[musicman59]

I ordered a WA5-LE with the EML B300 Mesh, Treasure CV181 and EML 5U4G Mesh tubes. I have head that the Tung Sol NOS 6F8G are great tubes and with adapters a direct replacement for the 6SN7 tubes.
Is anybody using the 6F8G tubes in the WA5? What is your experience and opinion between using the 6SN7/CV181 or the 6F8g?
Thanks.

 

[Skylab]

I wish I could comment on their sound in the WA5, but I can't since I haven't heard it. But the 6F8G is a very nice sounding tube generally (there are quite a few different versions available, as with the 6SN7). And you can still get most 6F8G tubes very, very cheap.

 

[Seamaster]

Please don't wast your money on Treasure CV181. looking for round plate 6F8G is the way to go. But now days 6F8G are not cheap anymore, because more and more people realize they sound great, and price has been jumping up lately

 

[Clayton SF]

Hey Seamaster,
 
It is so good to see you. I hope that you and your family are doing well.
 
I have two 6F8G quads from England. They are VT-99 tubes but it does not have round plates--it has black plates. I can't afford anything else nor can I find the round plates. Anyway, with Glenn's adapters my WA22's SQ is top drawer.
 
Again, it is really good to come across you and have a great time at the next meet in your fair state of Washington.

 

[sillysally]

 
Quote:

I ordered a WA5-LE with the EML B300 Mesh, Treasure CV181 and EML 5U4G Mesh tubes. I have head that the Tung Sol NOS 6F8G are great tubes and with adapters a direct replacement for the 6SN7 tubes.
Is anybody using the 6F8G tubes in the WA5? What is your experience and opinion between using the 6SN7/CV181 or the 6F8g?
Thanks.

I am not quit sure why you want to use the TS 6F8G plus adapters, when you can get a matched pair of nos TSR 6SN7GT's. These are nothing like CV181's as I have already suggested to you.
Don't get cheap at this point go for the gold TSR 6SN7GT's.
Don't know about a EML 300B mesh in the WA5LE 300B amp, it may be a little to laid back for this amp. imo I would try a 300B carbon plate, you may get a faster responds from it.

 

[Skylab]

 
Quote:

 

I am not quit sure why you want to use the TS 6F8G plus adapters, when you can get a matched pair of nos TSR 6SN7GT's. These are nothing like CV181's as I have already suggested to you.
Don't get cheap at this point go for the gold TSR 6SN7GT's.
Don't know about a EML 300B mesh in the WA5LE 300B amp, it may be a little to laid back for this amp. imo I would try a 300B carbon plate, you may get a faster responds from it.

 
Let's see:
 
Tung-Sol BGRP 6SN7GT's, NOS = $400/pair (MINIMUM)
 
Tung-Sol BGRP 6F8G's plus adapters NOS = $200 (MAXIMUM)
 
And they sound exactly the same, since they are the same internally, only the glass bottle and pin-out differ.  Same tube otherwise.
 
So why not save the $200?

 

[musicman59]

Quote:

 

 
Let's see:
 
Tung-Sol BGRP 6SN7GT's, NOS = $400/pair (MINIMUM)
 
Tung-Sol BGRP 6F8G's plus adapters NOS = $200 (MAXIMUM)
 
And they sound exactly the same, since they are the same internally, only the glass bottle and pin-out differ.  Same tube otherwise.
 
So why not save the $200?

Sorry for the question but what "BGRP" stands for?
 
That's exactly why I was thinking on the TS 6F8G..........
 

 

[Skylab]

Sorry - BGRP = Black Glass, Round Plate.
 
Oh, and if you have the room, the 6F8G's are also MUCH cooler looking

 

 

[takezo]

i'd go one more step and ask jack to change the drive heater from 6.3v to 12v
and make use of the tungsol bgrp 12sn7gt, which goes for $25 a pop...
or the 14n7, which is as good sounding variation of the 6sn7 as any.

 

[Clayton SF]

Those are very cool looking tubes. They look like they came from Dr. Frankenstein's laboratory. Now all you need is a hug pull-switch to turn it on!
 
Has anyone ever tried using 7N7 tubes with adapters? Any impressions on those tubes?

