[rawheadjim]

Thanks for the date ID on these, I think you found them for me on ebay Ripper! With the 10% off for $72, I was happy to have them.

BTW, those are 40's RCA 6SN7 GT with smoke glass, just before they moved to GTA with clear glass. @bcowen is right, they should be 1949.

 

[Ripper2860]

Nice to know I helped somebody here.

 

[bcowen]

Nice to know I helped somebody here.

It was bound to happen at some point, even if by mistake.

 

[jonathan c]

Nice to know I helped somebody here.

….the anti-bangy….

 

[Deceneu808]

It has arrived. Seller accidentally or on purpose sent me a 53 ribbed plate Foton with the Melz that I didn't order. Thank you @Paladin79 for the tip on the Melz.

 

[Paladin79]

It has arrived. Seller accidentally or on purpose sent me a 53 ribbed plate Foton with the Melz that I didn't order. Thank you @Paladin79 for the tip on the Melz.
You are most welcome and I have had Russian sellers send gifts with tubes i have purchased. The Melz appears to be in incredible condition. After a short burn in period it is my belief you will be suitably impressed.

 

[rawheadjim]

That Melz certainly looks beautiful! I still don't know enough to try to buy Melz or Fotons, I have to scour more pages of this and other threads, pics, etc. Anyone that has suggestions on safe sellers or good prices on either, or has any "extra" pairs they might part with, please let me know!

 

[Paladin79]

That Melz certainly looks beautiful! I still don't know enough to try to buy Melz or Fotons, I have to scour more pages of this and other threads, pics, etc. Anyone that has suggestions on safe sellers or good prices on either, or has any "extra" pairs they might part with, please let me know!

If I get time I will help on the Melz, maybe this weekend. @bcowen is the resident expert on Fotons, the one in the photo is the type you should seek, early fifties with the ribbed plates. That Melz in the photo is not common and is in holy grail territory IMHO, and in the opinions of friends who worked with my on a blind test of over 1500 tubes. You best start with perforated plates, and if you can find them, try for 1958 to 1963. If you have a question on a tube PM me and I may be able to get back to you quicker that way, I run a corporation in my spare time.

 

[musicinmymind]

It has arrived. Seller accidentally or on purpose sent me a 53 ribbed plate Foton with the Melz that I didn't order. Thank you @Paladin79 for the tip on the Melz.

Melz looks great, from which year 1961?

 

[Paladin79]

Melz looks great, from which year 1961?

That is a hard to find solid plate version from the fifties, 54 or 56 I want to say. They do not come up for sale very often, you are more apt to find the perforated plate versions. A 1961 in one of those is amazing and a close second to some of the solid plates like shown in the photo.

 

[Deceneu808]

@Paladin79 Only gave it half an hour out of curiosity. I must say, this is the best I've heard. Can't quite put my hands on what it is just yet that makes it sound so natural and specific at the same time

@musicinmymind It is from 1957

 

[rawheadjim]

Thanks Paladin, that holy grail Melz is way out of my league so I'm definitely not in that territory. No hurry, I can learn about starter Melz tubes at your leisure. I will be more than satisfied to learn about Foton's and maybe pursue some of those. Another guy on this forum sold me these 5692's for $235 so I will be enjoying them for a while when they arrive.

 

[Renexx]

Today I got my Melz 1578 81s back with resoldered pins. Their hum is completely gone and they work properly now without losing power.
Thanks for the good advise.

 

[bcowen]

It has arrived. Seller accidentally or on purpose sent me a 53 ribbed plate Foton with the Melz that I didn't order. Thank you @Paladin79 for the tip on the Melz.

Nice!

I'm betting that on a price-to-performance ratio the Foton will win.

 

[Paladin79]

Nice!

I'm betting that on a price-to-performance ratio the Foton will win.

A Picasso vs Elvis painted on velvet, naturally Elvis would win for you.

Thanks Paladin, that holy grail Melz is way out of my league so I'm definitely not in that territory. No hurry, I can learn about starter Melz tubes at your leisure. I will be more than satisfied to learn about Foton's and maybe pursue some of those. Another guy on this forum sold me these 5692's for $235 so I will be enjoying them for a while when they arrive.

Those are very good tubes