[jostber]

In my Cornet the 5AR4 tube is quite close to the transformer. Would it be an advantage to have a tube damper on this? And same for the 12AX7 and 12AU7 tubes?

[Bernie]

check out herbiesaudiolab.net
His tube dampners realy work.

Bernie.

[DeadFish]

Hey Jostber,

I run a Cornet 2 and a Clarinet and appreciate them all having tube dampeners on them.  The difference isn't necessarilly 'Nite and day', but I *believe* that there is a positive dampening going on.
Another one of those darned things that only you can prove or disprove to yourself. 
Sorry.

DeadFish

[jostber]

Thanks! I have ordered some tube dampers from Herbie's for my power amp(211 and 5687 tubes), and start with the 5AR4 tube at the Cornet.

[GRD]

I found the AX7's respond most to the tube dampers.  Try on one or both and see what you hear.  For me, the "air" went away and the sound tightened up or became more solid.  And it seemed to pick up more bass.  I missed the "air" but after comparing with and without dampers, I realized that there was more distortion without.  Now I use dampers on all the signal tubes (Herbies - really good dampers).

[jostber]

I found the AX7's respond most to the tube dampers.  Try on one or both and see what you hear.  For me, the "air" went away and the sound tightened up or became more solid.  And it seemed to pick up more bass.  I missed the "air" but after comparing with and without dampers, I realized that there was more distortion without.  Now I use dampers on all the signal tubes (Herbies - really good dampers).

Thanks, I will check more on this when I receive the dampers.

[hagtech]

I like the Herbie's too.  Never could figure out why they work so well.

jh

[Bobzilla]

jostber,

 I too run a Cornet 2 and a Clarinet and use dampening on all tubes. This is a tweak that does seem to have merit and I can't theorize how it could be detrimental as long as you're  aware of the basic thermal requirements of any vacuum tube.
 For the signal tubes, I use two or three turns of teflon tape, wrapped around the upper portion of freshly cleaned pins and roll a snugly fitted teflon "O" ring down the glass. The rectifier tubes get the same treatment with the addition of a few runs of teflon around the junction of the plastic base and the glass envelope.
 If properly designed, (for example, tuning for specific resonances) I'm sure that the various commercial products may, in some small way, be more effective. But ... for 10% of the cost of ONE commercial tube dampener you can get 95% (my personal, perceived, undocumented estimate) of the positive attributes of dampening for ALL of your tubes... well ... it's an inexpensive way to experiment.
       

[jostber]

Thanks, I have received my Herbie's tube dampers today and will try them out shortly.

[DeadFish]

Cool, jostber!   Let us know how it blows!

Best Regards,
DeadFish