mck
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Post by mck on Nov 1, 2010 20:20:01 GMT -7
Ok. At the risk of getting some flak here... Not whinging but just trying to understand the rationale. Why would you put a flag-ship product at a premium price and ship it with fairly low cost & generic rectifier & pre tubes?
I am happy that the power tubes are old Saratovs and I can see they were matched nicely (based on hand written markings on the tubes, not my personal testing yet...).
Anyways, bottom line, I am wondering if BP runs his Z-Wreck with the same stock supplied tubes or whether the raffle edition Z-Wreck came with the same tubes. Anyone know?
I am looking at keeping the Saratovs, throwing in a Mullard GZ34 and possibly some Tungsram 12AX7s as I heard these were Ken Fischer's favorites in the Rocket. If sky was the limit what would you tube your Z-Wreck with? Thanks for your input.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Nov 1, 2010 20:27:18 GMT -7
I look at it a little differently. I'm pleased that the amp sounds as great as it does with tubes that a working musician can afford to replace. Naturally you can upgrade to all NOS stuff, but most working musicians cannot afford to do that. I like Dr. Z's thinking in this regard.
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Post by hymns on Nov 1, 2010 20:52:32 GMT -7
I'm not getting a wreck but I understand why production tubes are used.If you can't find the nos originals you have an amp tuned to the production tubes so no hunting is required.Nos is drying up slowly but surely.You can always tweak it the way you want but you know what it is going to sound like with X brand of tube.I also want to congratulate all of you getting this amp.I just won't be a lucky one but I was able to buy me a red Z-28 I wanted since I had to sell all my amps last year because of my personal problems.Also thanks for all the support you guys gave me .I am still humbled.
John
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mck
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Post by mck on Nov 1, 2010 21:07:08 GMT -7
Good arguments above guys. Thanks. Keep em coming.
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Post by chetz on Nov 1, 2010 21:56:36 GMT -7
I am picking my 'Wreck up this week. I have a Remedy which is my amp to end all.......until I get my 'wreck. I think I will have the two best amps of their genre/style. I am keeping my mouth shut on tubes......I have a Remedy on Steroids though! The good doctor or anyone else can't buy a consistent quantitiy of great NOS Glass.
What I do with old tubes... I always say I am "Guilding the Lilly.".......at least with the good Dr's amps.
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Post by Scott on Nov 1, 2010 23:28:32 GMT -7
Well I can't buy a Z-Wreck yet, but I can buy a matched set of $120.00 dollar NOS RCA 7189's. One of my NOS tubes has an odd color base in it... They still worked like a champ.I also like visually pleasing NOS tubes if I can get them, but I think the harsh truth is, in the NOS world, some are just a bit hard on the eye. That's my take.
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Post by DRZ on Nov 2, 2010 5:13:13 GMT -7
Let me just say a couple of things.
Yes all of Brads Z-Wrecks are tubed exactly like your production amp.
I sourced over 800 NOS Russian 6n14n aka 7189's, Kenny's first choice , and an excellent sounding reliable tube, And they were not cheap. I could not have gotten any BETTER tubes at that quantity.
Believe me I have purchased many more NOS pre-amps tubes then you, all from some of the best suppliers available and I'm disappointed over 50% of the time. And as time goes on the supply of them gets smaller and smaller. I could not have spec'd Tungstram 12AX7's and supplied them in the first 100 units ordered, try and find 300 GOOD 12AX7 Tungstrams.
Real Mullard GZ-34's are very scarce as well and are priced from 150.00 to 200.00 each if you can find a source for one or two.
Re-tubing your own Z-Wreck with hand selected tubes is great, but not for a production line , or a working musician, think about it objectively.
And lastly the Tung Sol RI pre Amp tubes are pretty good once I select and test them, and I have been using Sovtek 5AR4's for over 23 years.
Enough, Z
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mck
New Member
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Post by mck on Nov 2, 2010 6:04:16 GMT -7
Dear Dr.Z,
Thanks for taking the time to respond. I really appreciate it and hope my initial post did not come across as negative. I was simply trying to understand the rationale. I agree the amp sounds great as it is and thanks for making it happen for us.
Keep well and enjoy life. Hope I didn't add to your stress with my post.
Regards, K
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Post by stratovarius on Nov 2, 2010 6:59:36 GMT -7
Hey doc, what about the 6p14p? Is that the same as or close to 6n14n? Some of us are going to want to have replacements on hand.
