jackets will cut the volume but not anywhere near enough to make a 100 watt amp "quiet". Yellow jackets are more for getting the compression effect of the EL84 than they are to quiet down an amp.

I would just get the attenuator. You can go from middle of the night volume to full volume with the twist of a dial.

If the amp is dimed all the time the tubes will not last as long, but its not like you will be going through a set every couple months. They should last long enough.

 

[punkin]

Exactly what Outlaw suggests. With the Hotplate, you're going to be inlcinded to crank the amp harder in your quest for that pushed over power tube sound now that your ears don't bleed when it's running at full tilt. As a result, the tubes will work harder. The Hotplate in it's self won't wear tubes out, how you treat the tubes makes that determination.

I have yellow jackets in a couple of my amps. I just like the sound of the EL84's. I get the tube saturation sound quite a bit earlier in the volume curve as compared to my 6L6, 6CA7 or EL34s. But the thing is still very loud. A 100 watt amp turned all the way up, is just stupid loud, 50 watts well, only a slightly perceptable change in volume. Your mom is STILL going to kick your ass and the cops are going to be knocking at your door at 10:01 PM

My advice would be, to tame the volume, get a hot plate, if you're looking for a different sound,...yellowjackets.