2359glenn | studio
Mar 26, 2019 at 10:28 PM Post #25,591 of 39,984
How about these GEC tubes - $50/pair shipped (or best offer):
s-l1600.jpg

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1MP-CV6-DE...m2f2baa99f5:g:HccAAOSwHDJcUslX&frcectupt=true
The seller seems to have a boat full of these....

Those require an adapter,yes?
Are they worth picking up?
 
Mar 26, 2019 at 10:36 PM Post #25,592 of 39,984
How about these GEC tubes - $50/pair shipped (or best offer):
Some people swear by the 7193, so I'd say these are definitely worth a try. My only concern is the seller usually charges twice as much as other sellers. I'm amazed he sells any tubes. But, in this case there doesn't appear to be any other sellers...

These would date from around 1945 I guess. I'm tempted to pick up a couple myself, I already have the adapters.
 
Mar 26, 2019 at 10:41 PM Post #25,593 of 39,984
And another viewpoint.... Speaking only for myself.... It is likely that they sound very similar to the GEC B36, and since the GEC B36 is cheaper, and these require adapters, I don't think they are worth it....

But of course, YMMV. :)
 
Mar 26, 2019 at 10:42 PM Post #25,594 of 39,984
Mar 26, 2019 at 10:42 PM Post #25,595 of 39,984
Mar 26, 2019 at 10:54 PM Post #25,597 of 39,984
And another viewpoint.... Speaking only for myself.... It is likely that they sound very similar to the GEC B36, and since the GEC B36 is cheaper, and these require adapters, I don't think they are worth it....

But of course, YMMV. :)
And another viewpoint.... Speaking only for myself.... It is likely that they sound very similar to the GEC B36, and since the GEC B36 is cheaper, and these require adapters, I don't think they are worth it....

But of course, YMMV. :)
Just looked now at eBay USA and UK - not a single one available (unless I missed something). The ones sold were not cheap either:

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fr...&LH_TitleDesc=0&rt=nc&LH_Sold=1&LH_Complete=1
The least expensive rebranded ones went in the $60 range each incl shipping.
PS: Found for sale a couple of Marconi branded for $100 each and up.
 
Last edited:
Mar 27, 2019 at 12:21 AM Post #25,599 of 39,984
Mar 27, 2019 at 12:26 AM Post #25,600 of 39,984
Here is the adapter:
s-l1600.jpg

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1pc-Dual-7...646171?hash=item2cd278155b:g:t7oAAOSw89Na0GR9
We need Glenn to weigh in if these tubes are a suitable substitute for the L63. You would need a pair in the front 6SN7 socket.
There are US made tubes of this type that sell for very little - Ken-Rad and NU among others.
These tubes will work fine in the GOTL with that adapter. I purchased 4 NU for $6 each. Great tubes for the price, but I purchased them just to try them out. No revelations here I'm afraid though. Not cheap GEC killers :)
 
Mar 27, 2019 at 3:48 AM Post #25,601 of 39,984

For 2 weeks in Feb 2018, I spend time with Woo Audio WA5LE that had a pair of these as drivers. I remember my friend told me he bought them for $400 in Hong Kong. That was a beautiful 2 weeks because my GOTL has been in my possession for 2 months and it had Sylvania 6sn7w metal base and 6 x 6bx7gt.

I remember that I preferred listening to the GOTL over the WA5, each with their respective choice tubes.

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/2359glenn-studio.600110/page-1226#post-14033369
 
Mar 27, 2019 at 4:01 AM Post #25,602 of 39,984
WOW! The B36 sounds amazing!!!!

What did you expect? :) It's one of my magnificent 7 but that was before the arrival of my ECC33, ECC35, TS 12SL7GT and TS 12SN7GT bgrp..... and of course much later EL3N, EL8 and EL11.

So many beautiful drivers for GOTL. You have to be a monk not to be thrilled.

20180110_201100.jpg
 
Mar 27, 2019 at 5:10 AM Post #25,604 of 39,984
If you already have a B36 I would not bother buying them. Tubes with a grid cap tend to pick up noise on the wire leading to it.
Most GEC tubes sound good if you didn't have the B36 I would say go for it.

In my experience so far, adapters that take two or more tubes can be damn finicky, then add grid wires on top of that and sooner or later back round noise seems to want to creep in.
Since most people are trying to find quiet solutions with their tubes, this just brings things into the equation that do not need to be there.
I know many people have had good luck with the adapters from China, but I am not one of them, LOL. In my opinion you just end up with a shoe box full of adapters that you hardly ever use.
After awhile it seems like a dog chasing his tale...lol
Might as well spend that money on some good tubes that are plug and play in your amp.
the best advise you ever gave was the KISS theory...it is so true...don't over think it.

There are so many tubes to use in this amp that there is really no need to go chasing the next great sound, unless you are a collector of tubes...then by all means ...go and get them.

Heck, save your money and treat yourself to a good driver tube every now and then......the ones that UT has listed above would be enough to last a life time and there is not a bad one in the bunch.

The one tube adapters seem to work fine, the multiple tube adapters from China, one you get them in your amp, you don't even want to touch them, for fear of noise.
I know, you do not have the time to make them anymore because of all of the amp builds that you are busy with...but your adapters are far superior to any i have ever bought from e-bay.
Shamless plug for me to get another 6F8gg adapter from you when you build my amp...with the big brown grid cap....lol
 
Mar 27, 2019 at 5:54 AM Post #25,605 of 39,984
I agree Joe. I like a clean look and that means as little adapter as possible. You have to admit this is a beautiful picture of a beautiful amp. :)

DSC_0022.JPG
 

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