el menco 6sl7

[funkmeblue]

anybody know anything about the el menco labled 6sl7? I ordered what was suppose to be a nos tube and to me it looks identical to the new sovtek 6h9c/6sl7 only I paid 12 dollars more.....

[tonewood]

There are caps by that name mentioned a few posts back. Someone said they are 70s & good quality.
https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.php?t=16459

[David Root]

Same company I think. EM choco drops were made by EM-Arco in the USA. EM stands for Electro-Motive, not El Menco.

El Menco tubes I believe were a distibutor item as EM didn't manufacture tubes. So origin could be other than USA. I have seen old 6L6GC branded El Menco, and other tubes too, some made in USA, some in Japan and some in Korea.

Attached is some history which explains more. Can you post a pic of your 6SL7 so we can see for ourselves?

[funkmeblue]

I can't seem to get a usable picture of this damn thing. It is identical to the sovtek tubes I have sitting here in front of me. How old does something have to be to be considered nos. I wonder how long russia has been manufacturing this same tube design. Last time I ordered I got rca's

[Phil_S]

I recognize the practice of purchasing tubes on eBay is suspect and even frowned upon by some. This is understandable and I won't elaborate -- I think we know the issues. Nevertheless, I think there are some kinds of tubes where eBay offers great bargains. Don't spend too much, you won't get hurt is my view of it. I think 6SL7 is a "good" eBay tube. I've bought several with very good results.

Search this:
(6sl7gt, "6sl7-gt") -(russian, sovtek, russia, 6N9S)

You'll get this: http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R4 ... Categories
Ignore the seller KW TUBES as those are Russian.
In short order you can find a multiple item lot at a bargain price: http://www.ebay.com/itm/LOT-OF-9-NOS-US ... 27c62347e8 Of course, I'm not sure where it will end up.

There is one seller who has multiple auctions for almost new pairs at BIN $20 + $7.61 shipping. I think multiple lots will reduce shipping cost.

Not sure how this compares to regular retail purchasing, but maybe worth trying.

Phil

[funkmeblue]

cool, I will check that out. I ordered from tubedepot because I needed the tube tested for low microphonics (v1 express/concorde build)

[funkmeblue]

....and it is not

[Phil_S]

....and it is not

Return it. You didn't get what you ordered. I'd expect them to stand by what they sell. At the prices they charge, you should expect more than from eBay. After all, that's why you chose to take your business there, didn't you?

OTOH, you can get 3x as many tubes for the same money and I think you'll end up with at least one good one. If you sit on the auctions for a while you can do very well. I've pad as little as $10 for two (shipped) and I've paid $20 for 3.

Like I said, if you don't spend too much, it's hard to get hurt.

[funkmeblue]

ya, I'm with you on that, I think I'm done doing business with the depot. I'm not sure how they test for "low microphonics" but there definition is different from mine. They should build an express and try there tubes in v1....that will let them know

[Structo]

I don't care for Tube Depot.
I ordered a matched quad of 6L6GC and they all drifted apart after a short while.

Then I checked out vendors that say they burn in their tubes before matching them. It makes them much more stable if they have been run at voltage for 48 hours or so.

Dougs Tubes does this and it shows.
I ordered the same brand of 6L6 as a matched quad and they have performed very well with only about a 1-2ma drift.

As for testing for microphonics, they just tap the tube while testing it to see how much noise gets through.

I always use silicone dampeners on my tubes which help cut that down.

[funkmeblue]

I was just checking out doug's tubes just yesterday. I may have to try some of the ruby 12ax7s and see how quiet they are. I'm sure magic parts gets a larger batch of tubes then most vendors to choose the good ones from

[Prairie Dawg]

It's a rare 6SL7 that isn't microphonic to some degree. If you can find late-ish military Sylvania 6SL7s or a red base 5691, you will probably have what you need. Of course, you can go through a lot of Reflektor 6SL7s for the price a single 5691 will cost you.