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Post by Scott on Oct 8, 2010 7:05:28 GMT -7
Post your glass collection! I have my Maz Jr., and small (6V6 - 5Y3GT) amp to stock up for. This is my current tube drawer, most of which I bought within the last year. My 2 best... NOS Mullard ECC83 (Relabeled), and NOS Amperex Bugle Boy 12AX7. I also have (2) ANOS RCA 12 AX7A's: I'm still running on all stock tubes in my Jr., and completing my speaker break-in period. Then I will go for my first tube swap. What kind of collection do you have going? FYI - I am also looking for input on: Explain to me the best procedure to use DeoxIT®, when changing your tubes. drzamplifiers.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=strings&action=display&thread=35244
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Post by BritInvasion on Oct 8, 2010 17:33:31 GMT -7
Man, nice collection! Your Deoxit procedure that you posted is right on the money.
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Post by BritInvasion on Oct 8, 2010 17:43:16 GMT -7
I have spares , mostly newer stuff. Only pic I have is of the boxes for some Radio Shack "LifeTime" 12AY7s with gold-plated pins that I bought new in 1974 and kept all this time ;D
I wonder what would happen if I took a bad one into Radio Shack now?
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Post by Scott on Oct 8, 2010 19:17:19 GMT -7
Man, nice collection! Your Deoxit procedure that you posted is right on the money. Thanks!!
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Post by scotty on Oct 11, 2010 19:04:52 GMT -7
I have spares , mostly newer stuff. Only pic I have is of the boxes for some Radio Shack "LifeTime" 12AY7s with gold-plated pins that I bought new in 1974 and kept all this time ;D I wonder what would happen if I took a bad one into Radio Shack now? Oh man please do! Make sure to catch it on video. Instant YouTube sensation when the kid says, "uh... What is that dude?"
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Post by Scott on Oct 17, 2010 1:16:01 GMT -7
Bought new in 1974! ;D I guess it's true that a preamp tubes can last you a lifetime, providing you don't use them as a PI tube... If indeed my 2 high-end tubes are NOS, and I don't ever use them as phase inverters, should last longer than me!
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Post by BritInvasion on Oct 18, 2010 10:04:04 GMT -7
Bought new in 1974! ;D I guess it's true that a preamp tubes can last you a lifetime, Hey , they were GUARANTEED to last a lifetime ;D
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Post by Scott on Oct 20, 2010 11:22:20 GMT -7
I am a firm believer that our NOS preamp tube supply will soon dry up. I just placed a new order to grab a few more before it's too late. Reading about the NOS RCA 5751 Blackplate: www.kcanostubes.com/content/nos-rca-5751-blackplate"Mike I got your name from Myles's on the Dr Z forum. He's the one that recommended the NOS RCA 5751 for the V2 in my Carmen Ghia. Wow, I have never changed one tube that made such a big positive change in any of my Amps. I bought my Ghia new about two months ago and am now changing out the stock tubes. Thanks, Russ"
Sweet!! ;D The 5Y3GT Rectifier tube is to be used as a backup tube, for my other amp. It could also be used in my Maz Jr. (My old tube amp does not have a Standby Switch, so I figured this rectifier might do well for me?) Ordered the 5751 tubes balanced, just because... but intend to use them as preamp tubes, not as my PI. But just now, after reading Miles Series on 5751's, have just realized that they would probably excel as a PI too. la-economy.blogspot.com/2010/10/vacuum-tube-series-5751-tung-sol.htmlI am now extra glad I opted for balanced on my order, just in case. I now know that the 5751 was designed to be used as a phase inverter. (meaning the two sides of the tube were intended to be closely matched) There has to be a few more guys, that like to squirrel some NOS tubes away...
Lets see your babies!
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Post by Scott on Oct 23, 2010 11:34:22 GMT -7
New arrivals just hit the house... ;D Gotta love NOS! Pins look to be in good shape. And the collection grows... ;D Note that I also went to the Shack, and picked up some Slo-Blo backup fuses for my Jr. too.
