It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:30 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 10 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: This is a real 5AR4/GZ34, right?
Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 4:26 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 11:44 am
Posts: 15
I found this tube today in a sort of antique shop. The proprietor had a couple of boxes full of (mostly) used tubes. So I'm sorting through them looking for a treasure and come up with this. I knew at a glance it was a rectifier and I'm almost certain its a 5AR4, just because of how it looks, the shape of the glass, etc. But the printing was totally unlegible on it and it had black spray paint overspray on the glass. So I cleaned it up. Only a very faint, tiny etched code remains and I think its "L1E." It looks like there are more numbers above that, but I can't make out what they are. I thought it looked like a Mullard, but it may be another brand. It has two "D" shaped getters on top, not halo getters.

I tested it as a 5AR4 on my tube tester and it tests good. But other rectifiers, maybe even several others, use the same test settings as a 5AR4, so I want to be as sure as i can before I use it.

I was hoping to use this in my DRRI.



Image

Image


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: This is a real 5AR4/GZ34, right?
Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 5:46 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 2:18 pm
Posts: 6544
Ok... it looks like a real Mullard made GZ34/5AR4. There is one place you should avoid cleaning a GZ34 and that is near the base. Because all of the manufacturing data (country, year, and version of tube type) is printed on every Philips (Mullard was a Philips related company) based tube. This increases the value of any tube.

Really, you don't need to clean tubes to bright and shiny. Never at the expense of erasing ANY old printing.

Here's a site to explain the nomenclature of these tubes.

http://frank.pocnet.net/other/Philips/P ... AB-v10.pdf


My GZ34 have very faint black printing similar to this site:

http://www.tube-classics.de/TC/Tubes/Va ... 4/GZ34.htm

HTH. Good luck! I've garnered perhaps two dozen NOS Mullard made GZ34 and maybe 30 high testing used ones over 25 years. KEEP THEM! No current GZ34 comes close to the standard of quality and tone of the Mullards. Also, look for good Sylvania and GE made 5AR4 big bottles. All are great tubes.

BTW... I have three Dutch made metal based NOS Philips GZ34. Their info is usually stamped into the metal base. Check out this sale. These are the finest GZ34 ever made. I've known some to last over 40 years of constant use.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-PHILIPS-MIN ... 4ab5e392dd


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: This is a real 5AR4/GZ34, right?
Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 6:05 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 11:44 am
Posts: 15
Hey thanks for confirming the tube and for providing the links.

As I said earlier, the printing on the glass was not legible, nearly totally worn off. Couldn't make out any of it. Plus, it had black paint over -sprayed on the glass. As if it were installed in a chassis and they painted the chassis without removing the tube. Or something.

Those tubes were probably picked over many times, but they missed this one. :D


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: This is a real 5AR4/GZ34, right?
Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 6:14 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 2:18 pm
Posts: 6544
Good luck! BTW... the way I test rectifiers is not in a tube tester (unless I think it's shorted). But in a test bed amp. Which I know the idle bias. Testing output tubes and rectifiers in TT is really not a good thing. As they set the plate voltages and cathode current way below operating conditions.

Sorry, didn't read the info on the painted tube. If that tube had the manufacturer's info on it... you'd get a good $25 more on EBay.

Note all the various plate designs of Mullard made GZ34s? If you get to recognize them, you can still snatch good used deals. As almost ALL Mullard made GZ34 available now are relabeled with other brand names.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: This is a real 5AR4/GZ34, right?
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 7:18 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 2:18 pm
Posts: 6544
Here is that Rogue's gallery of GZ34 I've collected through the years. I suggest looking for good pulls. The future of this tube lies in two manufacturer's fancy. Shuguang in China (makers of TAD tubes) and Reflector for Sovtek.


Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: This is a real 5AR4/GZ34, right?
Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 3:07 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Fri Jun 26, 2009 6:53 pm
Posts: 2252
Location: Harvard IL
Whoaaa!!! What's this Beemer guy planning? Rectifying some kind of off-shore hippie radio station??? Bet he's in with Wolfman Jack!!!

_________________
None of Us are free, if One of Us is chained !


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: This is a real 5AR4/GZ34, right?
Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 3:31 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 2:18 pm
Posts: 6544
Art, you know with the advent of the Net and Ebay, it so much easier for us OCD types to hog up stuff. :o

I work on hi-fi stuff, too. Sometimes, more than guitar amps. Oddly, it's a seasonal thing (more hi-fi in colder weather---more guitar amps in Spring and Summer). Anyhow, a LOT of classic hi-fi units run GZ34/5AR4. And most ppl are comfotable with used Mullard made GZ34. I've found sometimes, they will onlast a new Sovtek. I haven't tried the TAD, yet. But, the wild blue burn-off that some TAD output tubes generate kinda scares ppl. I'd imagine that the TAD GZ34 rectifier may fit this catagory, too. That burn-off is a classic trait of Chinese made output tubes and rectifiers.

You have any experience with TAD rectifiers? Thanks! Have a good one.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: This is a real 5AR4/GZ34, right?
Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 7:08 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Fri Jun 26, 2009 6:53 pm
Posts: 2252
Location: Harvard IL
Nope, actually have no experience with the the Doc's tubes. TAD is a testing company, right ? Art

_________________
None of Us are free, if One of Us is chained !


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: This is a real 5AR4/GZ34, right?
Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 7:25 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 2:18 pm
Posts: 6544
Yes, I think TAD is a German company that basically tests & selects tubes. It doesn't manufacture them. Kinda like GT. I believe most of TAD's output and rectifiers are made in China.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: This is a real 5AR4/GZ34, right?
Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 11:33 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Wed Feb 17, 2010 11:38 am
Posts: 4333
Location: Tennessee
BMW2002Ti wrote:
Here is that Rogue's gallery of GZ34 I've collected through the years. I suggest looking for good pulls. The future of this tube lies in two manufacturer's fancy. Shuguang in China (makers of TAD tubes) and Reflector for Sovtek.


Image

Inspired by your photo some time back,I've gone on a spending spree finding Mullard GZ34/5AR4s,I have 5 or 6,along with some GE 5AR4s that I've had for awhile.
I like tube porn,this pic is a good one! and have always spent lots of money finding good American,British,Holland and German made tubes over the years.
I've also come to the conclusion that the TAD tubes are screened better,I'm glad to see you say that BMW.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 10 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: