Trevor Wilson wrote:



** Finding reliably good EL84s is a PITA - there are many duds being
sold, with low current output and long warm up times, like over 5
minutes.

Your safest bet is probably JJ or else EH brand.

Matching is best done by YOU with the valves in the actual amp.

At least try to get the idle current the same on each half of the OT
as many of them are intolerant of any unbalanced DC component
resulting in severe distortion at low frequencies.


**Thanks for the tips. The guys at Musiclink were quite helpful,
suggesting that the original valves were crap and anything would be an
improvement.


** That sort of self opinionated drivel is not helpful at all.

It is very easy to find EL84s that glow red, give low power or only last a short while in a PV Classic 30 - things the original Peavey brand ones did not.

Personally I would not take the slightest notice of any tech that made remarks like that cos it is a sure sign of a bull**** artist.



.... Phil