[Contrails]

The getter flash is milky white. 

 
I remember reading this indicates a vacuum leak. 
 
Anyway, the slotted columns have arrived.  Very very excited, hehehe.

 

[john57]

  Took a $20.00 gamble on an unmarked slotted square graphite plate 6080WB - eBay seller stated he couldn't verify whether or not the tube would work.
 
It doesn't - Tube tester revealed a short on the filament pin.  Not happy, but at least it's not megabucks down the tube.
 
Anyway - reason for the post.  The getter flash is milky white.  Do you think there is a relationship between the filament short and this?
 
Cheers and thanks
 
Nathan

If the getter flash is milky white, the tube lost its vacuum and I would never put it in a tube tester.

 

[Dubstep Girl]

I remember reading this indicates a vacuum leak. 

Anyway, the slotted columns have arrived.  Very very excited, hehehe.

+1

White is a sign of oxidation, the vacuum is bad so the tube is pretty much dead now,

 

[magiccabbage]

+1

White is a sign of oxidation, the vacuum is bad so the tube is pretty much dead now,

 
do you have black spots over your 5998's?

 

[Skylab]

Paid $15.00 for a single Tung Sol 6AS7G not expecting much compared to the others in the family I have tried.  Hmm... pleasantly supplied.  I assume that Chatham and Tung Sol 6AS7G are the same construction with just a different branding?  Anyone know a good source for these tubes?

Thanks!

At some point, Tung Sol purchased Chatham Electronics, and stopped manufacturing duplicate tube types. So again at some point (early 60's I think) all Tung Sol and Chatham branded 6AS7Gs are essentially Chatham manufactured.

 

[Dubstep Girl]

do you have black spots over your 5998's?

A little darkening but no spots lol

 

[Dubstep Girl]

At some point, Tung Sol purchased Chatham Electronics, and stopped manufacturing duplicate tube types. So again at some point (early 60's I think) all Tung Sol and Chatham branded 6AS7Gs are essentially Chatham manufactured.

Does this include ibm 5998 and we421a?

 

[Skylab]

I believe that all 5998s were actually Tung Sol manufactured regardless of brand, yes, including the WE421A.

 

[Dubstep Girl]

Has it ever been fully proven if 421a are really sonically equivalent to 5998 though, or a slightly better version? Thats the one thing that still makes me wanna try them out, cause ive heard all sorts of things. Prices seem to go as high as $500 a pair or even $350 a tube though

 

[Skylab]

There are some minor differences in the data sheet specifications of the 421A vs the 5998, including a slightly higher transconductance. This could yeild a slightly different sound, although when I had the 421a, they sounded basically identical to the 5998. There is no doubt they are both TungSol manufactured.

 

[rosgr63]

I believe that other makers too made tubes for WE, but never used the same design for their own branded tubes.
 
Here are the different Bendix 6080 slotted plate styles.
 
The top tube has a smooth face edge and the bottom shows a clear sharp edge
 

 

[hifimanrookie]

For anyone interested...my 337 is up for sale..with somg yummy tubes..being TS 5998 or bendix 6080wb with graphite colums and RCA 5693 redhots or TS 6sj7gt with mesh plates..all matched pairs..and all bought NOS not so long ago with all of them around 100hours playtime.

 

[Dubstep Girl]

i will take the 6080wb if you still have them.

 

[Dubstep Girl]

just got more 5998's!!! one seller has like $120 a pair still on ebay, they're like totally new!!!
 

 

[DefQon]

A good sounding 6AS7G with a nice glow, any?
 
Cheers