[Paladin79]

Well after several years I am back in the game. I picked up a Lyr 3 again and will be looking for 5sn7 and the like tubes again. really wish I didnt sell my tubes when I sold my lyr 3 several years ago as tubes seem to have skyrocketed.

Welcome back and good luck finding tubes, I stick to Melz for the most part and they are certainly expensive right now if you can find the better ones.

 

[fuhransahis]

Not familiar with oak-man maybe others are - curious what you might be looking for if you don't mind sharing a bit more ?

Thanks! Have been looking for a pair of Tung Sol 5998 tubes, seemed like a good price at $395/pair from him...

Doesn't look like a tube seller. Rather a guy that sells tubes along with a bunch of other stuff. Dunno what that means for his tubes.

... but also based on this it doesn't inspire much confidence that he's got these tubes and then a bunch of random other stuff.

I know this is the 6SN7 thread but it might as well be the general Tube Guru thread from what I've gathered

 

[David222]

Thanks! Have been looking for a pair of Tung Sol 5998 tubes, seemed like a good price at $395/pair from him...

... but also based on this it doesn't inspire much confidence that he's got these tubes and then a bunch of random other stuff.

I know this is the 6SN7 thread but it might as well be the general Tube Guru thread from what I've gathered

Interesting - so, just my opinion - I'd avoid ebay when hunting (semi) harder to obtain valves like Tung Sol 5998 - unless you have purchased before from seller and have some level of confidence in the transaction. If you look back in this thread - you will see some ebay sellers names (good and bad).

Perhaps consider the classifieds here on Head-Fi --> here and here. Note: I do not know either sellers and one listing clearly notes an issue with the base of one of the tubes - but at minimum you have some transparency in what you are purchasing. Maybe inquire if the guy selling (bundled) with the WA22 would sell just the tubes to you?

I am sure others on here will have additional thoughts

 

[Thaddy]

Interesting - so, just my opinion - I'd avoid ebay when hunting (semi) harder to obtain valves like Tung Sol 5998 - unless you have purchased before from seller and have some level of confidence in the transaction. If you look back in this thread - you will see some ebay sellers names (good and bad).

Perhaps consider the classifieds here on Head-Fi --> here and here. Note: I do not know either sellers and one listing clearly notes an issue with the base of one of the tubes - but at minimum you have some transparency in what you are purchasing. Maybe inquire if the guy selling (bundled) with the WA22 would sell just the tubes to you?

I am sure others on here will have additional thoughts

This is good advice for purchasing those harder-to-get tubes. My few pairs of 5998's and other rare tubes have come from a very trusted person who I've purchased from many many times. More common tubes like RCA gray glass 6SN7's I'll get from eBay.

 

[paradoxper]

You know how to get my attention! PM me when you're ready, please.

PM. Will cover other messages taken. Will sell six pairs. These were provided courtesy of @AndriiUkraine

 

[ARCXENOS]

Package came unexpectedly quick from Ukraine @AndriiUkraine

Plugged them in, and they were dead quiet on the HD600, no hum, buzz or microphony 5 hours in. I am hoping these lasts because they do indeed, sound good. Only issue I think I have is that one of the tubes don't light up at the bottom, but apart from that there is no channel imbalance and both appears to be sounding the same as much as I can tell. Maybe different construction?

I am praying these don't develop @ColSaulTigh 's "death squeals".

 

[ARCXENOS]

Hopefully they have no other issues and may they last long

 

[TLO]

Hopefully they have no other issues and may they last long

Try resoldering the two heater pins, 7 and 8, if you have problem.

 

[ARCXENOS]

Try resoldering the two heater pins, 7 and 8, if you have problem.

Thank you, I will keep note of that if anything goes wrong, which I hope it maintains its current state!

 

[JTbbb]

I don’t think the tube would work if the heater was not working? I suppose it’s getting hot?

 

[ColSaulTigh]

I've bought twice from Andi - he's legit! Highly recommended!

 

[bcowen]

Package came unexpectedly quick from Ukraine @AndriiUkraine

Plugged them in, and they were dead quiet on the HD600, no hum, buzz or microphony 5 hours in. I am hoping these lasts because they do indeed, sound good. Only issue I think I have is that one of the tubes don't light up at the bottom, but apart from that there is no channel imbalance and both appears to be sounding the same as much as I can tell. Maybe different construction?

I am praying these don't develop @ColSaulTigh 's "death squeals".

Nice!!

 

[Tom-s]

Package came unexpectedly quick from Ukraine @AndriiUkraine

Plugged them in, and they were dead quiet on the HD600, no hum, buzz or microphony 5 hours in. I am hoping these lasts because they do indeed, sound good. Only issue I think I have is that one of the tubes don't light up at the bottom, but apart from that there is no channel imbalance and both appears to be sounding the same as much as I can tell. Maybe different construction?

I am praying these don't develop @ColSaulTigh 's "death squeals".

Just a word on heaters.
What you visually see from the heaters. Above or below the cathode sleeve they are placed in. Has absolutely nothing to do with their functioning. It’s a result of the fact these tubes were assembled with some tolerance on how the heaters should be positioned in their sleeves. With long wires to the glass stem (that part inside the tube that seals the wires) the heaters may stick out a little higher and be invisible at the bottom of the anode plates as a result. With shorter wire lengths to the stem the heaters sit lower compared to the other components and may be visible below the anode when lit.
There’s nothing to worry about. If the tubes work the heaters are lit. With heating cathode sleeves in indirectly heated tubes they’re on or off.
You’ll be fine with this pair.

 

[Isaacc7]

I have been cycling through the Sylvania “Bad Boy” 12sn7, Tungsol BGRP 12sn7, and the 14af7 as input tube in my amp. I really like all three.

Like all American loctal tubes, the 14af7 was made by Sylvania. I have two different versions, one with grey plates labeled Tungsol and a black plate labeled RCA. I much prefer the grey plate but with a sample of one it’s hard to know if the one I have is representative or not. Earlier in this monster thread someone pointed out that the 12ah7 is the octal equivalent (Not pin compatible with the 6sn7 though). Looking at all the different versions on eBay I think I can safely say that those are also all made by Sylvania Regardless of the branding. All have exactly the same construction, either black or grey plates and circular or rectangular mica. The older tubes look like old Sylvania 6sn7 with the silvering on the bottom. I plan on getting a handful of the 14af7 and seeing if the grey vs black plate sound is real. They are cheap enough I don’t mind experimenting.

 

[Isaacc7]

I know this is the 6sn7 thread but thought I'd make use of the brain trust here about 6sl7. Is there a comparatively well regarded Melz 6sl7 or other Russian version? Also, why didn't the Soviets make 12v tubes? Those are my usual go to for cheaper versions.

Come to think about it, are there European version of the 6sl7 or 12sl7 you would recommend?