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Post by DRZ on Nov 2, 2010 7:24:40 GMT -7
They are the same .
Hard to tell a Russian n from a p on the tube printing.
Z
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Post by basementhack on Nov 2, 2010 8:05:50 GMT -7
Hey doc, what about the 6p14p? Is that the same as or close to 6n14n? Some of us are going to want to have replacements on hand. Here you go...ample quantities to be had thetubestore.com/preferred7189.htmlKeith
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Post by markT on Nov 3, 2010 4:12:15 GMT -7
Real Mullard GZ-34's are very scarce as well and are priced from 150.00 to 200.00 each if you can find a source for one or two. Re-tubing your own Z-Wreck with hand selected tubes is great, but not for a production line , or a working musician, think about it objectively. ;D It looks like I have the good Dr's blessing to have put a Real Mullard GZ-34 in my Z Wreck. Just for piece of mind. Thanks for the info Dr Z. Also, thanks for that link Keith....might pick up a set of those for the future. No more changes than the rectifier for the foreseeable future.
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bartc
Junior Member
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Post by bartc on Nov 4, 2010 18:45:30 GMT -7
Dr. Z - You could not be more correct about NOS sourcing. There is a lot of old crap out there. I have only bought about 300 tubes in the last five years, and the best NOS tube I have came out of a pre amp I found in my neighbor's trash. I believe we are better off buying from tested reliable sources. The good Dr. is building and selling productions amps with very thoughtful tube sourcing. Cheap and good are not synonymous, and expensive and NOS are not synonymous. If you can source the tubes Dr. Z uses you can eliminate a lot of mistakes. If you need to replace or experiment with tubes spend two or three dollars more per tube to have them tested by a reliable dealer. I have bought (25) EF86's in five years, and the five cheapest are in the top 10. Tube depot, and Eurotubes will treat you right, but the only real truth is the ears you trust!
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mck
New Member
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Post by mck on Nov 4, 2010 19:16:49 GMT -7
Real Mullard GZ-34's are very scarce as well and are priced from 150.00 to 200.00 each if you can find a source for one or two. Re-tubing your own Z-Wreck with hand selected tubes is great, but not for a production line , or a working musician, think about it objectively. ;D It looks like I have the good Dr's blessing to have put a Real Mullard GZ-34 in my Z Wreck. Just for piece of mind. Thanks for the info Dr Z. Also, thanks for that link Keith....might pick up a set of those for the future. No more changes than the rectifier for the foreseeable future. www.nostubestore.com/search/label/GZ34%2F5AR4Just ordered a bunch of tubes from these guys. First time transaction so fingers crossed. They seem to have an amazing stock and well placed prices.
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Post by Ben on Nov 5, 2010 4:58:29 GMT -7
;D It looks like I have the good Dr's blessing to have put a Real Mullard GZ-34 in my Z Wreck. Just for piece of mind. Thanks for the info Dr Z. Also, thanks for that link Keith....might pick up a set of those for the future. No more changes than the rectifier for the foreseeable future. www.nostubestore.com/search/label/GZ34%2F5AR4Just ordered a bunch of tubes from these guys. First time transaction so fingers crossed. They seem to have an amazing stock and well placed prices. MCK - Is it hard to get good tube selection in Europe? I've always wondered if the supply/availability was greater there then here in NA. Cheers Ben
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mck
New Member
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Post by mck on Nov 5, 2010 6:23:51 GMT -7
Hey Ben,
I'm actually based in Japan now so can probably speak for this neck of the world. I see stock being pimped like it was pieces on a jewellery shops display. 1 by 1. Extremely expensive compared to the US or various online reputable dealers.
As far as Europe goes, I do believe there are fairly large pockets of stock here & there. Especially the military variants through NATO connections are still out there. Case in point is the link I posted above. Just placed my order with them and look forward to receiving bunch of really interesting tubes. Will report back once received.
Regards
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Post by paisleytele on Nov 5, 2010 13:14:15 GMT -7
i just got a quad set for free . they are labeled 6n14n-ep aon the other side of the tube it has otk 2 then a diamond with a 0 in it the 91 viiii.
have no clue about these things
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Post by stratovarius on Nov 5, 2010 13:34:51 GMT -7
Well, I took my chances with one of those crazy Siberians on eBay. I'll let you guys know how it turns out.
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