 

[sillysally]

 
Quote:

 

 
Let's see:
 
Tung-Sol BGRP 6SN7GT's, NOS = $400/pair (MINIMUM)
 
Tung-Sol BGRP 6F8G's plus adapters NOS = $200 (MAXIMUM)
 
And they sound exactly the same, since they are the same internally, only the glass bottle and pin-out differ.  Same tube otherwise.
 
So why not save the $200?

Yes I understand you are into collecting tubes and I am sure you have spent a lot of money and time on your hobby. I have also gone your route but in the end I have found that there is still no substitute for using the best tubes that I know will work for my amp/tube combo and rig, plus the cost evens itself out because of trying tubes that are just not right for me and then storing then away.
However there is no way that anybody can claim that one tube will work as well as another model of tube in a amp that they have never had and the combination of tubes that are being used in his WA5LE. Yes maybe It will work as well but maybe not, if not then what.
The one thing that I think we all can agree on is that the nos TSR 6SN7GT is a very nice tube and is a sure bet in the WA5LE, and yes you can buy a matched pair of nos (brand new) CTL TSR 6SN7GT's circa 1942 for $400.
 
In this case if you are going outside the norm and what is recommended for the WA5LE I would check with Jack
before I saved myself the $200. Don't forget he is playing with a $5000 amp and maybe his skill level is not what yours is with tubes.

 

[musicman59]

I did check with Jack first and He said the 6F8G tubes with adapters will work fine with the WA5-LE. I actually ordered the amp wit the Treasure CV181 becuase Jack recommended those to me as an upgrade.
 
Where do you normally find your NOS 6SN7 tubes?

 

[Skylab]

Quote:

I did check with Jack first and He said the 6F8G tubes with adapters will work fine with the WA5-LE.

Right - because with the adapters, the 6F8G is 100% identical in operation to the 6SN7.  I'm not sure why anyone would try to talk you out of using these, BUT it WAS very wise of you to check with Woo, to be sure. 
 
I actually hope lots of people won't try 6F8G's - it will help keep the price down for the rest of us! 
 
Using a 6F8G is not the same as using something like an ECC32/CV181.  An ECC32 is NOT the same tube as a 6SN7 electrically.  With an adapter, the 6F8G *is* the same as a 6SN7, electrically.

 

[Seamaster]

I sent Jack a pair of NU 6F8G round plate and adapter to play with two month ago, I have not heard anything back from him yet.

 

[Skylab]

Just for clarity's sake:
 

6SN7GT
Medium-Mu Twin Triode

 
Heater Voltage ................................ 6.3 V
Heater Current ................................ 0.6 A
Maximum Heater-Cathode Voltage
Heater Positive with Respect to Cathode
DC Component .............................. 90 V
Heater Negative with Respect to Cathode
DC Component .............................. 90 V

Maximum Ratings (Design Center Values)

Each Triode
Plate Voltage ................................. 300 V
Plate Dissipation ............................. 2.5 W
Cathode Current ............................... 20 mA
 

Characteristics and Typical Operation

Class A Amplifier
Plate Voltage ................................. 250 V
Grid No. 1 Voltage ............................ -8 V
Amplification Factor .......................... 20
Plate Resistance (approx) ..................... 7.7K Ω
Transconductance .............................. 2600 µ

Plate Current ................................. 9 mA
 

6F8G
Medium-Mu Twin Triode

Heater Voltage ................................ 6.3 V
Heater Current ................................ 0.3 A
Maximum Heater-Cathode Voltage
Heater Positive with Respect to Cathode
DC Component .............................. 90 V
Heater Negative with Respect to Cathode
DC Component .............................. 90 V
 

Maximum Ratings (Design Center Values)

Each Triode
Plate Voltage ................................. 300 V
Plate Dissipation ............................. 2.5 W
Cathode Current ............................... 20 mA
 

Characteristics and Typical Operation

Class A Amplifier
Plate Voltage ................................. 250 V
Grid No. 1 Voltage ............................ -8 V
Amplification Factor .......................... 20
Plate Resistance (approx) ..................... 7.7K Ω
Transconductance .............................. 2600 µ

Plate Current ................................. 9 mA

 

 
As you can see, not much difference

  Just the pin-out (and the grid cap of course)...