[Ultrainferno]

it's all in this wonderful thread

 

[SoLame]

Can someone provide a list of compatible tubes for the latest version (Massdrop's)? Yuking's website is down and it is a nightmare to find out which tubes are compatible with what version: the bright one (supossedly the latest and still in production) and the former warm one (now discontinued).

TIA

Someone posted this list of compatible tubes for 'brighter' version (Massdrop) a while back...
Power/Output: 6080 (all variants WA WB WC), 5998, 2399, 5998A, 421A, A1834, 6AS7G (6H13C, 6H5L, 6N13S, 6N13P), 6AS7GA Straight Glass, 7236, 6520, CV2523
Driver/Input: 6SJ7, 6SJ7Y, 6SJ7GT, 6SJ7WGT, EF-86 (adapter needed), EF-80 (adapter needed), 6J4P, 6J8P, 5693 (Red Metal Can), 6Ж4С, 6J7/EF34 (adapter needed)

 

[Mizicke5273]

it's all in this wonderful thread

Yep, and it is really worth the read. There are a lot of impressions for different tubes and which driver and power tube rolls syneriyze well.

 

[Jacobal]

Saw this thread updated in my email.

In case anyone’s interested, I’m selling the 339 amp with upgraded tubes.

 

[africanus]

Someone posted this list of compatible tubes for 'brighter' version (Massdrop) a while back...
Power/Output: 6080 (all variants WA WB WC), 5998, 2399, 5998A, 421A, A1834, 6AS7G (6H13C, 6H5L, 6N13S, 6N13P), 6AS7GA Straight Glass, 7236, 6520, CV2523
Driver/Input: 6SJ7, 6SJ7Y, 6SJ7GT, 6SJ7WGT, EF-86 (adapter needed), EF-80 (adapter needed), 6J4P, 6J8P, 5693 (Red Metal Can), 6Ж4С, 6J7/EF34 (adapter needed)

Life saver post. Thanks!

 

[adeadcrab]

^ Should be added to the OP.

 

[MiklStne]

I have been following this thread with great interest over the last year and I finally recieved my La Figaro 339 via Massdrop two weeks ago. Sounded great with stock tubes but started to sound fantastic as soon as I put in the 5998 power tubes and 5693 red hots. Then weird things started happening and I´m hoping someone can help me out here.
The right channel stopped working every other time or so that I started up the amp. Decided to open up the amp, and sure enough one of the capacitors (?) had come off. I soldered it back on and things started worked again. But only for a couple of days. Now the red hot on the right side gives me some sound but it´s minimal. When I switch tubes between left and right it´s the same issue. The right channel is still almost silent so it clearly isn´t an issue with the tube. However if I go back to the stock tube everything works as it should.
I can´t figure this one out. I have looked inside the amp and with my very limited knowledge of electronics I cannot see anything wrong.
Anyone know what could cause this?

 

[adeadcrab]

I have a similar issue, you may need to clean the tube pins and the tube socket.

What happened with me is the right volume pot has seized up and no/very little volume is there in the right channel.

I looked up similar potentiometers and found this one - https://www.banzaimusic.com/MEC-M-85104-100k-log.html
it's not the exact same model but they're both 100K resistance and MEC brand. Thinking of ordering one but I'm waiting on yuking to confirm or name a better potentiometer replacement.

If your issue is the volume pot, I used some contact cleaner (I used WD-40 Specialist 290g Fast Drying Contact Cleaner) which cleaned up a ton of gunk in both pots. I then used some deoxit gold on both pots to lubricate them. However I still have the issue of no / very little sound in the right channel.

 

[Amish]

Here are the changes over time (from oldest-top to newest/current-bottom)

So looking at those pictures...it would seem mine is half newest and half oldest?

 

[adeadcrab]

Quick update - ordered 2 replacement volume potentiometers from banzaimusic ($15 euro each!) with one as a spare. Soldered the new volume pot and we are back in business . Quite proud of myself for doing it all myself.

In case anyone else needs the info, the volume pots should be 100K and logarithmic (A not B which is linear)

 

[Amish]

I see many people running the RCA REDs so I decided to give them a whirl. I had two that came with this amp but one was dead so I never got a chance to try them but my order came in today with 4 RCA Reds and I'm running two from 1953 at the moment. I noticed right away that they have a bit more sparkly highs a slightly more airy sound to them. The low end didn't seem to change much but as a whole I prefer the Hyvac 6SJ7GT's more. The Hyvac's have a smoother sound to them with great low end, mids and smoother highs. The Reds do not seem any more detailed but like I said, maybe a bit more airy. They don't sound bad at all but I just don't think they beat out the Hyvacs.

Just my two cents. Kinda glad I didn't spend too much on the Reds.

/edit: actually now that I switched back to the Hyvacs, the low end is more detailed.

 

[adeadcrab]

I find the 5693 red hots a little warmer and smoother than other tubes, like the 6SJ7GT mesh plates, or even the RCA 6SJ7GT. Upper mid/lower treble region is dialed back while the traditional midrange area is lifted up. Classic tube sound. Maybe the Hyvac's are even darker sounding, never tried them.

 

[Mizicke5273]

I see many people running the RCA REDs so I decided to give them a whirl. I had two that came with this amp but one was dead so I never got a chance to try them but my order came in today with 4 RCA Reds and I'm running two from 1953 at the moment. I noticed right away that they have a bit more sparkly highs a slightly more airy sound to them. The low end didn't seem to change much but as a whole I prefer the Hyvac 6SJ7GT's more. The Hyvac's have a smoother sound to them with great low end, mids and smoother highs. The Reds do not seem any more detailed but like I said, maybe a bit more airy. They don't sound bad at all but I just don't think they beat out the Hyvacs.

Just my two cents. Kinda glad I didn't spend too much on the Reds.

/edit: actually now that I switched back to the Hyvacs, the low end is more detailed.

Those Hyvac 6SJ7GT' sound interesting. Any tube stores that stock them? I'd like to try a pair.

 

[sup27606]

I have two pairs of Tung Sol 5998, one with green letters, the other with white letters. The one with white letters sound boomy bass with less control and subdued highs with the RCA reds. The one with green letters sound excellent with the RCAs. Tightly controlled textured bass and highs with the right amount of sparkle. My impressions are based on a pair of HD800 with SDR mod. The HD800 sounds the best with this combo, much better than RCA 6SJ7GT or one another driver tube I tried. Not to mention, the HD6XX is much more forgiving to tube pairing than the HD800, but still sound the best through the TS5998/green letters + RCA 5693.

 

[Amish]

I find the 5693 red hots a little warmer and smoother than other tubes, like the 6SJ7GT mesh plates, or even the RCA 6SJ7GT. Upper mid/lower treble region is dialed back while the traditional midrange area is lifted up. Classic tube sound. Maybe the Hyvac's are even darker sounding, never tried them.

Yeah I think I'd agree with the midrange lifted a bit using the reds.

Those Hyvac 6SJ7GT' sound interesting. Any tube stores that stock them? I'd like to try a pair.

I've actually looked and have not found any available recently. If I find some I will PM you though.