EL84 Amps for Metal Band Gigging

  • Thread starter Thread starter MistaGuitah
  • Start date Start date
M

MistaGuitah

Well-known member
Do EL84 amps have enough low end/tight enough to play metal covers for small to medium gigs? I've been looking at some lunchboxes like the Marc V25, At a, Pink Taco, or maybe an Ecstasy 25. I'd be using a 1x12 for smaller gigs and a 2x12 for medium. Dont have a 4x12.
 
The Mark V25 does, (with a boost pedal), and does it well.
 
Pink Taco should fit that bill. love that amp, wish they made a no frills 50 watter
 
I gigged a 1x12 Mesa .22+ for years. It can do metal for sure.
 
So no issues using those little EL84s for playing metal at gigs? How much punch and low end would I be missing compared to an EL34 amp?
 
MistaGuitah":1b87l353 said:
So no issues using those little EL84s for playing metal at gigs? How much punch and low end would I be missing compared to an EL34 amp?
Click to expand...

Throw an EQ in the loop. You'll be just fine. Depending on your needs, the EVH LBX brings it too. Loud little sucker.
 
dstroud":hnxnupqo said:
Pink Taco should fit that bill. love that amp, wish they made a no frills 50 watter
Click to expand...

Yeah, I wish Dave would do a single channel 50 watt BE.
 
you can for sure but honestly for metal the minimum is 50w 6l6 or el34 and a good size 2x12 closed back
 
Last I checked, isn’t the bass player supposed to take care of the bottom end? You start moving into their territory with your bottom and and you might as well just sling mud.

I get it, we all like bottom when we did into those lower notes but playing live, I take the higher road these days and the mix is so much better for it.
 
It's not EL84, but the splawn Supersport is 6V6 and the loudest 22 watts I have ever owned.
 
On a related note, anyone has any experience with the EVH LBX II in a band setting? I'm getting offered one in a trade, and I'm really excited about it. I'm probably going to use it more for jamming at home and recording, but it'd be nice if it could pull off band practice. Just to know what I'm getting myself into, lol.
 
No.
It can sound decent on your own, but the moment you jam with a loud metal drummer- and what metal drummer is contained?- those small tubes get exposed. It's not about low end quantity, it's low end quality.
 
Rex Rocker":1wlxm453 said:
On a related note, anyone has any experience with the EVH LBX II in a band setting? I'm getting offered one in a trade, and I'm really excited about it. I'm probably going to use it more for jamming at home and recording, but it'd be nice if it could pull off band practice. Just to know what I'm getting myself into, lol.
Click to expand...


I had that exact amp thinking it would be loud enough with a drummer. I couldnt have been more wrong. The first time I took it to jam with just a drummer I had to have it dimed and he was still telling me to turn it up. Unfortunately it wouldnt go any further. I was using a 412 too so the only option I had was to sell it.
 
ClintN667":1sr74m6o said:
Rex Rocker":1sr74m6o said:
On a related note, anyone has any experience with the EVH LBX II in a band setting? I'm getting offered one in a trade, and I'm really excited about it. I'm probably going to use it more for jamming at home and recording, but it'd be nice if it could pull off band practice. Just to know what I'm getting myself into, lol.
Click to expand...


I had that exact amp thinking it would be loud enough with a drummer. I couldnt have been more wrong. The first time I took it to jam with just a drummer I had to have it dimed and he was still telling me to turn it up. Unfortunately it wouldnt go any further. I was using a 412 too so the only option I had was to sell it.
Click to expand...
Oh. That's disappointing. I guess it's going to have to be limited to a jam-at-home kind of amp, then.
 
In my experience the el84 amps cant hang in a live metal situation , idc what cab they are run through and how much pa
 
I have easily survived blues gigs with my mesa subway blues (18 Watt) un mic'd, but I have not tried EL84'swith a metal gig.

The Mesa subway blues is a combo, but I added a 1x12" to the other side of stage and was fine.
 
I dont think all amps are created equal going by wattage alone but the EVH lbx2 sounded so good at home at what I considered loud volumes but cranked in a big room it just sounded small. I was kind of embarrased actually. Needless to say I wasnt invited back. Im hoping the Friedman JJ jr doeant suffer the same way as the LBX
 
My Supro Keeley is loud but never used it with a drummer so not sure as an EL84 amp, how it would hang.

Speaking of the EL84 thing, one of the first clips I saw of the JJ Mini, Dave Friedman was talking about how EL84 amps get a bad rap for not being able to hang and it is B.S. basically. I know I used to avoid EL84 amps but realize now I was avoiding them strictly based on reputation and was clueless.
 
ClintN667":2hxn30ve said:
I dont think all amps are created equal going by wattage alone but the EVH lbx2 sounded so good at home at what I considered loud volumes but cranked in a big room it just sounded small. I was kind of embarrased actually. Needless to say I wasnt invited back. Im hoping the Friedman JJ jr doeant suffer the same way as the LBX
Click to expand...

I swear that my Supersport is the loudest 22 watts I have ever heard. It has a little more bass to it at high volumes than my orange rocker 30 (since sold) and I swear it was louder too.

Speakers make a massive difference. Not only sensitivity but also angle of projection and the shape of the stage and room. I played the SS with a drummer in my studio and it was great. But it's not the size of a decent bar venue.

Cleans are always the first thing to suffer. Then the bass loss.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top