EF86's

bottledtone

Are there any people on this forum that have an appreciation for this little preamp pentode. I personally love this valve for a preamp, and use a tone control similar to a DR Z carmen ghia.
It really likes pedals, but can be microphonic. Doesn't like a rattling chassis for sure. Anyone else used/uses it?

Gearhead

Search for talk box build, Alan had some comments in the thread about them.

MikeM

I love em. Only NOS tho cause the new production ones aren't great.

AlanRatcliffe

MikeM wrote: I love em. Only NOS tho cause the new production ones aren't great.

+1. All the new production EF86's are microphonic and muddy. I grabbed a few NOS ones and even the worst was far better than the Standard Sovtek.

vic

bottledtone wrote: Are there any people on this forum that have an appreciation for this little preamp pentode. I personally love this valve for a preamp, and use a tone control similar to a DR Z carmen ghia.
It really likes pedals, but can be microphonic. Doesn't like a rattling chassis for sure. Anyone else used/uses it?

The original Vox AC30's (4 input models) had an EF86 in the preamp....was fine for guitar amps but could not handle the vibration produced by bass guitars.
My AC10 also has one in the preamp...still the original Mullard valve from '65 ! These valves were highly rated amongst audiophiles...guess they don't make 'em nowadays like they use to.... ?

bottledtone

Vic: You have an original AC10? What format? Combo1x10/head.
I dream of having an orginal AC30/4 fawn.

vic

bottledtone wrote: Vic: You have an original AC10? What format? Combo1x10/head.
I dream of having an orginal AC30/4 fawn.

Yes...I have a '65 combo (2*10).

The AC30/4 models are soooo rare today. I see there's one on ebay uk at the moment (ended)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190496380946&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

aja

bottledtone wrote: Vic: You have an original AC10? What format? Combo1x10/head.
I dream of having an orginal AC30/4 fawn.

I assume you cannot see his signature on the mobile?

Here it is:

Vic "ALL WE NEED IS LOVE"

Vox Valvetronix VT100, 1962 Vox AC30 ,1964 Vox AC30, 1965 Vox AC10, Gibson Les Pauls ('56 '57,'58 and '59) historics, '46 Gibson LG-2 acoustic, Yamaha acoustic, Juno Jazz Archtop, Roland keys

"The Universe is a BIG place and it may be the biggest place anywhere"

bottledtone

Yeah, the forum set-up is a bit simple on mobile, but don't get to a computer too often.
The reason for the question on the use of EF86's is just to see if others are also using it for their builds (besides the vintage classics), and what type of tone controls people are using. The output impedance of this valve is quite high, so the fenderish tone stack doesn't work too well with it. Matchless has a 6 way selector switch with different cap values, and then there is the simple treble-cut on the preamp or output, and the simple bright switch.
I like the dr Z ghia tone control but he also uses a two knob tone on others, like route66.
I like studying tone control of various manufacturer's

Reinhard

I have one in my Ceriatone Dizzy 30.

MikeM

Very interesting compression in these tubes. Gonna use one on my new build.