[Badas]

Have you tried the GEC 6080? I much prefer it to the Sylvania tubes... It has a superb liquid midrange.

I would love to. I can't find or afford them right now.
 
They would be my dream tube.
 
I'm stocking up on Tung-Sol 6F8G Drivers right now. I have 8 sets and want 6 more. So that is what I will be spending my time and $$'s on over the next few months. After that I thought I would buy a set of GEC 6080's or the 6AS7G. Problem would be stocking up on them in the future tho. That is where the Sylvania gets attractive.

 
 
I forgot to add. I have tried the Mullard 6080 as well. That is also a nice tube.

 

[SonicTrance]

The 5998 was a computer tube. It's possible that those tubes were very late production and are 5998 specs even though they are 6AS7G style plates.

I asked the seller about the tubes. Here's the answer if anyone is wondering.
 
"Hi We sell 200,000 tubes per month and have 165 million tubes in our warehouse.
Only The Chatham brand 5998 has the same specs. We have seen this other times. The military had a stock of dual triodes with certain specs for the gear.
when tested and retested . these tubes are very similar . these tubes have the same specs they are 5998 tubes with smooth plates .
we sold 1000s of these tubes and everyone that bought them were very happy. 
We have many odd ball rare types of tubes. Since we have been stock piling tubes for 50 years .
We have many stores worldwide and just about every type of tubes ever made.
If you need a certain type of tube let us know 
Thank you
Andy"

 

[Badas]

^

If he is selling 5998's with smooth plates at a premium price then he is being cheeky.
Only the dimple plates are worth the $$'s
I have seen smooth plate Chathams labeled 5998, 6AS7G and 6520. They are basically the same tube. They do not sound like the dimpled plate 5998 that everyone wants and refers to. The flat plats are nice just not as nice as dimpled plate.

 

[SonicTrance]

I agree. I also have Chatham 6AS7G's, 6520's as well as dimpled plate 5998's. I much prefer the 5998 over the other two.

 

[Mechans1]

Who is this seller with millions of tubes? I think I know which one I think it's the Florida tube seller.  Can anyone fill me in on this.  I haven't got the 6520s but do have the Mullard 6080, RCA 6080 smooth plate 6AS7Gs Relabeled Zearix , and Tung Sol domino plate 5998s and the 5998s are clearly my favorite , the Mullard are very good also- but not as good. 
Sounds like I have to find some Sylvanias and GEC to try out.
Just curious why are you stock piling so many Tung Sol 6F8G drivers?  .

 

[SonicTrance]

Who is this seller with millions of tubes? I think I know which one I think it's the Florida tube seller.  Can anyone fill me in on this.  I haven't got the 6520s but do have the Mullard 6080, RCA 6080 smooth plate 6AS7Gs Relabeled Zearix , and Tung Sol domino plate 5998s and the 5998s are clearly my favorite , the Mullard are very good also- but not as good. 
Sounds like I have to find some Sylvanias and GEC to try out.
Just curious why are you stock piling so many Tung Sol 6F8G drivers?  .

Here's the auction that we're talking about http://www.ebay.com/itm/SET-OF-16-PIECES-5998-CHATHAM-POWER-TRIODES-AWESOME-VINTAGE-USA-TUBES-6AS7-421A-/271855146869?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f4bd45775

 

[Badas]

Here's the auction that we're talking about http://www.ebay.com/itm/SET-OF-16-PIECES-5998-CHATHAM-POWER-TRIODES-AWESOME-VINTAGE-USA-TUBES-6AS7-421A-/271855146869?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f4bd45775

Yeah. I saw that auction. Way over priced. $200 a set. Whatever.
There is nothing special about those tubes at that price. Sure they are nice. However they are not dimple plate nice.

I picked up two sets of those a few months ago for $60.

 

[Badas]

Who is this seller with millions of tubes? I think I know which one I think it's the Florida tube seller.  Can anyone fill me in on this.  I haven't got the 6520s but do have the Mullard 6080, RCA 6080 smooth plate 6AS7Gs Relabeled Zearix , and Tung Sol domino plate 5998s and the 5998s are clearly my favorite , the Mullard are very good also- but not as good. 
Sounds like I have to find some Sylvanias and GEC to try out.
Just curious why are you stock piling so many Tung Sol 6F8G drivers?  .

Are you asking me?
Yes. I have 8 sets of Tung-Sol round plates now. 3 more sets just purchased and on the way and I will buy my last three sets next month.

I work on the premise of having 70 years stock of tubes. At least my lifetime. 14 sets of tubes at 5 years a set is 70 years. I have 14 sets of rectifiers also. I actually have 20 sets of various drive tubes ranging in different types. I found the Sylvania 6080 to be my favorite so I will eventually collect 14 sets of those also.

For the record the Tung-Sol round plate made the biggest improvement to my amp. I could never do without them now.

 

[Jeb Listens]

Are you asking me?
Yes. I have 8 sets of Tung-Sol round plates now. 3 more sets just purchased and on the way and I will buy my last three sets next month.

I work on the premise of having 70 years stock of tubes. At least my lifetime. 14 sets of tubes at 5 years a set is 70 years. I have 14 sets of rectifiers also. I actually have 20 sets of various drive tubes ranging in different types. I found the Sylvania 6080 to be my favorite so I will eventually collect 14 sets of those also.

For the record the Tung-Sol round plate made the biggest improvement to my amp. I could never do without them now.

I guess it's fair to call this your "endgame" set up.

Congratulations on your truly epic collection. Tubes seem like a smart investment too.

 

[Ultrainferno]

old_guy_radiola
 
I could have known. Don't just buy anything on ebay guys.

 

[abvolt]

I know ebay can be a very frustrating experience but I have gotten some really good tubes at great prices..

 

[Shaffer]

I know ebay can be a very frustrating experience but I have gotten some really good tubes at great prices..

Same here. It's a matter of finding seller(s) you can work with. For example, I bought a pair of used, somewhat mismatched 6SN7GTBs for $12.The PO lost the package. The seller, to make up for the inconvenience, hand-picked a pair of early-50s Sylvania 6SN7GTAs to send me as a replacement that are worth a hell of a lot more than $12 and sound terrific. There are good people out there.

 

[Mechans1]

Indeed it is very difficult to find certain desirable tubes stocked by regular tube sellers.  When they do have something I really wanted  (I don't want a lot now) the price was ridiculous.  Try to buy Metal Base Sylvania Ws in NOS condition from a tube seller outside of eBay.
At least some of you have a reason/logic for hoarding tubes.   I just couldn't help myself when I saw something I thought was a good tube at a really good price I bought it. I also pursued certain tubes when I thought they were special.  Now I have to sell some .  I don't have a lot of Tung Sol Round plates maybe 3 or 4 pairs and a couple of those don't sound great. But I have a lot of other things.  The only things I don't have that I want  are Sylvania 6080s or GEC 6080s.   

 

[abvolt]

I have many sets of the sylvania's there readily available I'd like a pair of the gec's also they seem to be hard to find & too spendy for me right now..

 

[Mechans1]

  I have many sets of the sylvania's there readily available I'd like a pair of the gec's also they seem to be hard to find & too spendy for me right now..

What is your take on the Sylvania sound?  Could you give me an idea of what they sound like.
For the desk top amp which uses the 6080 family of tubes.  My favorites so far are the domino plate 5998 by Tung Sol, followed by the Mullard 6080.  The 6SN7s have their own thread but are also in my amp, making it a tube roller's delight. 
 
 
p.s.(I am using the rare opaque grey glass cv1988 6SN7GTY by Brimar)