[Silent One]

Quote:

Little update on my Ken Rad VT-231.  Sometimes a tube needs tough love apparently.  Frustrated by its status as unusable in my amp I decided to give it a few good raps on each side of the glass to see if I could shift anything around a bit inside.  I probably hit it harder than I should have too since it was out of frustration.
 
So I put it in the amp, praying it wouldn't arc and blow something up, and after about a minute of some pretty frightening sounds (well beyond the usual pinging and such) it goes quiet!  The ghastly moaning sound that made it unlistenable is no more.  I would do this to my TSRP becasue they have the same issue, but I paid 11x more money for those so probably not. 

 
Now that the tube is actually working correctly it sounds really great.  Easily one of the nicest sounding 6SN7 I've used so far.  It is only a shade or so off from a Sylvania in tone, which I wasn't expecting, and has great low level resolution and a nice sense of air.  I have this feeling when I take the tube out it'll be no good again the next time I put it back in so I'm probably going to just enjoy it for a while as long as it lasts.

 
I enjoyed reading your account of this drama. Though, watching this unfold in person could have made for an uneasy experience. 

 Hope it continues to work out!

 

[Xcalibur255]

*shrugs*  It's already humming again. 

  The plates and the mica retainers are both loose inside so the tube will never work right for long periods of time.  I got it pretty cheap so its alright, but its still a shame since it sounds good.  I'm just happy I got to hear what they really sound like, even for a short while.  That's the only reason I bought it, it was one of the few tubes I was still curios about.

 

[Silent One]

Do both your TS-BGRP's hum or just one?

 

[Xcalibur255]

Both.  One was originally good but now they both have issues.  It is quiet(ish) sometimes, but I get tired of rolling the dice every time I turn it on you know?  I ran the pair for a month in the WA6 with zero issues, zero noise, just the best sound I ever heard out of that amp before I sold it.  This amp sounds better with its worst tubes in it than the Woo sounded with its best though, so it's all good. 

 

[Silent One]

It's coming back to me now.

 

[Xcalibur255]

Quote:

It's coming back to me now.

Your WA6-SE?  I wondered when I saw you asking about umbilical cables for it.

 

[Silent One]

Quote:

Quote:

It's coming back to me now.

Your WA6-SE?  I wondered when I saw you asking about umbilical cables for it.

 

 
O, that's been festering in my brain since springtime. But I was referring to your tale of woes with the expensive TS-BGRP's. I would only consider getting another 6 Special Edition if:
 
1. Price and condition were excellent
2. I could hot-rod it. Must be wicked! 
 
If I can only afford option #1 but not #2, ALL bets are off...why bother?! Additionally, it must...be...Black! 

 

[Xcalibur255]

Ah. 
 
I suspect the tung sols would be fine in less demanding applications.  Maybe there will be opportunities to use them in the future.

 

[mrAdrian]

I have a DV336, which i LOVE because it only uses one 6sn7 and one 6as7.
 
how about this one? http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/280929139248?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_1148wt_1396
 
it's got a few grey glass and some black glass. Seems promising too!

 

[Xcalibur255]

That is a very desirable collection of tubes right there.  Somebody will find it and bid it up before it ends, especially if they know what these tubes are.

 

[Skylab]

Maybe, although I have often found auctions of mixed singles can provide a very good value.

 

[mrAdrian]

Fingers crossed! Litz braid style crossed!

 

[rosgr63]

Quote:

Fingers crossed! Litz braid style crossed!

Good Luck!
 
Let us know if you got them.

 

[Xcalibur255]

Quote:

Maybe, although I have often found auctions of mixed singles can provide a very good value.

I scored big the last time I did this.  Though I dare say this particular lot would be a bigger score considering what's on the right side of the picture.
 
edit:  then again, if it is the tall glass maybe the biggest prize is second from the left. 

 

[mrAdrian]

i got outbid'd, it went for under 110 bucks so I guess the winner is very happy with it!
 
Too bad my dad shoved my car insurance payslip on top of my keyboard... maybe I'll wait for another deal of the century when I learn how to appreciate all the tubes i bought on an impulse.
 
 
Question,
How tall is a Sylvania tall boy compared to the normal Sylvania's? Is it by a large margin or just a bit? One of my ones seem a touch taller...