The Decware TABOO MK 111 Thread

[longbowbbs]

 

  That tube will be a drop in replacement for the stock rectifier. The mesh version would be super cool in the dark too!

 
Thx bud.  I will probably try it.  Steve emailed today.  He has gone thru my taboo and given everything 1 last check.  It's being shipped back to me on Monday.
The CSP3 would probably take a few more weeks at least.  

 
Fortunately, you can get to know the Taboo on its own. You will enjoy incorporating the CSP3+ into the family.

 

[koiloco]

I looked at your taboo pictures.  What is the rectifier with the green wire in the pic?

 

[thegrobe]

   
I wonder what's going on with those.  That whole base situation seems a bit off lately.  They keep backing up, and the new ones a clearly different.  Good luck.

 
I have a cherry base on the Taboo, from around June 2013, and a walnut base that just came on the CSP. They are different in construction. The cherry base has a rabbet joint at the corners, with the front panel the full width of the base. The walnut base has a miter joint at the corners, like a picture frame type joint. The rabbet joint is probably stronger but really probably doesn't make a difference. It's not a high-stress application, lol. Different methods....something changed I guess
 
I plan on making some custom bases for my amps, as soon as I get around to it. If anyone is interested I may be able to make some for others. The woods I have on hand right now are bird's eye maple, bloodwood, kingswood, quarter sawn oak, purpleheart, walnut and maybe a couple others. Anyone with a walnut base want to swap for my cherry base? It would be nice to have mine match until I get around to making some. 
 
WNBC- the bases are very easy to swap out, a few screws on top and the amp comes right off. 
 
Longbow- good luck with the sale, it should be a no-brainer for someone to pick that up quickly. 
 
On another note, I have had the French made Mazda 5Y3GB in place of the Philips 5R4GYS rectifier in the CSP3 for a day or so. Too early to give any sound impressions because it needs to burn in for some time. Also tube rolling is a bit overwhelming with 8 tubes in play in the pre/taboo. I may have to roll it into the Taboo after it's broken in and listen to just the Taboo to really get some worthwhile impressions to share.  
 
But I can say one thing  - - - 
DAMN this tube is beautiful! It's hard to get good pics, but this is the best I can do. Much better in person. 
 

 

 

 

[WNBC]

Just noticed your observation.  My Taboo has one joint type and the CSP3 has a different type.  Both are walnut wood.  
 
When you get around to making these bases show us pictures.   
 
Would it be all 8 outside screws on the top plate we need to remove to swap out the base?  Maybe I missed these directions in the manual.  
 
In this thread one poster called the Mazda sound more "solid state like".  I do like those bottle type tubes.  Makes me want to order a Sophia Electric or EML for that soul glow.
 
http://www.decware.com/cgi-bin/yabb22/YaBB.pl?num=1329600301
 
 
 
Quote:

 

[longbowbbs]

Interesting...My CSP2+ and Taboo MK III have the same joint in Maple. It is a rabbit joint I think....Been awhile. It is not a mitre joint.
 
thegrobe, thanks for the good wishes. We'll see how the market looks these days.

 

[mwindham08]

I'm actually glad I've had the Taboo by itself for a while. It's given me  time to learn its voicing and figure out which tubes I like.
I think when I get my CSP3 I may just put it's stock tubes in for a while just to get used to it. 
 
I really like the Mazda 5y3gb, its a lively tube to be sure. Did you get yours off ebay? A seller there had alot of them for like 30-40 dollars if I remember correctly.

 

[bearFNF]

This difference in bases may have something to do with the woodworker having a heart attack back in April maybe?

 

[Pentode Guy]

Well folks, I have the Taboo MK III up for sale. I scored a deal on my current dream amp, a Cary SLI-80 and the Taboo has to go.

http://www.head-fi.org/t/683444/mint-decware-taboo-mk-iii-class-a-single-ended-pentode-amplifier

Decware forum fans will get extra tubes besides stock. This is not on the ads which are posted here, on Ebay and on Audiogon.....

I can't let go of the CSP2+ yet. We'll see.

This is NOT a sale due to any issue with the Taboo. It rocks. But the Cary is an aspirational piece for me.

So sad to hear this.
I hope you won't regret selling the Taboo.

 

[longbowbbs]

 

Well folks, I have the Taboo MK III up for sale. I scored a deal on my current dream amp, a Cary SLI-80 and the Taboo has to go.

http://www.head-fi.org/t/683444/mint-decware-taboo-mk-iii-class-a-single-ended-pentode-amplifier

Decware forum fans will get extra tubes besides stock. This is not on the ads which are posted here, on Ebay and on Audiogon.....

I can't let go of the CSP2+ yet. We'll see.

This is NOT a sale due to any issue with the Taboo. It rocks. But the Cary is an aspirational piece for me.

So sad to hear this.
I hope you won't regret selling the Taboo.

 
Probably....But I have the Cary inbound for next Saturday delivery. Think of it this way, the Cary is priced 3X with it's upgrades what the Taboo costs so the Taboo is punching way above it's weight class. No shame in that. The Taboo is a fantastic value!

 

[koiloco]

   
Probably....But I have the Cary inbound for next Saturday delivery. Think of it this way, the Cary is priced 3X with it's upgrades what the Taboo costs so the Taboo is punching way above it's weight class. No shame in that. The Taboo is a fantastic value!

 
That SLI 80 is a beast...so much power.  

 

 

[longbowbbs]

I am enjoying the Taboo this weekend. I swapped out the 596 for the stock 274B. I will always enjoy the 596, but Steve really picks great stock tubes. I appreciate that you can use easy to find and inexpensive tubes and get great sound from this amp. It is a nice change from some of the very expensive tubes I see discussed around Head-Fi.

 

[mwindham08]

Has anyone compared the Philips Mullard vs Philips valvo el84s? I've got the amperex and valvo labeled Philips tubes but I can't help wondering how the higher priced mullard branding sounds.

 

[thegrobe]

 

 
Hmm..for some reason the quote function isn't working properly. Not quoting your text, just your username. Anyway, you asked about the screws to remove the bases, yes, the outer 8 screws. Then grab the transformer and lift the amp right off. I recommend removing the tubes first then you can lay the amp upside town on a towel or something. 

 

 
You asked about the Mazda tubes. They came from Tubeman - same seller as eBay but I bought them direct, a bit cheaper. But now I just looked at the website and the price went up! Now it's the same as eBay.  
 
 

  This difference in bases may have something to do with the woodworker having a heart attack back in April maybe?

 
Oh, your quote worked..strange...Yeah, that probably has something to do with it! I had no idea, I hope he's okay. Is he?

 

[bearFNF]

  Oh, your quote worked..strange...Yeah, that probably has something to do with it! I had no idea, I hope he's okay. Is he?

 
Last I heard a few months ago was that he was recovering...Have not heard anything since then, though.
 
Yeah the quote function some times gets wonky...

 

[OPR8R]

New (NOS) signal tubes.  They're beautiful.  I took a quick listen before I set them off to burn in, and was impressed right out of the box.
 

 
Telefunken E88CC/6922