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Post subject: 5v4ga vs 5v4gt
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 8:57 am
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Hey tube gurus: My 5E3 says it can use a 5y3gt or 5v4gt rectifier. I asked Mike at KCA NOS tubes and he said there was no such thing as a 5v4gt and sold me a 5v4ga. I used it in my amp for about an hour and there were no issues, red plating etc. My question is: Is there a difference between the 5v4GT and GA? or are they pretty much the same tube?

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Post subject: Re: 5v4ga vs 5v4gt
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 9:07 am
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My RCA Receiving Tube Manual (RC-27) contains no listing or data for a 5V4GT. However, the 5V4GA is well-documented with a full set of performance specs and operating characteristics.

I suspect the GT is an up-rated version of this tube -- you should be fine either way.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 5v4ga vs 5v4gt
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 9:20 am
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Interestingly, I found this excerpt from Gerald Weber's book "A Desktop Reference of Hip Vintage Guitar Amps" on Google and he references the 5v4gt too. Mystery rectifier.

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Post subject: Re: 5v4ga vs 5v4gt
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 10:29 am
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"GT" at the end of a tube's designation indicates tube size. Small cylindrical glass tube. like 6V6GT or 6SN7GT size. The 5V4G has the "coke bottle" glass envelope. Not large & sexy, like the ST-12 shape (witness our old buddy the famous 6L6GAY--- a killer tube, in spite of it "orientation)." :lol:

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Author may have gotten confused with the mil spec micanol base 5V4GY.

You really want a good 5Y3GT type? Which has slow startup (like the GZ34), good headroom, and tougher than petrified pika pellets...yet maintains similar B+ and bias supply voltage, as the stock 5Y3GT ---> I recommend the GE 6087 (aka 5Y3WGTB) or the Bendix Red Bank 5Y3WGT(A) (aka 6106). You get a good used one (high testing & quiet) & you won't need to buy another rectifier until the cows comes home. :mrgreen:

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Post subject: Re: 5v4ga vs 5v4gt
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 12:35 pm
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Could they have really meant a 5Y4GT ?

Call Victoria Amps and ask them about it. :idea:

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Post subject: Re: 5v4ga vs 5v4gt
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 3:08 pm
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I emailed and Mark replied as if I were referring to the right tube:

Me: On the tube chart it says you can use a 5y3gt or 5v4 rectifier. It has the 5y3 in it. Did you intend that I can just swap the rectifier for the 5v4? My amp tech said it would probably be okay, but that I should watch for red plating in the power tubes. Since you guys built the amp I figure you could tell me if this was a good idea or not.

Mark: Sure just swap it out. No rebiasing or anything like that is necessary.

Turn it up!
Mark


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Post subject: Re: 5v4ga vs 5v4gt
Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 8:25 am
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:!:

You should ask him about the GA vs GT, the whole point of your post. :idea:

We want to know too! :)

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Post subject: Re: 5v4ga vs 5v4gt
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 11:49 am
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Fair point Shim! I didn't address the GT vs GA issue exactly. New email exchange:

Me: Mark, my tube guy said there was no such thing as a 5v4gt and sold me a 5v4ga. Not sure what the difference is. I assume it should be fine in my 20112?

Mark: Hi Mike. It never ceases to amaze me the little things some techs keep in their arsenal to intimidate customers..LOL.. yes the 5V4GA is just fine!

As an aside, Mark has answered about 4 of my email questions, and replied in under 24 hours in each case. That's pretty good customer service considering I told him I got the amp on a trade and not from one of his dealers.


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Post subject: Re: 5v4ga vs 5v4gt
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 12:17 pm
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I'm not certain that anyone here said that there was no such tube as a 5V4GT -- merely that we couldn't seem to find any documentation on it.

Regardless, the 5V4GA is adequate per your conversations with Mark. Run with it.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 5v4ga vs 5v4gt
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 12:22 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
I'm not certain that anyone here said that there was no such tube as a 5V4GT -- merely that we couldn't seem to find any documentation on it.

Regardless, the 5V4GA is adequate per your conversations with Mark. Run with it.

Arjay

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I check the RCA manual often also RJ....I don't know why folks who own tube amps don't buy one.... :?


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Post subject: Re: 5v4ga vs 5v4gt
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 12:35 pm
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Rebelsoul wrote:
I check the RCA manual often also RJ....I don't know why folks who own tube amps don't buy one.... :?


The difference between a dilettante and an enthusiast, I'd presume......

:mrgreen:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 5v4ga vs 5v4gt
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 12:40 pm
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Mike at KCA NOS tubes said that, not you guys (I referred to him as "My tube guy" in the email to Mark above).

This is the quote taken from an email from him: "There’s no such thing as a 5V4GT. I recommend the RCA 5V4GA."

Yeah, I'd consider myself somewhere between an dilettante and an enthusiast I guess :lol:


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Post subject: Re: 5v4ga vs 5v4gt
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 12:46 pm
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In BMW's earlier post it seems like the main difference in the letter codes is just the shape of the glass envelope from what I can glean (i.e. 6V6GT, 6V6G, 6V6GTY). Is this right? .

I'm trying move the needle more to the enthusiast side and away from the dilettante direction I guess :lol:


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Post subject: Re: 5v4ga vs 5v4gt
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 12:59 pm
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s3mamill wrote:
In BMW's earlier post it seems like the main difference in the letter codes is just the shape of the glass envelope from what I can glean (i.e. 6V6GT, 6V6G, 6V6GTY). Is this right? .

I'm trying move the needle more to the enthusiast side and away from the dilettante direction I guess :lol:

:lol: You're moving in the right direction!...and hanging with some "enthusiast" "elders" here. :D
But Mike Kropotkin (don't know if I spelled his name right!) at KCA is a very knowledgeable guy about tubes,I've bought from him for years among a few others.


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Post subject: Re: 5v4ga vs 5v4gt
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 1:51 pm
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s3mamill wrote:
I'm trying move the needle more to the enthusiast side and away from the dilettante direction I guess :lol:


There's absolutely nothing wrong with either end of this spectrum, or anywhere in between. The difference is, we enthusiasts live and breathe this stuff (for whatever reason). A dilettante's interests are prioritized differently from ours and thus, they periodically rely on us for information (which we're happy to provide).

Arjay

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