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Post subject: Re: Sad day, but not tragic - SFSR dead again
Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 7:29 pm
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Arjay, Hey how has those welded plate Tungsol 7581 worked out? I've had several other ppl use this tube and like it. They seem to like a bit more current (hotter bias) to hit the sweet zone. Like the original 7581 and 7581A's.


http://www.thetubestore.com/Tubes/6L6-5 ... 7581-6L6GC


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Post subject: Re: Sad day, but not tragic - SFSR dead again
Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 7:59 pm
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If you're referring to those T-S 6L6 STR's, they're still hanging in there. We'll see if they hold up over the long run. The T-S pre-amp tubes that Jim sent sound beautiful as well -- very smooth, very quiet.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Sad day, but not tragic - SFSR dead again
Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 10:03 pm
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Chris, glad you found the failure, and the rest of the amp seems well ! I'd suggest going for some reasonably priced NOS(tested) power tubes. If you can swing it, the long-run will work out for the best, and the performance will be a real plus. Personally, I have never had a moment of "buyer's remorse" using superior tubes. Art

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Post subject: Re: Sad day, but not tragic - SFSR dead again
Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 11:52 pm
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aclempoppi wrote:
Personally, I have never had a moment of "buyer's remorse" using superior tubes. Art


As Confucius told us......

"If the quality is long remembered, the price is soon forgotten."

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: Sad day, but not tragic - SFSR dead again
Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 5:48 am
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Ok, the 2,312th attempt to post this message... :lol:


When anyone says NOS 6L6GC, one tube comes to mind. BP RCA beauties. But, I've been running those pink based GE mil spec 7581As in my VLR for about 6 months now. They have all the good things that RCAs have. And, believe it or now, a bit more balls.

One word of caution. If you get a good set of any of these output tubes --- it'll be REAL hard to be satisfied with any new production tube. Kinda like flying a primo restored P51 Mustang. Or the finest Playboy Playmate.... :lol:

The only 6L6GC type that I really think may have even bigger huevos are the original brown based, gray glass BP GEC/MOV KT-66. These coke bottle push the darn amp into the realm of 6550 tone.

If you have patience and $$$ to hunt these down --- any of these will float your boat. Like "Love you long time." :lol:



http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-GE-7581-tube- ... 19d7e3f145


http://www.ebay.com/itm/GEC-KT-66-tubes ... 19d7ee4a46


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Post subject: Re: Sad day, but not tragic - SFSR dead again
Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 10:25 am
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Art, Arjay and BMW - thanks!

Since my SFSR lives at home 100% of the time I have often thought about making a better tube investment due to reduced risk of damage from travel etc.

Which are the critical tubes to focus on for sonic value? I have dabbled in tube phono stages and that world is all about critical performance and even rectifier tubes have been anointed with holy grail importance. What are the things to consider in decent tubes for the SFSR? How much of the amplifier's tone characteristics are enhanced (or degraded) by tube choice?

I ask mostly due to my experience with phono stages. Quite often I found I could spend considerable money only to have combinations fail on "synergy". In that world I was able to find a nice symbiotic match and be done with it, of course after accumulating quite a few tubes along the way. Luckily some of them were 12AX7s so I have gotten some re-use in the SFSR :-)

Chris


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Post subject: Re: Sad day, but not tragic - SFSR dead again
Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 5:24 pm
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All tubes have some influence on overall tone. But, the INPUT stage and output stage seem (YEAH! Color!!) to make the most difference concerning a reliable amp, over time. And that rectifier. Both tone and general use reliablity.

If you like consistent, reliable tone (and who doesn't?) --- spend on good PS caps, rectifier, and output tubes. You can roll input and gain stage tubes to suit the final tone and response. Keep the rectifier and 6L6GCs the same. With good, steady idle bias. And plate voltages. It'll be a happy amp, that will give you another long time of good service. IME, at least.

:mrgreen:


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Post subject: Re: Sad day, but not tragic - SFSR dead again
Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 4:11 pm
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Agree with Beemer!!! I like RCA BP 6L6GC, GE (early iteration)6L6GC, Tung Sol 5881, Marconi(Canadian GE) 7581, and Phillips 7581 power tubes. Right now, I'm using the RCA's in a '67 Band Master and Tung Sol 5881's in a Bassman. The Band Master uses a Mullard GZ34 and a matched GE hallow getter 12AT7,for the PI(same PI for the Bassman). For input tubes both amps use Telefunken 12AX7A's in one channel and NOS Tesla E83CC gold-pins in the other( some times RCA 7025,s). This is just my choice after trying many different combinations. Yeah synergy!!! Art

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