Product details
What are Yellow Jackets®?
Yellow Jackets® Converters are a type of
specialized adapters which permit the use of EL84/6BQ5 power tubes in place of
6V6, 6L6, EL34, and 7591 types.
How do they work?
They give
you simple Class-A operation from any amp.Yellow Jacket® Converters not only
rearrange the pin locations of the tubes, but also provide the necessary current
limiting on the screens and cathode as well as blocking the amplifier's grid
bias voltage, while configuring the EL84 in a Class-A, Self-adjusiting
cathode-bias circuit. In other words, there are no adjustments to make and no
modifications necesary, you simply plug the Yellow Jackets® into the amp's
output tube sockets, (in cathode-bias amplifiers) screw the ground wires under
one of the output tube socket mounting screws, plug the provided EL84's into the
Yellow Jackets®, turn on the amp and play.
How will they change my amplifier?
It's like getting a whole new
amplifier! In Champ and Deluxe type amplifiers, the Yellow Jackets® output is
smooth, strong and more even than with the stock 6V6s. When the Yellow jackets®
Converters are installed inlarger amplifiers intended for 6L6s or EL34 output
tubes, the high plate and screen voltages are reduced as well as current limited
to protect the EL84 and to drop output power. When a pair of Yellow Jackets® are
used in a Marshall 50 watt or similar amplifier, the overall power drops to
about 20 watts and takes on more of the character of an old Vox AC30. The
distortion is smoother and more even and the output is both substantially
reduced and more compressed due to the Class-A nature of the Yellow Jackets®. In
a 100 watt amp like a Twin Reverb or Marshall 100, either two or four Yellow
Jackets® can be used. If only two are used and the other two sockets are left
empy, the output is dropped to about 20 watts. With four in place, the amp puts
out about 40 watts and takes on a whole new warmth and richness.
In the cases of the YJ7591 converters, the overall ouput power remains the
same, but the sound becomes fuller and the extinct 7591 are replaced with common
and inexpensive EL84 tubes. In old Ampeg Reverb Rockets and the like, you
experience a warmth and sweetness that you could never get with the now
unavailable 7591 tubes.
Will they hurt my amp?
No! Yellow Jacket® converters are safe for
all amplifiers and transformers. As all Yellow Jacket® Converters internally
limit voltage and current they put no extra strain on amplifiers' power and
output transformers or internal components. Using the Yellow Jackets® in higher
powered amplifiers actually reduces the strain on the transformers and internal
components because it reduces the overall wattage of the system. Furthermore,
the heater (or filament) current of the EL84 is lower than that of the 6L6, EL34
or 7591, so the Yellow Jacket® will reduce the strain on the filament windings
of the power transformer as well.