slypig
New Member
Green 1x10 Monza
Posts: 47
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EF86 ?
May 10, 2014 15:56:49 GMT -7
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Post by slypig on May 10, 2014 15:56:49 GMT -7
What is this EF86 supposed to sound like because I'm not loving it. It sounds okay but kinda loose and lacking wow. Is it just me or do 12ax7s just bring more zing to the party?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2014 20:48:55 GMT -7
You might have a bad ef86. I believe they have A LOT MORE gain than a 12ax7. What ef86 do you have?
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EF86 ?
May 11, 2014 8:14:42 GMT -7
Post by KeithA on May 11, 2014 8:14:42 GMT -7
What is this EF86 supposed to sound like because I'm not loving it. It sounds okay but kinda loose and lacking wow. Is it just me or do 12ax7s just bring more zing to the party? It may be the Route 66 circuit as a whole that you are not fond of. Keith
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Post by Maddog on May 11, 2014 9:21:27 GMT -7
Prolly a bad tube. Sooo common. All of us w RT 66's, z28's, m12's etc are pretty happy w the 86's.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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EF86 ?
May 11, 2014 19:14:16 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on May 11, 2014 19:14:16 GMT -7
EF86s are prone to microphonics too. NOS from a reliable source is key. I believe there are new production tubes that are testing well too. I haven't had my 66 for awhile now. Maybe a current user will chime in with which tubes they are using and why.
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slypig
New Member
Green 1x10 Monza
Posts: 47
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EF86 ?
May 12, 2014 17:54:40 GMT -7
Post by slypig on May 12, 2014 17:54:40 GMT -7
I forgot the brand. Maybe I'll try another tube. It just doesn't sing for me.
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Post by Phil (aka Phil) on May 23, 2014 13:13:32 GMT -7
Well, my take on it... I don't think that EF86's have a "sound". They are a pentode tube vs. a triode like a 12AX7 and have more gain...but at the end of the day that's all they are is little gain amplifiers just like 12AX7's. In the application the Doc uses 'em in the Route 66, they aren't being asked to produce tons of distortion...which is where you might hear a big difference vs. a 12AX7. When used as the input tube they allow you to have enough gain to have great headroom for pedals and then pass the signal on to the phase inverter without using multiple 12AX7 gain stages...therefore you get benefits like more clarity and dynamics. Even though the input circuit is important, (heck *everything* in the amp is important) the rest of the circuit has a much greater impact on the overall tone and feel of the amp.
It is true though in my experience that the brand of EF86 can make a huge difference in Dr. Z's. Some are rounder than others while some are chimier. I have not really liked any new production EF86, period. Maybe in the year-and-a-half I was in the freezer someone finally made a great new production one but I haven't heard it yet. I still prefer the Dario Miniwatt for most Z's and the Mullards for brighter setups where you want to take the very top end and round it off...like the RxES which can be a very bright sucker. The Mullard is a pretty neutral EF86.
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EF86 ?
Jun 1, 2014 13:41:27 GMT -7
Post by jb on Jun 1, 2014 13:41:27 GMT -7
Good explanation Phil.
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