NOS output tubes

[Firestorm]

So are what are the old RCA rectifiers like,good as the Russian made?I have a few

If they are 5Y3s or 5U4s, odds are RCA made them. If they are GZ34s, they are almost always Mullards from Blackburn. See if there's a hole in the locating pin.

[David Root]

I have two '66 GE 5AR4s which sound good to me. How specifically do they sound compared to Mullard/Amperex/Philips? Those prices are getting pretty rarefied, and I paid $60 each for the GEs.

[Firestorm]

It's hard to describe. It's sort of like what recording engineers talk about when they talk about "air." Sort of like the ceiling has been raised and everything sounds more harmonically rich. I'm sure it can be replicated if we could figure out what was responsible.

Ken Fisher supposedly wouldn't build a Rocket unless he could get a Mullard GZ34 to go in it. May be true; I could believe it. But the prices on these things has gone utterly stupid, so I would love to discover what the "mojo" was just to work around the fact that everyone who really knew how to make a great tube is dead.

Those GEs are very nice, too. I have a few of those.

[Reeltarded]

I have no doubt that Ken could come up with what Ken needed when Ken needed it. We can even come up with these tubes, right now, today.

There are many things to read on the internet. One of those things is the romantic idea of fighting impossible odds to accomplish a magical task... and then there is the sourcing parts, and breaking out a soldering station. That sounds like work. Where are the unicorns?

I don't think we are hampered as much as we let on.

I do agree about the rectification. It seems to me the the old designs are 'healthy' and newer ones are 'weezers', by some comparison..

Who made the last best rectifier tubes, and when was that? I have had some Mesa marked tubes that were very good. I haven't needed one in a long time. They probably used them all in the super multi octo rectifier amps.

[selloutrr]

the biggest difference with old tubes and new tubes...

The military used tubes back in day for almost everything so tubes were built to last, the best testing tubes were labeled MIL spec.

now days we live in a good enough to get by deposable, replacement economy/work. If they made them as good as they were 50 years ago we wouldn't be buying as many because they wouldn't fail - less profit. Add in enviromental regulations, recycled metals, and climate = what you get is as good as it gets.

some of its hype is truth, just depends on what is good enough for you.

IMHO - I just put in what the artist wants so they are as comfortable as possible and play to the best of thier ability. mojo is all in your head but it works

[Reeltarded]

Whatever works, ya ya ya ya ya ya

That is exactly what I mean.

After reading threads here for a couple years, I wondered what ire I might draw with my take. I am happy with the responses, it makes me feel more sane.



I am not, but it's nice to think so.

[Super_Reverb]

Merlin B made comment in his pre-amp book about good amp design based on sound electronic principles being more important that expensive components, for example "hitherto unavailable" parts and vacuum tubes, pulled from AC30s at Abbey Road studio.

In some ways, the components we have available today are far superior to those of yesteryear. Some things like quality vintage vacuum tubes and O/Ts, and speakers make a big difference.

I can see paying more for something that makes a significant sonic difference. I am a tinkerer and spend a few weeks dialing in an amp after I have "finished" it, so it is obvious to me, through component substitution, what parts give me the best sound. For example, I am completely satisfied with Tung-Sol reissue 12AX7s compared to vintage RCAs, Amperex and the like.

For the most part, I am content with carbon/metal film resistors, poly propylene caps, and re-issue tubes and other quality components.

cheers,

rob

[iknowjohnny]

Merlin B made comment in his pre-amp book about good amp design based on sound electronic principles being more important that expensive components, for example "hitherto unavailable" parts and vacuum tubes, pulled from AC30s at Abbey Road studio.

In some ways, the components we have available today are far superior to those of yesteryear. Some things like quality vintage vacuum tubes and O/Ts, and speakers make a big difference.

I can see paying more for something that makes a significant sonic difference. I am a tinkerer and spend a few weeks dialing in an amp after I have "finished" it, so it is obvious to me, through component substitution, what parts give me the best sound. For example, I am completely satisfied with Tung-Sol reissue 12AX7s compared to vintage RCAs, Amperex and the like.

For the most part, I am content with carbon/metal film resistors, poly propylene caps, and re-issue tubes and other quality components.

cheers,

rob

Man do i ever agree ! People search for the magic tone by purchasing NOS stuff and $10 apiece caps and all that. But the magic isn't there, it's in the amp design. Even just purposely mis-matching my outputs using dual bias made a tonal improvement beyond anything i ever got via some part, be it old new, a tube, tranny, you name it. All current production here, and i'm fine with that. You could outfit my amp with the very best NOS stuff imaginable, and if i just changed a few key factors in the design that got it to where it sounds fantastic, the amp would sound worse than it does not with all current production tubes and no fancy caps etc etc. Merlin nailed it in that quote you cited. It's all there...the magic tone is in the design. Current production tubes are fine for me. If you design around them you can do just as well with them IMO.