stevec
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my new email address is stephenchristian371@gmail.com
Posts: 36
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Post by stevec on Aug 1, 2020 18:03:29 GMT
Hi Can anybody help please I have a Jimi ac30/4 The preamp has a EF806S which is a JJ valve can I replace it With the Mullard EF 86 any help would be much appreciated thank you
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Post by Charlie Hall on Aug 1, 2020 18:16:42 GMT
Yes, you can use the Mullard EF86. Regards, Charlie
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stevec
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my new email address is stephenchristian371@gmail.com
Posts: 36
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Post by stevec on Aug 1, 2020 18:20:35 GMT
Thank you Charlie Will it make any difference to the sound Or am I just wasting money Many thanks Steve
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Post by Charlie Hall on Aug 2, 2020 4:42:44 GMT
If it is an original British Mullard at a fair price then I would go for it. A reissue Mullard might not give a noticeable improvement. Regards, Charlie
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stevec
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my new email address is stephenchristian371@gmail.com
Posts: 36
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Post by stevec on Aug 2, 2020 7:03:33 GMT
Thank you Charlie I was even thinking of changing the EL 84s To Mullard what is your opinion Most grateful Steve
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stevec
Member
my new email address is stephenchristian371@gmail.com
Posts: 36
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Post by stevec on Aug 2, 2020 7:14:15 GMT
I’m sorry Charlie I’m not making myself clear What I am trying to do is put the valves in that was originally put in But apart from the Mullard EF 86 I don’t know what other valves are makes where are used in the original AC 30/4 I would be grateful for any information you may have on this Many thanks once again Steve
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Post by Charlie Hall on Aug 2, 2020 9:45:53 GMT
I thought you were being clear enough. Anyway, I have not seen evidence of anything other than Mullard EF86 valves in Vox amps that took the EF86 originally, but I could be wrong as I wasn't working on amps that long ago. The general thinking is/was that the original Mullard EF86 is better sounding and longer lasting than any EF86 made today. I don't know about the JJ. I don't think Mullard EL84 valves would be worth the price as they are not likely to last very long because they run so hot in that type of amp. Regards, Charlie
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stevec
Member
my new email address is stephenchristian371@gmail.com
Posts: 36
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Post by stevec on Aug 2, 2020 10:01:55 GMT
Thank you Charlie I will just put the EF 86 in and with the hall and Collins that I own It should be a nice sound but I am also looking forward to your project I am on the list to buy one Thank you once again for all your help Steve
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Post by franz on Aug 21, 2020 22:20:07 GMT
Hi, Steve. Just seen your post. I have 2 NOS Mullard EF86s, one is at present in my AC30/AC15 add-on from Roger Allcock. I think one is a Phillips made one from about 1970. They made valves for Mullard when the Blackburn and their other factories in the North West needed extra capacity. It definitely makes a difference to the sound and get you much closer to the original Marvin sound than with any other valve. One or two comments from Shadows fans to the effect that with their eyes closed they thought they were listening to Hank Marvin. I think they were talking about tone rather than my playing! For what it's worth, I have 4 Harma Retro EL84s in the power stage of the AC30, which is the closest I can get to an original sound when the EF 86 is switched in. They are from Watford valves and they have lasted a long time.
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stevec
Member
my new email address is stephenchristian371@gmail.com
Posts: 36
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Post by stevec on Aug 22, 2020 16:06:35 GMT
Hi franz I have bought A EF 86 from Mullard which is new all stock from the Blackburn factory if you had any sound files of your amp with the retro EL 84 that would be good and I could see what difference it makes before I by some or are they not that expensive also I wish to apologise for it taking me so long to get back to you I work in the NHS and I have been on nights thank you for your information franz Many thanks Steve
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Post by franz on Aug 22, 2020 22:30:46 GMT
Hi, Steve, I'm afraid it's just your luck that you are talking to just about the biggest technical ignoramus on Charlie's site, and I'm sorry about that. So the answer to your request is that I don't think have any sound files and worse than that, I don't really know what they are. If they are computer stored files, then I should have some of my recordings on it, but I think my old computer had the Shads numbers on. Alternatively, if you let me have a pm with your address, I can simply copy one of my own Shadows Cd recordings, with both the EF86 as the preamp and the Harma valve EL84 power stage, and post it to you.
I ought to say that the Mullard EF86 made a rather bigger difference to the sound than the addition of the Harma EL84s, but I think in combination the tone is not bad. It's coloured of course by my Q2 and the Gemini and the fact that I have a 62 original Strat with Golden Sixties strings on it. Not the least is my AC30 which is 1998 Marshall built and so it won't have the same standard of tone as your AC30/4 with its original circuitry. So I can't give you a before and after comparison with the old JJ output valves which are long since gone., but let me know if I can help.
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