The Reference 6SN7 Thread

[cats4cans]

I’m really starting to question why I read this forum. Yes, I’m learning an awful lot, but I’m obviously too cheap to buy any exotic tubes worth a damn. I still can’t bring myself to break the $100ea threshold. I may not have the temperament to be a tube roller. I’m silly enough to think 3 sets of backups I like are good enough. Maybe my next tube amp will convert me…

 

[bcowen]

I’m really starting to question why I read this forum. Yes, I’m learning an awful lot, but I’m obviously too cheap to buy any exotic tubes worth a damn. I still can’t bring myself to break the $100ea threshold. I may not have the temperament to be a tube roller. I’m silly enough to think 3 sets of backups I like are good enough. Maybe my next tube amp will convert me…

Kinda the same reason people like watching train wrecks.

 

[LobalWarming]

Kinda the same reason people like watching train wrecks.

To scour the scene for the case of 5998s and 1578s known to be on their way to Cincinnati?

 

[jbua5150]

Any other ideas of the date on these? 1965 or 1955 was the best guess so far.

 

[Ranger Ron]

Any other ideas of the date on these? 1965 or 1955 was the best guess so far.

29th week of 1955, that’s most likely. Or they made them years prior and then put a base on them and stamped what you see.

 

[Ranger Ron]

29th week of 1955, that’s most likely. Or they made them years prior and then put a base on them and stamped what you see.

Etching on the glass is far more accurate as far as dates, if they even did so. I have Sylvania tubes etched in glass saying late 40’s and the base is stamped something completely different.

 

[Isaacc7]

I’m really starting to question why I read this forum. Yes, I’m learning an awful lot, but I’m obviously too cheap to buy any exotic tubes worth a damn. I still can’t bring myself to break the $100ea threshold. I may not have the temperament to be a tube roller. I’m silly enough to think 3 sets of backups I like are good enough. Maybe my next tube amp will convert me…

Yeah, the 6sn7 market has gotten nutty. As the most sought after tubes get scarce the prices will inevitably rise. I think that amp manufacturers should try to use different tubes going forwards since the 6sn7 has become so expensive. If Western Electric can make a good one then maybe sticking with 6sn7 will make sense for the people that just want to listen to their system instead of rolling tubes lol.

I have gotten around the silly prices by using different voltages and bases. I’m really enjoying the Brimar 13d1 tubes paired up with some JAN 7c5 output tubes in triode Push pull. There are still good sounding twin triodes available if you are willing to experiment. I started down that path by buying an adapter that uses an outboard power supply for my 6sn7. Later on I had an amp built that uses external supplies for both input and output tubes. Cost a bit extra but so worth it.

 

[leftside]

6SN7's can still be had very good prices. Not the rare ones that get discussed on here, but perfectly fine none the less:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/125627332027
https://www.ebay.com/itm/225633010933

We'd all be far better off saving the money and buying better amps than spending lot's of money on tubes to try and play with the sound. But tube rolling is fun. Guilty as charged.

 

[triod750]

6SN7's can still be had very good prices. Not the rare ones that get discussed on here, but perfectly fine none the less:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/125627332027
https://www.ebay.com/itm/225633010933

We'd all be far better off saving the money and buying better amps than spending lot's of money on tubes to try and play with the sound. But tube rolling is fun. Guilty as charged.

I have a pair of these Ken-Rad branded tubes with code 1-43. (They were my first 6SN7 type tubes). EIA code is GE but they are side getter tubes and I wonder if they are made by another company for GE who owned Ken-Rad by then. RCA? The tubes are not bad but a bit dull sounding. They don't get much use. When you roll you always find something you like better and thus keep on rolling like the stones.

 

[g0ldl10n]

I have a pair of these Ken-Rad branded tubes with code 1-43. (They were my first 6SN7 type tubes). EIA code is GE but they are side getter tubes and I wonder if they are made by another company for GE who owned Ken-Rad by then. RCA? The tubes are not bad but a bit dull sounding. They don't get much use. When you roll you always find something you like better and thus keep on rolling like the stones.

Bahaha, so true.. and eventually can evolve to this madness making some crazy base to test tubes, specially the kinds sockets are basically extinct for

 

[JTbbb]

I have a pair of these Ken-Rad branded tubes with code 1-43. (They were my first 6SN7 type tubes). EIA code is GE but they are side getter tubes and I wonder if they are made by another company for GE who owned Ken-Rad by then. RCA? The tubes are not bad but a bit dull sounding. They don't get much use. When you roll you always find something you like better and thus keep on rolling like the stones.

As far as I’m aware the Ken Rads should have staggered plates. GE did take over the Ken Rad factory, 1944? And carried on producing the staggered plates for some years before they used their horizontally opposed plates, but carried on printing them as Ken Rads. I think I have this correct?

 

[triod750]

But did they make 6SN7 with side getter?

 

[g0ldl10n]

But did they make 6SN7 with side getter?

Good question.. also, another clue is the way they did the etching on the glass .. from what I have seen and have on hand, only GE tubes did etching on glass like this.

 

[TLO]

But did they make 6SN7 with side getter?

Yes, GE, KEN-RAD(obviously by GE), RCA...all made 6SN7GTB with side getter.

 

[g0ldl10n]

Yes, GE, KEN-RAD(obviously by GE), RCA...all made 6SN7GTB with side getter.

Good call - just went and looked, and RCA does in fact .. can't believe I have never seen the RCA side getter version before. Means I will have to buy it, haha (joking.. am i?)