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Post subject: Sad news for tube nuts
Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2011 9:19 pm
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SED (old Svetlana) has made and shipped its last set of vacuum tubes this week to the US. The rest of the St Peterburg, Russia factory will continue manufacturing other electronic products. The only way the vacuum tube portion will re-open is if a large buyer of their tubes (like an amp manufacturer) can make a deal for guaranteed lots of tubes.


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Post subject: Re: Sad news for tube nuts
Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2011 10:13 pm
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Grab those winged C's while you can, sportsfans!

:(

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Sad news for tube nuts
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 4:30 am
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Arjay, what is strange about Svetlana or SED (=C=) is they NEVER were able to strike a deal to be OEM supplier to any major guitar amp (or hi-fi amps, for that manner). Even in their heydays of the 1990's.

I always thought it was odd. That ppl would buy 6L6GC, EL34, or 6550 amps. And immediately toss out the crappy OEM tubes (usually some sub-par Russian or Chinese brand) and insert brand new Svetlanas (=C=).

I never understood why Fender or Svetlana couldn't arrange to use their great 6L6GC's from the get-go. Really, they were like the "RCA" of their era. I'm glad I kinda hoarded EL34, 6550C, and 6L6GC back in the 90's. Sorry this day has arrived.


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Post subject: Re: Sad news for tube nuts
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 5:13 am
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Politics of some sort most likely that they could not be the OEM for a company....just a guess.
I only have one set of Winged C tubes left,better order some more...hate to hear this.


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Post subject: Re: Sad news for tube nuts
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 10:14 am
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
Arjay, what is strange about Svetlana or SED (=C=) is they NEVER were able to strike a deal to be OEM supplier to any major guitar amp (or hi-fi amps, for that manner). Even in their heydays of the 1990's.


I think Rebelsoul hit that nail right on the head......politics.

Tragic......

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Sad news for tube nuts
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 1:30 pm
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I'll stick with my JJs. :D

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Post subject: Re: Sad news for tube nuts
Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 4:14 am
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Nice tubes,Sad Story.. :(


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Post subject: Re: Sad news for tube nuts
Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 6:48 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
Grab those winged C's while you can, sportsfans!

:(

Arjay


Knowing nothing about these should I purchase them over another brand?
Amp is only 5 months old and doesn't need tubes but...for the future...
I see TubeDepot has a 15% off on a matched pair.

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Post subject: Re: Sad news for tube nuts
Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 7:26 am
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If your amp uses 6L6s,they're really good tubes...you might want to buy a pair for the future,I'm going to.


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Post subject: Re: Sad news for tube nuts
Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 7:48 am
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Another sad warning: When New Sensor "bought" the name Svetlana in the early 2000's, the overall quality of SED (=C=) dropped. Most noticeably in thier 6550C and EL34's. Prolly the reason was Eric Barbour, who was the main man pushing for higher quality production, quit at that time.

Tooling is the same for all tubes. But, the QA isn't. Try to buy them from someone who tests the things in "reall" life situations. Like in guitar amps. Or some hi-fi amp. As tube testers put only a few hundred volts onto the plates and run them at a small percentage of the actual idle bias.

The best made Svet's were in the 1990's. If you can squirrel some of those & I do see some real 1990's on EBay every now-&-then. You have long lasting, powerful, good sounding tubes. I mean they are maybe a tad under blackplate RCA's. Thanks, to Eric Barbour.

If you buy from Tube Depot, make sure you know about return policy. There are no high QA new 6L6GC out there now. Selected JJ and Sovtek are the best. IMHO. Tonewise... well that's another subject.


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Post subject: Re: Sad news for tube nuts
Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 11:33 am
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Have a set of Svet 6L6GC in my amp right now but was installed before I bought the amp. In that case, how do I know how old they are?


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Post subject: Re: Sad news for tube nuts
Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 11:51 am
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1990's Svetlana's all have the "OTK" label = mil spec inspected. At the bottom of all the label below the "Made In Russia" is two sets of numbers like:

"98 16" = 16th week of 1998.

SED tubes of the 2000-2010, often have their labels are washed off. So only inspecting the plates can give you a hint of the date of manufacturing. They should all have brown bases.

They should have their anode plates 5 spot welded. And 4 little round tangs hanging down from upper mica plate. And a dimple on the top of the glass tube.

HTH


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Post subject: Re: Sad news for tube nuts
Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 12:13 pm
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Geez, I took it apart yesterday already. Where were you yesterday? :)


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Post subject: Re: Sad news for tube nuts
Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 12:39 pm
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Sorry had to work a double. Here's some photos that may help you.


Label and "OTK" on 1998 version:


Image

Spot welded anode plates, Note four tangs from top mica plate:

Image

Dimple on top. 1990's versions had smaller dimples:

Image


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Post subject: Re: Sad news for tube nuts
Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 12:55 pm
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Thnx, on my way home soon, will report :)


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