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Post by Scott on Oct 27, 2010 13:13:30 GMT -7
Two NOS RCA 7189 Power Tubes, safely arrived today... ;D I will give them a test in my EL84 amp, within the next few days. I now believe these are the rules on the 7189.The difference with pinouts between the 7189A and the 7189 are all the same except that the 7189A has:Pin 1 is connected internally to Pin 2 (grid) Pin 6 is connected internally to Pin 9 (screen)In the Jr's case, YES, a 7189 will work fine as a replacement for an EL84.A 7189A would usually work in an EL84 amp too, but a 7189 might not work in an amp designed for 7189A. There is one way a 7189A wouldn't work in an EL84 amp. If somebody was using pins 1 or 6 as a solder point for a resistor. Some amps will use pins 1 or 6 to get more point to point going. (Fender comes to mind). Will a 7189A work in a Jr? Unknown for sure, but probably... The Tube Socket would have to be examined to verify that pins 1 and 6 were not in use. Also, you can't use an EL84 in place of a 7189, in an amp designed for 7189's. 7189's have 400V on the screen and plate, and the 7189A has even more at 440. The EL84/6BQ5 can only handle 300 volts, so they couldn't happily exist in an amp looking to send them an extra 100 volts or more.It's putting EL84's into an amp designed for 7189's that you may get into difficulty because of the higher voltages. A 7189 will run down to the same voltages as an EL84, but an EL84 won't run up to the same voltages possible as when using a 7189. I would think NOS 7189's running in a Jr, would last a long time as far as Power Tubes normally go...
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Post by BritInvasion on Oct 28, 2010 18:12:55 GMT -7
I love looking at that tube drawer! And thanks for posting all the great close-ups of these NOS tubes, I just found an old RCA 12AY7 I forgot I had. So the 7189's - they're the same as EL-84's?
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Post by Scott on Oct 28, 2010 20:26:27 GMT -7
Thanks! Have an update then... So speaking only on NOS/ANOS Tubes, I now stand at...
NOS/ANOS Preamp Tubes (1) NOS RCA 12AY7. (Balanced @ 75) (1) NOS Amperex Bugle Boy ECC83/12AX7. ??/?? (1) NOS Mullard ECC83/12AX7. (Relabeled) 104/100 (1) NOS RCA 5751 Blackplate. (Balanced @ 88) (1) NOS JAN GE 5751 (1980's). (Balanced @ ??) (1) ANOS RCA 12AX7A. 90/94 (1) ANOS RCA 12AX7A. (Balanced @ 95)
NOS/ANOS Power Tubes[/u] (1) NOS Set of matched RCA 7189's. (Matching Current @ 26)NOS/ANOS Rectifier Tubes[/u] (1) NOS RSD 5Y3GT (Indirectly heated cathode, slow warm up)(1) ANOS Mullard 5Y3GT. (1) NOS GE 5AR4/GZ34.[/size] Still on my NOS Preamp Wanted List: Brimar, Tungsram, and Telefunken...
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Post by chetz on Oct 29, 2010 17:22:22 GMT -7
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Post by Scott on Oct 29, 2010 17:47:35 GMT -7
Man... I wish I had my own Tube Tester! Looks like your work is cut out for you.
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Post by BritInvasion on Oct 29, 2010 18:10:52 GMT -7
You two should merge and start your own on-line tube company. Hmm......ChetzBucker Pro Tube Co.
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Post by Scott on Oct 29, 2010 18:22:45 GMT -7
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Post by chetz on Oct 29, 2010 21:09:31 GMT -7
Man... I wish I had my own Tube Tester! Looks like your work is cut out for you. The tester is in mint condition as you can see and was fully serviced and calibrated by Roger Kennedy. I have some tubes I use as a "reference" every time before I use it. I have a boatload of work because I let every tube heat up for five minutes before testing. I cacuate I have 45-50 hours of testing and labeling boxes. Not even thinking about the spreadsheet hours at this point.
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Post by Scott on Oct 29, 2010 22:06:24 GMT -7
I look forward to your listing, and reading about the Brimar, Tungsram, and Telefunken tubes you have... I want me a world class Telefunken real bad!!
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Post by chetz on Oct 29, 2010 23:47:05 GMT -7
I look forward to your listing, and reading about the Brimar, Tungsram, and Telefunken tubes you have... I want me a world class Telefunken real bad!! I have a few Telefunkens, they are good tubes but maybe a little to precise for my tastes and guitar amps. That may sound kinda funny but they don't have the warmth of a Mullard and some others. I think they would be the best for you home stereo amp, apparently a lot of others do too........especially the Euro's. Brimar's are a great tube.......they are getting more and more expensive though. Tungsram.......I have some but just haven't taken the time to fool with them. I like mullards in the V1 and V2 although V2 is not as critical as V1. In V3 Mullards work but a good balanced Brimar, RCA or Siemans works for me in the PI..... Keeps things under control.
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Post by Scott on Oct 30, 2010 0:30:17 GMT -7
Thanks for the advice...
I will probably go
V1 - NOS Mullard ECC83/12AX7. (Relabeled) V2 - NOS RCA 5751 Blackplate. (Balanced) or NOS Amperex Bugle Boy ECC83/12AX7. V3 - ANOS RCA 12AX7A (Blanaced) V4 - NOS matched RCA 7189's. V5 - NOS matched RCA 7189's. V6 - NOS GE 5AR4/GZ34.
