|
Post by billyguitar on Apr 12, 2006 14:43:50 GMT -7
I found an old RCA 5879 tube the other day. I don't even remember buying it, unless it was for an old Gibson GA-40 that I used to have. I thought maybe someone here would know if it's similar to a EF-86.
|
|
SG123
Full Member
Posts: 221
|
Post by SG123 on Apr 12, 2006 19:16:08 GMT -7
Bingo x2 !!
The 5879 was used as the first stage preamp tube in your Gibson GA-40. It is similar to the EF86 [ it's also a 9-pin Noval base pentode ], but its pinout is slightly different. Without digging a bit further, I can't say how similar they are characteristic/soundwise - probably not far off..
|
|
|
Post by billyguitar on Apr 13, 2006 5:34:53 GMT -7
Okay that's what I wanted to know. I thought perhaps it was a numerical designation for an EF86, if I was lucky. I googled it and couldn't come up with what I wanted to know. I'll just put it back in the tube carrier where I keep all my old tubes and forget about it since it's got the different pin-out. I did have a 1957 GA40 so I must've bought some tubes for it. That amp's design does not allow far a clean tone. It's always distorted. Crazy design to be a Les Paul amp, you know he would've wanted clean power. It would rock out like crazy but with no clean it wasn't for me. Gerald Weber said it would never play clean because it used a transformer for the phase inverter. the olny way to get a little clean was to turn it way up and then turn the guitar way doown, not good. Thanks for helping me with this info.
|
|
SG123
Full Member
Posts: 221
|
Post by SG123 on Apr 13, 2006 9:56:46 GMT -7
Just for reference, the military/communications 4-digit equivalent of the EF86 is 6267.
That's good to know about the GA-40, thanks !
|
|
|
Post by billyguitar on Apr 14, 2006 11:30:54 GMT -7
6267, thanks. Some of the other GA40s may have different circuit designs so they may be better. I always wanted one of the very old ones. Mine was really pretty, brown on top and tweed on the sides and bottom. The last ones that are square and all tweed are cool. I've got some other old Gibson amps too. The GA79rvt is pretty cool but I'm not too crazy about it. I've also got a 1958 Discoverer, it's okay. the best sounding one I have is a 1941 EH125 amp. It sounds great!
|
|
|
Post by mikekca on Apr 18, 2006 6:04:55 GMT -7
5879 is the tube used in Divided by 13 amps. Similar to an EF86 but different pin out.
|
|