ThurstonX
Headphoneus Supremus
Now that's ROFLMFAO funny. I thought it said $76 at first glance. "Hmmmm, that's not an awful price for someone wanting a pair of Dutch E88CCs." The triple take almost gave me whiplash.
Schiit Lyr Tube Rollers
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Now that's ROFLMFAO funny. I thought it said $76 at first glance. "Hmmmm, that's not an awful price for someone wanting a pair of Dutch E88CCs." The triple take almost gave me whiplash.
Spydey, I did notice a fair bit of oxidation (? reckon that's your "soot") come off the Tubemonger savers when I cleaned them once, BUT this may have been from the DeoxIT treatment I'd given them earlier. They ran for many months for many hours before I pulled them. That said, I just cleaned them again a couple weeks ago, and there wasn't much coming off them. I always clean with wooden-shafted swabs and 99% isopropyl alcohol, then brush on DeoxIT Gold from the Caig kit. Tubemonger seemed surprised when I mentioned that first cleaning (in this thread, I imagine). If you do it carefully, the pins can be cleaned with no adverse effects.
All that said, Tubemonger's customer service and willingness to stand behind their products is first rate (to wit, cv4109 posting recently). When I first got my Lyr and Bifrost I got a pair of PYST cables from Schiit. One had a bad solder joint, but my first thought was the socket savers. I contacted Tubemonger and they requested I return the pair for a new pair, just so they could investigate. I wasn't even close to being sure what the problem was, and testing eventually pointed squarely at one PYST cable (and Schiit, too, came through like the champs they are, shipping a new pair pronto, and letting me keep the originals. I eventually re-soldered the bad joint, so, 2-for-1I'm still blown away by Tubemonger's response, and eventually upgraded to their latest-and-greatest socket savers. Now I use both pairs, chained together, supporting humongous 6SN7-to-ECC88 adapters just so I can roll 6SN7s in the Lyr. I wouldn't trust that task to cheap eBay savers.
My advice is try to work with them. They clearly know their schiit, and I'd be surprised if the problem is their saver. If so, they'll make it right.
Many thanks for your kind words. Sent free replacement socket savers to both customers today. Here is an important piece of information for the users:
Socket saver top end is high quality NOS McMurdo military grade socket. This would never need any cleaning during the lifetime even with 1000+ insertions.
It is not a good idea to try to clean the socket savers or the socket saver pins with any contact cleaners/lubricants or alcohol. By doing so, you might have damaged these.
Again, you have to be careful about what to use while cleaning pins. Most so called treatments are OK for normal electrical contacts or plug. In case of tubes with pins running baking hot, such treatments leave residue which cakes in the socket or on the pins at high temp.
We have seen more issues post such treatments. Basic isopropyl alcohol in small amount is OK for PINS ONLY and not the socket side.
billerb1
Headphoneus Supremus
If you might be interested in the '68 Philips E188CC, I would be happy to sell my old #1 pair of Philips Miniwatt E188CC's for $80 plus $12 for USPS Priority shipping just to CONUS. I think I'm remembering they are a mixed '63/'66 pair. They were NOS when I got them and they probably have less than 750 hours on them...I have no testing equipment. If interested, PM me. I'll check them to make sure there's no tube noise before I ship. Let me know. They just aren't getting any head time anymore and it's a shame to have them just lay around.
tvnosaint
500+ Head-Fier
That's a crazy good price Billy
TK16
Headphoneus Supremus
Appreciate the offer bro, got all the Heerlen`s I want, got the 66 Philips Miniwatts E188CC in my dac and think I prefer the Mullards or Brimars in there. Sure somebody would jump at the chance here though. Great price.
ThurstonX
Headphoneus Supremus
FWIW, I use 99% isopropyl (medical grade), enough drying/evaporation time (can't imagine that takes long at that concentration, but I usually give them minimum 15 min.), followed by Caig's DeoxIT Gold from their Vacuum Tube Survival Kit, always wiping off the excess thoroughly, and that's it. I've read complaints about Caig stuff causing nasty build-up, esp. in high temp. applications like a Lyr, but I have never had that problem... and in the past I even applied minuscule amounts of DeoxIT Gold in the sockets themselves (kinda pointless, since the pins already have it on them). With all that, I've never once had a problem with tubes or your awesome socket savers using the method, above. I'll grant you not everyone is that meticulous, and as you say, it should not be done in a slapdash manner.
