Belton tube sockets

[toskrlec]

Hi,

I have Belton sockets on my Express, in last time I often change preamp tubes, and try to find best combination. After few changes, tubes become something loser in socket (not so tight how when they are new, and without resistance when pull out).

What you think, how many times can man put in and pull out tubes, in those types of plastic sockets? I have fear that tube pins will lose good connection, or become microphonic.

[David Root]

I have not used Belton noval sockets much, but I use Belton octal sockets a lot and I have not had that problem with the octal sockets. I don't recall any problems with the Belton novals I have used.

I have been using NOS military Cinch novals recently. They grip really tight.

[Phil_S]

Noval sockets are physically much smaller than octal. It seems reasonable to think they will stand up to less use/abuse. You can always attempt to retention them. Maybe you should consider using a socket saver. This will transfer the abuse to the socket saver and save you from having to do a socket replacement. One of these: http://cgi.ebay.com/9-pin-noval-tube-so ... 2308cdba39

Personally, I like plastic sockets better than ceramic, but I don't have a good reason for that!

[TheGimp]

I've used the Beltons with good success.

I had some Cinch NOS that had a weird oxodization that was near impossible to remove. I ended up ripping them out and replaceing them with Beltons which got rid of the scratchy noise. I threw the rest of tehm in the trash as they were not worth working on.

The best (noval) sockets I've used were pulled from an old Tektronix 545 oscilloscope. I've run out of them so I bought some ceramic 9 pin sockets to try next.

[M Fowler]

I really like the Belton and stopped using all others and have had no problems.

[Cliff Schecht]

I've had great luck with the Cinch 9-pin shielded sockets I found at a hamfest last year. I use them in my Trainwreck builds exclusively for the preamps. For power stuff, I like ceramic sockets. The Belden octal socket pins break very easily with ANY flexing which has screwed me more than once. I still use them but I do prefer even the Chinese ceramic sockets over Belden stuff.

[iknowjohnny]

I use belton for preamp and octal, and i have builds i have tortured for years with changing tubes god knows how may times. They're still as tight as you could ever want. granted, they loosen up a tad from new because new is rough and the metal sleeves will smooth as the pins are pulled out and back in. But as far as *necessary tightness* of the sleeves, they have yet to come close to loosening up to a point thats remotely unacceptable. I have 3 different types of EL34's i regularly swap out for different sounds and I've probably swapped tubes in the oldest one 300 times and they aren't close to being done. Beltons are great IMO. By the time you wear them out it would be no big deal to replace them, as it would only be after many years.

[Richie]

what johnny said. Might try different tubes too, some tubes have smaller pins than others. They are usually very tight fitting sockets. Never had a problem with them in many different amp builds.

One thing that can be a problem on some amps, is the shield base. many current made tubes are fatter. And some after a while might crack. Those fit tight around the shield base of any socket. Mostly again these will be current made tubes. older NOS tubes were not that fat,and don't have the problem.

[rp]

Somewhere along the way I picked up a decent supply of McMurdos which I liked but are now all gone as is most of my NOS stuff. I plan on trying these QQQ Japanese ones next, they aren't that much more than Beltons. I emailed PCX and they are 1 1/4 knock-out, however, so that excludes my present build.

http://www.partsconnexion.com/socket_qqq.html

[Normster]

Just a thought...if you find that your sockets are loosening up, it could be from bent tube pins. If you don't have one, find a good pin staightener. I've gotten in the habit of using one and never have problems with loose sockets.

[Structo]

what johnny said. Might try different tubes too, some tubes have smaller pins than others. They are usually very tight fitting sockets. Never had a problem with them in many different amp builds.

One thing that can be a problem on some amps, is the shield base. many current made tubes are fatter. And some after a while might crack. Those fit tight around the shield base of any socket. Mostly again these will be current made tubes. older NOS tubes were not that fat,and don't have the problem.

I have noticed this too.
I finally got a pin straightener on ebay last year and it is a nice precision metal one.

What I notice is that most vintage preamp tubes fit it easily but newer and current tubes the glass envelope is larger or thicker and sometimes I have trouble pushing the tube into the straightener.

I also concur that some brands of tubes have smaller pins than others.

What it boils down to is, that nowadays you can't take anything for granted where tubes are concerned.

You have to pay attention to the tube and socket and how well they mate.


I have the style like D.

[img:800:457]http://www.stevenjohnson.com/pics/tubepinst1.jpg[/img]

[C Moore]

FWIW -
I just had to replace the power tube sockets in a Silver Face DR. I used Belton, I believe the name is "Micalex". They were a bout 3 dollars each.....
I have the style "E" pin straightener.

[David Root]

I have two of Style C, I got them from Lord Valve several years ago. Invaluable tool. Lord V said he bought 2,000 of them from a guy in Florida who had a garage full of them. The smaller pin circle is for seven pin tubes, 6AQ5, 6AT6 etc.

Like Tom says, some current production have over width glass which can be a tight fit, Sovtek, JJ, EH mostly.

[M Fowler]

Funny you mentioned the tube pin configuration slightly off as I have had trouble with that lately not fitting the sockets well.

I need to find a pin straightener too.

Mark

[rp]

Guess we are all going to be fighting each other on eBay this week. The sellers are gonna wonder why the sudden run up on these things.