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Post by chetz on Oct 30, 2010 13:55:58 GMT -7
That looks sweet to my ears but everyone has there own thing when it comes to sound. Don't get me wrong, I think you should try a Telefunken sometime and make your own decision.
Looking at the tubes is it a Maz 18? What are your musical preferences?
I have had more than one of the really big guys that I trust tell me that spend all you can on the V1 and then just decent stuff for the rest will result in great tone at a reasonable price.
I have a tester so I can take chances. I bought a couple of RCA 17mm (longplates) + Blackplates that tested new (according to the seller. $45.00. Not the deal of the century but not a bad price either. I see people trying to sell the same tube for 50 bucks each. The key is I have a tester and I also know the people of fleabay that are reputable.
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Post by Scott on Oct 30, 2010 14:39:24 GMT -7
Good advice again... Thanks. I like an outstanding rich, clean, sound, all the way up to a bit of hair on Classic Rock. Not too much of a head banger, listen to some, but don't play much of it... V1 will be my focus. This will take some time done right. I have allot of tubes to test, let cool down, and replace!
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Post by chetz on Oct 31, 2010 20:04:07 GMT -7
IMHO you can put any tube in for the " headbanger stuff."
I will send you some tubes to try that will blow your socks off!
PM me,
Jeff
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Post by Scott on Oct 31, 2010 22:42:45 GMT -7
Done! Another update... New rule for me: I like the gain of an actual 12AX7 in the PI position. Running a tube with too low of a gain here, can change how your Cut Control will need to be set, and the level of volume required to let the amp's sound open up, probably first requiring both Volume and Master settings to be past 12:00. A 5751 PI does not have enough gain for me, and caused me to run my Cut Control from a normal 9:00 position, to a new 3:00 position to sound close to the same.I took my 5751 Phase Inverter back out, and changed over to a 12AX7. My amp then returned to what I would consider to be normal Cut, and Volume operation. I did try numerous V2 Tubes, and I have to say they are mostly all just various shades of good... I didn't find one that caused a huge change in tone. To me, V2 is the least important in your overall sound...I did however manage, to pick a new favorite that sounded the best to me... My new and improved Preamp SectionV1 - NOS Mullard ECC83/12AX7A. (Relabeled)V2 - NOS Amperex Bugle Boy ECC83/12AX7A.And Power Section after adding in my new PI TubeV3 - ANOS RCA 12AX7A. (Balanced at 95) V4 & V5 - NOS RCA 7189 (Matched Pair) V6 - NOS GE 5AR4/GZ34.Glad I did spend the extra time to fine tune. I believe this is the best I have heard my Jr. sound yet... My new winning team!V1 - NOS Mullard ECC83/12AX7A. (Relabeled) V2 - NOS Amperex Bugle Boy ECC83/12AX7A. V3 - ANOS RCA 12AX7A. (Balanced at 95) V4 & V5 - NOS RCA 7189 (Matched Pair) V6 - NOS GE 5AR4/GZ34.
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Liquids
Junior Member
Electronics!
Posts: 88
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Post by Liquids on Nov 3, 2010 13:24:18 GMT -7
It's funny how, designs that rely on a distinct device and/or characteristics on electronics is considered 'bad design.' Funny that many guitarists are always looking, searching to exploit the unique characteristics of one specific brand/type/run of tubes! In that sense, 'tubes suck' since they're so variable, unreliable, etc...but I love 'em.
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Post by Scott on Nov 3, 2010 13:45:07 GMT -7
So true... The Tube: Simple tech, made long ago, but never truly replaced in sound reproduction by chips. Tubes still rule!
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Post by Scott on Nov 9, 2010 4:12:28 GMT -7
Have you seen the difference in size between a GT6V6R and JJ6V6 S? I am changing my Groove Tubes out on my Voice Of Music Model 160, and was shocked at how big the JJ's were... A pretty substantial size difference... They just look extra beefy, compared to what my eyes are used to seeing. They both sound, and glow super!! ;D
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Post by Scott on Nov 17, 2011 20:01:25 GMT -7
Bump for new submissions!
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sricabla
Full Member
I like the new format of Z-Talk
Posts: 138
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Post by sricabla on Dec 20, 2011 9:17:26 GMT -7
Here's my collection. The funny thing about tubes is I once bought a 1963 Mullard 12AX7 for $95.00 and it sounded great! It lasted about 6 months before it failed. I bought another one on Ebay for $45.00 and it also sounds great, and it's still in my amp! It just goes to show you price doesn't mean squat for a vintage tube. The only true test to my collection is how many times I have to replace my tubes. Probably some of them will fail quickly, but who knows. I haven't had to replace a tube in over a year.
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Post by Scott on Dec 20, 2011 12:09:26 GMT -7
Nice... I think it's a wise time to be stocking up on a few gems. Thanks for the post.
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