I'm never surprised now when the isopropyl pulls off small amounts of oxidation even on what appear to be the most pristine gold-plated pins. Is Caig DeoxIT Gold a placebo? Hell if I know, but that tiny bottle is nowhere near running out, so pass the sugar pills, please.
Livin' on the edge, as Prophets will
FWIW, I use 99% isopropyl (medical grade), enough drying/evaporation time (can't imagine that takes long at that concentration, but I usually give them minimum 15 min.), followed by Caig's DeoxIT Gold from their Vacuum Tube Survival Kit, always wiping off the excess thoroughly, and that's it. I've read complaints about Caig stuff causing nasty build-up, esp. in high temp. applications like a Lyr, but I have never had that problem... and in the past I even applied minuscule amounts of DeoxIT Gold in the sockets themselves (kinda pointless, since the pins already have it on them). With all that, I've never once had a problem with tubes or your awesome socket savers using the method, above. I'll grant you not everyone is that meticulous, and as you say, it should not be done in a slapdash manner.
I'm never surprised now when the isopropyl pulls off small amounts of oxidation even on what appear to be the most pristine gold-plated pins. Is Caig DeoxIT Gold a placebo? Hell if I know, but that tiny bottle is nowhere near running out, so pass the sugar pills, please.
Livin' on the edge, as Prophets will
meticulous - that is the key. We have seen many issues mainly from being otherwise while using any of these methods. Any strong solvent can potentially dissolve the adhesives we use in the socket savers.
Gold pins can tarnish easily especially when coming out of damp basements or warehouses.
Easy, earth friendly solution for Gold Pin tarnish removal - cut a lemon in half. Insert tube pins in one of the halves. Remove and re-insert a few times. Now you can wipe off the tarnish with q-tip and plain water. Be sure to rinse off all the pins using Q-tips/plain water otherwise lemon juice will leave sticky film on the pins. CAUTION: Many a gold pin coating is fragile. This process may harm such weak coatings. Use carefully.
Another issue is that for non-gold plated pins, many newbies think all pins should be shiny and or have uniform color. Most steel pins have many shades/hues as a result of the manufacturing process. People may wrongly assume these pins to be tarnished. Look closely at the pins here:
Same goes for our socket saver. It will have bands of 2/3 hues from the dip in the solder bath. That does not imply any tarnish on the pins.
billerb1
Headphoneus Supremus
Thurston said:
FWIW, I use 99% isopropyl (medical grade), enough drying/evaporation time (can't imagine that takes long at that concentration, but I usually give them minimum 15 min.), followed by Caig's DeoxIT Gold from their Vacuum Tube Survival Kit, always wiping off the excess thoroughly, and that's it. I've read complaints about Caig stuff causing nasty build-up, esp. in high temp. applications like a Lyr, but I have never had that problem... and in the past I even applied minuscule amounts of DeoxIT Gold in the sockets themselves (kinda pointless, since the pins already have it on them). With all that, I've never once had a problem with tubes or your awesome socket savers using the method, above. I'll grant you not everyone is that meticulous, and as you say, it should not be done in a slapdash manner.
I'm never surprised now when the isopropyl pulls off small amounts of oxidation even on what appear to be the most pristine gold-plated pins. Is Caig DeoxIT Gold a placebo? Hell if I know, but that tiny bottle is nowhere near running out, so pass the sugar pills, please.
Livin' on the edge, as Prophets will
Heed the word. He is among us.
ThurstonX
Headphoneus Supremus
I SHALL BAPTIZE ALL WITH 99% ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL!!!
(Christian Scott rules! Live at Newport, baby
ahhhh, The Last Temptation of Rangy .... suck it, Scorsese
I love you, Martin
billerb1
Headphoneus Supremus
I SHALL BAPTIZE ALL WITH 99% ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL!!!
(Christian Scott rules! Live at Newport, baby
ahhhh, The Last Temptation of Rangy .... suck it, Scorsese
I love you, Martin
Ahh, Christian Scott. A prophet of a different color. His word does indeed rule.
billerb1
Headphoneus Supremus
Hey Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to you fellow addicts. The banter is always fun here and I've learned a ton from you guys.
Enjoy !!!
Enjoy !!!
gmahler2u
Headphoneus Supremus
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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all who love the Tubes!!
ThurstonX
Headphoneus Supremus
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all. Here's hoping we roll into a bright New Year.
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