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Question about EF86 style tubes

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  • #1

    Question about EF86 style tubes

    I'm just finishing up a build of an early style AC-15 and the last bug I have to sort out is with the ef86 spot. I have the two tubes pictured given from a friend of mine that said they were ef86 or similar and they sound great but are fairly noisy at higher volumes. I had also purchased a new JJ one and it was much quieter as far as unwanted noise but didn't sound quite as sweet and the heater opened after just a few minutes of total play time.

    So what's a good reliable and sweet sounding ef86 to use that's not noisy? Or are the JJ's usually just fine and just happened to get a bad one. Probably won't be able to get it replaced for free since I bought it months ago.

    ~Semi-No0b Hobbyist~
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  • #2
    The first is Svetlana EF86. The second is a Philips E80F (not identical but similar). I do not know what conditions are, but that E80F sounds much better than the Russian. I always use NOS EF86 European (RFT, Tesla, Valvo ...) but I can not tell where to buy guaranteed.
    Vox and JMI use Electro Harmonix EF86 with silicone dampers to absorb vibrations:





    To protect them the best system is the installation of a damped and flexible socket base.

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    • #3
      Vibration isn't the culprit. The amp is in head form and was not close to the cabinet.
      ~Semi-No0b Hobbyist~

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      • #4
        I used a JJ in an experiment build for a little while, but the sound was not what I was used to. I'll revisit it someday. Give JJ another shot, and check your heater wiring/voltages; if the second one burns out, go NOS/UOS. I have 2 Mullards to try. The projector I pulled them from had shock-mount sockets for them. That said, define "noisy" - hiss, crackle, ringing, screeching, hum?

        Vox quit using them supposedly because they were getting rattled to death in the AC30s; and if the 2 you got were used, who knows what they were subjected to before you got them?

        Jystin
        "Wow it's red! That doesn't look like the standard Marshall red. It's more like hooker lipstick/clown nose/poodle pecker red." - Chuck H. -
        "Of course that means playing **LOUD** , best but useless solution to modern sissy snowflake players." - J.M. Fahey -
        "All I ever managed to do with that amp was... kill small rodents within a 50 yard radius of my practice building." - Tone Meister -

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        • #5
          the noise is just hum. Not super duper loud but is moderate. Only really have the hum when brilliance switch is off, plugged into norm ch, and past 6 or so. Otherwise the amp is nice and quiet. I thought it was in the amp until I put the JJ in and the hum was only low-ish, but then the heater popped. Voltages are all good and operation is normal and stable and it sounds like a million bucks.
          ~Semi-No0b Hobbyist~

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          • #6
            I have JJ EF86's in two of my amps. One has been in use for four years, the other three years. Have not had any problems with them.

            Greg

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