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Visual evidence Tung-Sol 5998 = Western Electric 421

post #1 of 4
8/7/10 at 2:52pm
Thread Starter 

I was cruising eBay, and I came across this.  This has been debated a lot here, and hopefully this settles it for good.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/Western-Electric-5998-421A-vacuum-electron-Tube-/310238096979?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0

 

Now, there is no longer any evidence for people to deny the WE 421 was not made by Tung-Sol.  There's no need to dish out $300 on a WE 421 in hopes that it is more magical than a regular 5998

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post #2 of 4
8/8/10 at 6:27am

I wasn't aware there was even any debate on this topic.  There shouldn't have been!  *ONLY* Tung-Sol *EVER* made the 5998, and the 421A is just a WE rebrand, pure and simple.  Any difference in sound between a 5998 and a 421A is purely due to the age/condition of the tube.

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post #3 of 4
8/8/10 at 7:28am
Thread Starter 

I agree, there shouldn't have ever been a debate. But, there are several posts floating around there (by owners of the 421s, no less) that claim the two tubes are different.  Perhaps they're just trying to justify the money they payed on it.

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post #4 of 4
8/8/10 at 9:20am
Probably right! I could never figure out why 421A's went for so much, even when it was clear that the tube is Tung-Sol made. But the fabled WE brand does carry a lot of mystique, even it it's JUST the brand ;)
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