Little Dot Tube Amps: Vacuum Tube Rolling Guide
Dec 9, 2016 at 8:27 AM Post #10,504 of 13,413
  Changed all 4 tubes on my LD MKII at once. Mullard M8100/CV4010 and Russian 6N6P. Now the right channel pops and crackles. Left it for a long burn in, but have a feeling that it got worse. Which tubes are more probable to make audible trouble, driver or power tubes, or it could be any of them? 

I don't know which is more likely, but it's easy enough to find the problem tube, just swap the driver tubes out for the stock ones, if the crackle goes you know it's one of the driver tubes and if it's still there then it's one of the power tubes, if it's only crackling in the right channel then the left tubes should be fine.
 
Dec 10, 2016 at 11:56 AM Post #10,506 of 13,413
  Just wanna say thanks to OP for the starter guide, really helped me narrow down my choices for me to play around and explore different tubes. 

check out page 77 other cheaper alternatives for the most part 
 
Dec 10, 2016 at 8:27 PM Post #10,507 of 13,413
Wanted to say thanks again for the info. Just as I was about to get a new MKIV (settling for the non-SE version), a used SE for a nice price popped up on ebay and I jumped on it! I'm excited to get in to rolling some tubes again after months of solid state exclusivity. Also grabbed some Sylvania Golds because I remember the last time I was tube shopping they were like $75/pair or something absurd but I'd always wanted to try them. 
 
By the way does anyone know where to edit the signature at the end of my posts? I remember typing that years ago but it's way out of date and I can't seem to find where to edit it (I checked my site settings and profile info)... thanks
 
Dec 10, 2016 at 9:20 PM Post #10,508 of 13,413
  Wanted to say thanks again for the info. Just as I was about to get a new MKIV (settling for the non-SE version), a used SE for a nice price popped up on ebay and I jumped on it! I'm excited to get in to rolling some tubes again after months of solid state exclusivity. Also grabbed some Sylvania Golds because I remember the last time I was tube shopping they were like $75/pair or something absurd but I'd always wanted to try them. 
 
By the way does anyone know where to edit the signature at the end of my posts? I remember typing that years ago but it's way out of date and I can't seem to find where to edit it (I checked my site settings and profile info)... thanks

Got to your profile page.
http://www.head-fi.org/u/48304/scottieb

It's near the bottom just before your lists.
 
Dec 15, 2016 at 5:34 AM Post #10,510 of 13,413
I bought a set of Tesla 6f32 a while back and one died. It lights up but no sound. The other flares at start up but sounds fine. Anyone got a stash of these? I would be happy to buy. Also I have a pair of Voshkod with the gold pins. They have about 70 hours on them.Honestly I cant tell the difference with the non gold pin version. I would be happy to do a trade fro something interesting. Also I got a pair of Tung Sol 6AJ5. They sounded ok but are horribly microphonic. I dont know if I got a bad set or they are somehow incompatible. Anyone have a clue?
 
Dec 21, 2016 at 11:17 PM Post #10,511 of 13,413
Hi DjBobby,
 
You write that you changed all four tubes at once. Many times the crackling and noise could come from a bad contact from corroded pins. Take a small knife (doesn't have to be sharp) or something similar, and gently scrape each individual pin so that that it looks more shiny. Oftentimes you can see the oxidation and dirt on the pins.
 
If the tube shows a white coating inside it is finished - lost vacuum.
 
IMHO don't bother with expensive de-oxidation sprays - the mechanical scraping works best.
 
Good luck!
 
Dec 22, 2016 at 2:55 AM Post #10,512 of 13,413
  Hi DjBobby,
 
You write that you changed all four tubes at once. Many times the crackling and noise could come from a bad contact from corroded pins. Take a small knife (doesn't have to be sharp) or something similar, and gently scrape each individual pin so that that it looks more shiny. Oftentimes you can see the oxidation and dirt on the pins.
 
If the tube shows a white coating inside it is finished - lost vacuum.
 
IMHO don't bother with expensive de-oxidation sprays - the mechanical scraping works best.
 
Good luck!


Thanks a lot mordy, will try that.
No white coating inside, so I guess tubes are still OK. Old Russian 6N6Ps look like they would need some scrapping. I was listening yesterday, or better said tried to listen, but crackling drove me mad. 
 
Dec 22, 2016 at 4:54 AM Post #10,513 of 13,413
Having gotten the bug, I now have too many tubes I dont use. Of course I spent too much on them, being greedy and impatient, but I am more than happy to let them go for less than half price. Let's see: a nice set (=2) of Voshkod with the gold pins that have about 80 hours of burn in time. A pair of GE JAN5654W with about 50hours.  Tung sol 6AH6 and one tung sol 6AJ5 ( can't find it's mate) and one Tesla 6F32.It's mate died. So I am in France and I will send these nicely packed within europe only. The bunch for 30 euros. If I find the missing ones Ill put them in.
 
Dec 22, 2016 at 5:03 AM Post #10,514 of 13,413
Correction! I know what happened to the missing ones. Strike that off the list but Ill add the original chinese CJ1 just so you remember why we seek out those good old ones
wink.gif

 

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