[Jay Smith]

That is the metallic deposit from the getter. If it's gone, it means the vacuum inside the tube has been compromised. The tube is dead.

I have no idea what caused the leakage, The tube was stored and seldom used.

 

[340519]

I just read that the hp8 is a repurposed ming da amp made in china. Hmmmm interesting...

 

[roskodan]

Nowadays every amp is a "repurposed" amp. The original HP8 and MP3 look like Ming Da clones.

Spoiler: MC84 EAR

 

[340519]

Man, one of the electo harmonix gold tubes has already gone bad. I've only run them for a few months and then one of them developed the dreaded static squealing. It sounds like a demonic character whispering to me through the damned things. Well the psvane standbys are working fine.

 

[Jay Smith]

Mmmh, perhaps we should stay away from electro harmonix.......

 

[340519]

Mmmh, perhaps we should stay away from electro harmonix.......

I bought the matched pair from thetubestore.com. I'm going to try the northern lights tubes next I think.

 

[Nik74]

I gave up on the Tubestore very early on. On my first order they sent the wrong 12AX7 which at least was in working order. When I emailed them to let them know they admittedly sent me a replacement free of charge but the replacement was humming so intensely that it was unusable.
I ve had more luck from eBay so far- quite unbelievably!-

 

[340519]

I gave up on the Tubestore very early on. On my first order they sent the wrong 12AX7 which at least was in working order. When I emailed them to let them know they admittedly sent me a replacement free of charge but the replacement was humming so intensely that it was unusable.
I ve had more luck from eBay so far- quite unbelievably!-

Wow okay. I might try ebay next.

The David Shaw tubes that came with it sound good and are quiet. I'm using them and the gold lion for now.

 

[340519]

I'm going to stick with the gold lion 12AX7, but what would you all recommend for the 6sn7 slots? Something warm and gooey that I could find on ebay or canuck audio mart. Thanks guys.

 

[Nik74]

6SN7 are not as readily available here in the UK as they are in the states so take this from someone who hasn’t tried several of the great ones but my favourites with the Icon have been a pair of CBS Hytron- dirty cheap on eBay. Such an expansive sound space and 3D sense with the HD800S...

 

[Nik74]

I'm going to stick with the gold lion 12AX7, but what would you all recommend for the 6sn7 slots? Something warm and gooey that I could find on ebay or canuck audio mart. Thanks guys.

if you want warm and gooey get your hands on a Mullard ECC83 in place of your Gold Lion, much more of an effect on overall sound plus the most magic midrange!

 

[340519]

if you want warm and gooey get your hands on a Mullard ECC83 in place of your Gold Lion, much more of an effect on overall sound plus the most magic midrange!

I have a new one of those from thetubestore, or are you referring to nos?

 

[340519]

6SN7 are not as readily available here in the UK as they are in the states so take this from someone who hasn’t tried several of the great ones but my favourites with the Icon have been a pair of CBS Hytron- dirty cheap on eBay. Such an expansive sound space and 3D sense with the HD800S...

Thanks, I have saved a CBS hytron search on ebay.

 

[Nik74]

I have a new one of those from thetubestore, or are you referring to nos?

most definitely Nos

 

[340519]

most definitely Nos

Ah darn it.