Groove Tubes GT-EL84-S

It's a tube.

I've used a pair of these in a late 80s Mesa Studio Caliber, and they sounds pretty good. They have gotten a regular workout and seem very tough. The tone is bright and cutting.

Seems fine, I run this amp hard and have used it regularly for over 2 years and these are standing up to all kinds of abuse just fine.

I really like these and would very much recommend them. They seem very tough and the tone is good and cutting. There are not a lot of EL84s out there, and these are good ones. Mine are rated 5 and I like that GT screens their tubes and sends out the best ones, it's worth the extra $$.

I use a duet matched pair at a #7 rating. I use em in my Marshall TSL122 which turned my amp now into a 20watt amp. I use Groove tubes 928-PR converters to be able to use EL-84 tubes. It did take a day for me to get a good sound out of the amp when I first installed them. I've never played through a Class A amp before and it was a COMPLETELY different amp, sound, and tone. It is true how they say a class A amp has that glassy sparkle clean, a very smooth clean tone.

I use a Gibson Les Paul studio plus with stock pickups-monster rock performer cables-boss TU-2-morley wah-TSL122. To my suprise the amp is quieter now with EL-84's than it's stock form with EL-34's, plus I have GT-12AX7-C's in V1 and V2 so that also helps with noise.

I wanted to be able to saturate my amp in the power section, but couldnt do it with 100watts, i could only turn it up to 2 on volume in most cases. With EL-84-S I can get that power section nice and hot, the amp really opens up and it doesnt sound like its under a blanket. I can crank the 1st overdrive channels volume all the way to 10 (but for right now I can only do this with the help of the amps V.P.R, I'm not sure what wattage it makes the amp turn into when this feature is engaged all I know is it must make it pretty low if I'm able to do this). I'll probly get a lower rated tube next time like a #4 or #5 and see how soon that breaks up.
The clean channel doesnt have the clean headroom like a 100watt amp, but I care more to have that thick creamy power tube distortion. The clean channel has a nice crunch to it...it doesnt get heavily distorted though, even with the gain turned all the way up, so I now have a clean channel with a little edgey crunch to the notes. Chords and notes still ring out very well, they dont blur up or get muddy.
Only problem was playing the clean channel with my stock bridge pickup, it seemed to be a little harsh sounding in the high end, but a little EQ adjustment and it solved the problem.
It's a JJ/Telsa tube and their the best EL-84's i'm sure. It has good bass, nice and tight...tighter than with EL-34's because i'm able to really crank the amp now with 84's.

They seem reliable. Time will tell. I'de gig with a backup amp or another set of EL-84 just in case though.

Groove tubes is awesome and always will be in my opinion. I'm a loyal customer of thiers sorely based on the fact that they provide me support and I know if anything goes wrong i'll get the service I need. It might seem a little over the top, talking about them so highly, but I'm gonna stick with my gutt feeling...Groove tubes is a winner.

I play in the style of and influenced by bands such as: Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, The Ataris, Yellowcard, All american rejects, Relient K, Lifehouse, Coldplay, Dashboard Confessional, thats just to name a few. Been playing for a little over 3 years. I also use a Marshall AVT20 as a back up amp and a Gibson J-185EC (An AWESOME acoustic, love that guitar to death.) a fender acoustic-sonic pro.
Not much I hate about the EL-84-S so far...if something goes wierd or screws up, you'll see another review on here. I know the Sovtek version of the 84's are like cardboard sounding and suck...not sure how good the Ei 84's sound. As for the the JJ/Telsa 84's are great tubes. Unless your a jazz player or something and need high clean headroom, then dont turn get the 928-PR's, cause EL-84 tubes break up MUCH faster than el34's.
Helps me focus on liberating people with my high voltage rock, instead of worrying on how crappy the amp sounds.
It sounds great now and I'll probly keep on using El84 from now on.