NOS vs current production tubes

[Ronald Harris]

I recently purchased a EICO HF-81 integrated.Two of the four Tung-Sol
output tubes tested weak.They didn't sound too bad,but I replaced them
with sovtek's.I had high hopes having used these in a dynaco
ST-35.Well I was quite disappointed!Sweet highs and sounstaging just
disappeared.NOS el-84 like the tung-sol cost several times more.Would
it be worth trying other current production tubes,such as EI or
JJ\tesla.I hate to waste more money.In searching the archives,the
JJ\tesla tubes seem to be the pick for guitar amp use.Would these be
worth trying or should I just fork over big $$$ for NOS.Anyone who's
used these have an opinion.

[Eric Erickson]

I think most people on this NG would agree that NOS tubes sound better than
current production stuff with a handful of exceptions. However, if you
don't want to fork over the dough, I think you'll find the EI EL-84's a good
choice for a new production tube. They sounds much better than either
Sovtek's regular EL-84. Sovtek's EL-84M is better than the regular version
but I still prefer the EI's. Maybe someone can comment on JJ's EL-84.

"Ronald Harris" <PT...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
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[David Thatcher]

Some of your tube dealers have stocks of used old stock
available.Inquire about matched quads of used,test like new.You could
well end up with some nice relabelled Mullards(Eico,Heath etc)or some
nice old RCA black plates.Tubes that have some hours on them are less
likely to change as much as new when you have 25 hours or so on them
and I have had a lot of luck using old used tubes that look to have
low hours on them without the high cost of NOS.
David Thatcher

PT...@yahoo.com (Ronald Harris) wrote in message news:<7526e01f.01052...@posting.google.com>...

[jdiamantis]

The biggest problem with the Russian tubes (all of them for that matter) is
they seem to have a different bias point than most NOS tubes I've used. In a
ST-35 Dyna for instance, they sounded kinda blah, until I changed the bias
resistor, running more current through the tube. Then, voila (vodka?) the
tube sounded really good. They also need about 10 hours of break in so take
that into account.

They don't replace a good set of Telefunkens or Mullard, but at the price,
they sound pretty good.

My 2 cents.

John Diamantis

Ronald Harris <PT...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
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[Eric V]

I'm running some JJ Tesla in a Heathkit SA2. The schematic says the
plate voltage is 385/390, and I haven't measured it, but at whatever
they're running, they do just fine. I have also tried them in a
Fisher x-100-3, which supposedly is to use 7189 tubes. (not sure what
the voltage supposedly is) They did well there also. I have had no
problems with them whatsoever. Have had them for about a year, and
use them daily. I bought a matched quad for $30.00 from Uncle Ned at
triodeel.com. I recommend them (and Ned!). The only comparison I
have are Sovtek EL84s (the base model), and a mismatched set of NOS
American tubes. The Teslas were better than either. Haven't heard
the Eis or the Sovtek EL84M, although both are more expensive than the
Teslas. I bet if you called Uncle Ned, he'd give you his 2 cents
worth about the relative reliability of all three, given that he sells
all three and probably doesn't really have a vested interest.

Eric V.

"jdiamantis" <jdiam...@aol.com> wrote in message news:<vykQ6.1397$fL5.7...@paloalto-snr1.gtei.net>...

[Jim McShane]

Eric V <ejv...@aol.com> wrote
...

> I'm running some JJ Tesla in a Heathkit SA2. The schematic says the
> plate voltage is 385/390, and I haven't measured it, but at whatever
> they're running, they do just fine.

IIRC, that amp is cathode biased, so the voltage across the tube is
18 volts or so less than the plate voltage. That's still above "spec".

> I have also tried them in a Fisher x-100-3, which supposedly is to
> use 7189 tubes. (not sure what the voltage supposedly is) They did
> well there also. I have had no problems with them whatsoever.
> Have had them for about a year, and use them daily. I bought a
> matched quad for $30.00 from Uncle Ned at triodeel.com.

(SNIP-some well deserved nice comments about Ned/Triode!)

> The only comparison I have are Sovtek EL84s (the base model), and
> a mismatched set of NOS American tubes. The Teslas were better
> than either. Haven't heard the Eis or the Sovtek EL84M, although both
> are more expensive than the Teslas.

Hey, those JJ EL84s are a STEAL! Ned and I sell them for
about the same price (I get $14.00/pair), they sound good, and
they will take a pounding as Eric mentioned. I don't think I'd trade
a set of RCA 6BQ5s for them, but don't underestimate how nice
the JJs are. The Eis are very good also, very NOS sounding to me.
They are a bit more money though.

I also find they (JJs and Eis) bias up just like NOS. Hell, even
NOS tubes vary from tube to tube, that's why we make matched
pairs available!

BTW, I am also a BIG fan of the Ei KT-90. Great tube, really tough too!

Jim McShane
Need NOS or New Tubes? Got a H-K Citation (Pre) Amp?
See my web pages at http://pages.prodigy.net/jimmcshane

[Buffstereo]

I'd certainly agree on the KT-90s!
JJ Tesla EL84s sounded terrific in a pair of Eico HF-12s I rebuilt. The JJ
12AX7/ECC83s matched up very nicely with them too. I got mine from Jim
McShane. They were the first JJ tubes I'd tried, and I was really impressed
with how healthy and balanced they sounded. Sovtek EL84Ms purchased awhile
back from Triode Electronics were good as well, but I'd tend to favor the Tesla
JJs. However, just as a matter of 'personal taste', I'd install good, used,
Telefunken EL84/6BQ5s, (along with preamp tubes), in preference to any other
type, current production or NOS. That is the "standard by which all shall be
judged" for me! Your taste may vary from mine. :) Robert Thompson
Live and let live!