"Chandler" brand tubes?

[solderstain]

Okay, those of you with the large tube brains -

I have couple of very interesting old Silvertone amps in the shop from the same customer. They were discovered in the back room of a tech who'd been around forever and passed away unexpectedly. Neither works, which is why I have them in the shop.

One is a Model 1434 and the other is a Model 1474. Very interesting approach to the 2x12 amp...

Anyway, the 1474 has "Chandler" brand 6L6GC tubes. They have kind of interesting-looking construction. I don't know what they sound like.

Anyone know anything about them?

[David Root]

I think they are re-branded, made by someone else. Can you post a pic?

[solderstain]

I think they are re-branded, made by someone else. Can you post a pic?

I kinda suspected that already. I'll take a picture or two when I get home from work tonight. I should have done that right away. I figure someone with a bigger brain than mine can figure out the manufacturer from the construction.

Stay tuned.

[solderstain]

[img:800:600]http://www.doctorvintage.com/amps/chandler_tube_1.jpg[/img]
[img:800:600]http://www.doctorvintage.com/amps/chandler_tube_2.jpg[/img]
[img:800:600]http://www.doctorvintage.com/amps/chandler_tube_3.jpg[/img]

[dreric]

Chandler is a San Francisco based company who in the early 90's tried to enter the market on a lot of different levels. Rebranding. Other that making excellent pick gaurds they've never really made it big time.

When russian tubes first started getting imported these were what they were selling as 6L6 I remeber that they weren't a true 6l6 but a remarking of a russian tube that was close. Again, memory but I think the can't take true plate voltages for too long without smoking and shorting. Not from memory is that they sounded bad, not ok bad, very bad, like "what's wrong with my amp" bad. They were made by what is now the sovteck / new sensor factory.

For a short time they were the new 6l6 then sovteck took the market with their wafer based 5881 6L6GC another not so great tube.

From Memory,

eric

[solderstain]

Well, these must be obscure since no one has a definitive answer. I wasn't sure there is one to begin with, since I suspect that most companies that sell relabeled stuff change suppliers from time to time.

The amp is going back home to its owner in a couple of days, so it will fade from memory.

[skeezbo]

Solderstain,

I am pretty sure these are Russian 6P3S tubes; I have seen them rebranded many different ways: Raytheon, RCA, even Made in England. I have never used them, but most reviews that I have read about them are not favorable. The wafer-base 6P3S-E tubes, the Sovtek 5881 that has been around for years, are considered far superior in the reviews I have read. If I remember correctly one user suggested that 6P3S tubes work better as a sub for 6V6 rather than 6L6GC.

Skeezbo

[wicker]

Well you've got to know that 6P3S is like 6L6, basically 6P3S-E are the 6L6GC, in datasheets 6P3S-E you will find that max Va is ~300V as far as I remember, however, there's no problem in using them with higher voltage (400-450), the E in name means that they're 'special' or 'military' versions. I've heard many times that people used them instead of 6L6 in Twins and some other 50-100W monsters. The biggest advantage of those tubes is that they're hard to kill, and where I live (Poland) you can get a pair of NOS 6P3S-E for ca. 20$ and quad for 35-40$ sometimes even less. One of not many advantages of being part of Warsaw Pact in past ....

This 6L6 looks just like 6P3S (normal), today Sovtek's 6L6/6L6GC are nothing else that old 6P3S(-E). The sound, hmm don't have any opinions, haven't played them yet (although got a pair of 6P3S-E (CCCP made ; ) that wait for amp) it's all in the eye (ear) of the beholder, Russian tubes are known for sounding 'harder' so the blues player may not be satisfied, but good for some hard/heavy stuff.

It's interesting, there's a long tradition i Rossija ; ) of production of beam tetrodes (there's also 6P6S which is 6V6) much longer that pentodes (except of 6P14P(-EB/EW) great substitute for EL84, and cheap ofc ; ) .

[solderstain]

Solderstain,

I am pretty sure these are Russian 6P3S tubes; I have seen them rebranded many different ways: Raytheon, RCA, even Made in England. I have never used them, but most reviews that I have read about them are not favorable. The wafer-base 6P3S-E tubes, the Sovtek 5881 that has been around for years, are considered far superior in the reviews I have read. If I remember correctly one user suggested that 6P3S tubes work better as a sub for 6V6 rather than 6L6GC.

Skeezbo

Thanks - I have no interest in them myself. They arrived in a customer's amp, and I'd never seen them before, so I thought I'd troll about them here.