Metropoulos Forum

Hello,
Im looking for anyone that has knowledge in EL-84 tubes, Im not familiar with what's available and Im looking to buy some that sound great and will live a long time.
I've got an 18 watt build and a Class 5 that I want to experiment changing tubes in.
Im not looking for "chime" so much, just a well balanced tube that isn't too flabby on the low end and isn't too $.
Playing everything from cleanish blues to straight up dirty garage rock n roll on these amps.
If you can point me in the right direction that would be great.
Thanks

Tesla Hexplates, Telams and Polams are all great. Really great.
Tungsrams are pretty darned good too.
Brimars also pretty sweet and a little more polite.
Sylvania's are nice but a little scooped and dark sounding.
Had some JAN/Philips tubes (which may have been late Sylvania production, but I'm not sure about this) that were nice and tight, but quite clean as far as EL84's go.

Mullards aren't great IMO.

Not sure about any prices though, since with most of mine I've been quite lucky. Prices also vary worldwide.

For new production The TAD's sound great in my Blues Jr.

In my Orange Tiny Terror.
I like the Polams for smooth.
GEs are nice on the cleanish/crunchy kinda sound.
I remeber liking rfts too i think they were quiet dirty and grungy sounding.If I remeber correct I think they were like a dirtier Polam sound.
As far as new production my father has a Peavey Classic with a quad of Sovtek el84m in it and I really can't say anything bad about the sound of that amp its really quiet awsome for being loaded with russian crap.

Thanks for the help!