Wish me luck...

[archosman]

I just bought my first tube amp... a MG-Head OTL. Not sure about all this tube-rolling business or what tubes to get, but I'm looking forward to it. Where would be a good place to start looking for tubes in-town? In Nashville by the way...

 

[grinch]

it matches well with the sennheisers, but don't expect to get your grados working very well. the amp just doesn't work well with low impedance headphones.

 

[archosman]

Quote:

Originally posted by grinch it matches well with the sennheisers, but don't expect to get your grados working very well. the amp just doesn't work well with low impedance headphones.

Yep... that's the combo I'm looking for!

 

[Nefarion]

I too recently bought an antique sound labs MG/OTL. I am quite addicted to it already not even a week into listening. I cant say i have any other audiophile equipment other than this and my hd600's to compare it to but this is by far the best musical reproduction of sound ive ever heard.

As for tubes. http://www.buybeach.com/tubes/ Has the raytheon 12ax7 5150 in stock. I ordered one from him for 30 bux, The 12ax7 is the smaller middle tube. Then you have 2 bigger tubes to the right and the left which are EL84's. You can also look on ebay.. Just search for 12ax7 or EL84 ...

The middle tube is suppsedly the where the magic happens. The changes are mainly subtle from the other 2. Many people like the sylvania 5150 with gold pins the best for the middle tube.. Other like the raytheon better. For the 2 outer tubes the JJ EL34's are pretty much commonly known as the winners as of now. I found a matched set of 4 jj el34's (unbranded) for 30 bux on ebay.

I really cant tell much of a difference as of now between the stock tubes and my upgraded tubes (raytheon 5150+JJ EL84's). I think that is mainly due to the fact that i do not have a quality source...yet.

Good luck and have fun with your new amp... I think you'll agree it's really a spectacular bargain.

 

[archosman]

Quote:

Originally posted by Nefarion I too recently bought an antique sound labs MG/OTL. I am quite addicted to it already not even a week into listening. I cant say i have any other audiophile equipment other than this and my hd600's to compare it to but this is by far the best musical reproduction of sound ive ever heard. As for tubes. http://www.buybeach.com/tubes/ Has the raytheon 12ax7 5150 in stock. I ordered one from him for 30 bux, The 12ax7 is the smaller middle tube. Then you have 2 bigger tubes to the right and the left which are EL84's. You can also look on ebay.. Just search for 12ax7 or EL84 ... The middle tube is suppsedly the where the magic happens. The changes are mainly subtle from the other 2. Many people like the sylvania 5150 with gold pins the best for the middle tube.. Other like the raytheon better. For the 2 outer tubes the JJ EL34's are pretty much commonly known as the winners as of now. I found a matched set of 4 jj el34's (unbranded) for 30 bux on ebay. I really cant tell much of a difference as of now between the stock tubes and my upgraded tubes (raytheon 5150+JJ EL84's). I think that is mainly due to the fact that i do not have a quality source...yet. Good luck and have fun with your new amp... I think you'll agree it's really a spectacular bargain.

I am so jazzed about it right now I can't stand it! Hopefully I'll have it in my hand in a week. Any suggestions on how to brush-up on tubespeak knowledge? Any websites that explain it for us virgin tubeerollers?

 

[Hirsch]

Quote:

Originally posted by archosman I am so jazzed about it right now I can't stand it! Hopefully I'll have it in my hand in a week. Any suggestions on how to brush-up on tubespeak knowledge? Any websites that explain it for us virgin tubeerollers?

The FAQs at www.audioasylum.com are a good place to get started.

 

[archosman]

Thanks!

 

[Gallaine]

I highly recommend that you listen to the MG Head OTL with the stock tubes for a few weeks. Others may disagree, but IMO that will give you a reference by which to judge the differences in sound tuberolling makes. In my case, I waited around 4 weeks before purchasing my first set of replacement tubes.

 

[braillediver]

I think they mean the 5751, which is a 12AX7 compatible tube.

The Sylvania to look for is the JHS or CCA 5751 3 mica black plate with steel pins from the 1950’s.

Try here for Nick Dangerous’ compilation of Joes Tube Lore.

http://www.nickdangerous.com/misc/mg...estubelore.htm

These are some compatible types:

12AX7A, 12AX7WA, 12DF7, 12DT7, 7025, 7025A, 12AD7*, 12AU7§, 12AU7A§, 12BZ7*, 12DM7*, 5751*, 5751WA*, 6057, 6681, 7494, 7729

12AU7A, 12AU7W, 12AU7WA, 12AX7§, 12AX7A§, 5814*, 5814A, 5814WA*, 5963, 6067, 6189, 6680, 7316, 7489, 7730

To paraphrase Joe:

SUPERIOR:
- Sylvania 5751 blackplate 3-mica 5751 (marked JHS or CAA)
- Sylvania Gold Brand 5751 (look for the gold pins!)
- Raytheon 5751The Raytheon 5751 has two black plates, two mica spacers, and a getter at the top that looks like a miniature fan.

EXCELLENT:
- ITT 7025 two gray plates, two mica spacers, and a round
getter at the top. Choose the ITT for all-around performance,
- Tung-Sol 5751 (has unique long gray plates) for a lush experience that has o be heard to be fully understood.

VERY GOOD :
- G.E. 5751 blackplate 3-mica 5751
- RCA 5751 blackplate 5751 (many different types of RCA's out there... try a few different ones for yourself).

Something to remember about Joe’s Tube lore is it was written almost 4 years ago. Demand is up and the supply is limited to what was made 40 to 50 years ago so prices have risen accordingly.

Sylvania Gold brand 5751’s go for $60 to $75 on Ebay. A pair of 7729’s went for $350 a few weeks ago on Ebay.

Mitch

 

[darkclouds]

congrats archosman!

That was also my first tube amp... never looked back.