Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2014 5:27:31 GMT -7
This is my first NOS tube purchase. I have read good things about Sylvania black plate tubes, and I thought the price was good. $13 shipped to the house. I had picked up a few JJ ECC83s tubes at $13 each, so I figured this was good. Do you guys know anything about these tubes?
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Post by strat59 on Jun 10, 2014 5:40:04 GMT -7
I'm sure you already know but just in case- clean oxidation on pins with deoxit or equivalent before installing. Sounds like you got a good deal.
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Post by BritInvasion on Jun 10, 2014 6:46:29 GMT -7
Great tube , and you got it at a steal! Pop it in V1 and let us know what you think!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2014 6:49:59 GMT -7
Do you know the year? I cannot see any date code on the glass anywhere to identify the age.
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Post by BritInvasion on Jun 10, 2014 7:17:59 GMT -7
Hard to say , but judging from the box I would guess mid / late 60's.
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Post by zpilot on Jun 10, 2014 7:49:18 GMT -7
At that price, someday you will kick yourself for not buying more. It's almost TOO good, but what the heck, it's definitely worth the gamble.
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Post by digs57 on Jun 10, 2014 14:01:20 GMT -7
13 for nos sylv is a steal...could even be late 50s...
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2014 18:03:43 GMT -7
I have a pair of them in my Swart AST. Yellow print, instead of red. Very reliable. They've been in there for 3 years or so with no issues at all.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2014 12:32:49 GMT -7
So...I got that tube and I put it in V1. There is a such a difference in the amp I don't know if I can properly describe what I am hearing. I didn't change my settings after I put it in. I just wanted to hear the direct difference between a new JJ and a NOS Sylvania. Everything seems more powerful. Even using the "Low" input the results are fairly dramatic. I actually had to turn some things down in order to tame the sound.
A major thing to note here is that now the amp does sound like a British amp. Using a ECC83S in V1/V2 made the amp sound more American...gainy??? Even though Sylvania is an American tube, it really opened up the natural characteristics of the EL84s. Sadly, the gentlemen I bought the tube from did not have any more at the time of my purchase so...bummer for me. He stated a few test figures from a Hicock tester and I still need to verify what he said. I will be doing testing the tube this evening and report back to you all.
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51d
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Post by 51d on Jun 21, 2014 0:18:32 GMT -7
My silverface Fender Vibro Champ was purchased from its original (or perhaps second) owner who'd consigned it to his father's attic since the UK punk thing, i.e. a very long time ago. So, it came with the original valves, including one of these Sylvania. And yes, they sound remarkable. There needs to be an alliance of the best amp designers and manufacturers that produces their own glassware to the standards we routinely could expect 40-50 years ago...when I use JJ or EHX, good as these are, they sound shout-y at any except low volumes. Switching to the NOS really does pay off; the problem is finding them - and paying for them. But this is something we have to do if the integrity of our best amp designers' work is to emerge from our speakers...
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2014 5:00:07 GMT -7
Agreed 51d, well said.
I had a chance to test the tube, as well as 2 store purchased JJ's this last week. The NOS Sylvania tested at 1350/1300. This is just slightly less than the seller said it was, but I am not unhappy with the numbers. The JJ's, brand new mind you, both tested at 1050/1000...NEW!!! What a disappointment! I am ecstatic with the Sylvania purchase, and far less enthralled with the JJ's. My dad says to take this as a lesson to attempt to only by NOS tubes. The quality, tone, and durability, he says, should make this obvious. Yes the availability of the tubes and the price make this a tricky game, but the payoff is totally worth it.
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