TUBE HELP

jcrane · « **on:** 1 Mar 2006, 10:05 pm »

Ok I picked up a bottlehead II from Deadfish and I can't get one of the tubes to work, swapped the locations and still no go. They are 12Au7a. Any good recomendations for a purchase of a new pair? What about where to buy?
THANKS tube guys

Jamie

PS
It looks like one of the filiments is broken inside, so I just want to order a new pair.
Thanks

meby · « **Reply #1 on:** 1 Mar 2006, 10:33 pm »

Jamie,
If you are going to buy cheap Sovtek, EH or Chinese just go to a local audio dealer. If you want NOS try tubeworld.com , tubedepot.com, or upscaleaudio.com

bmed · « **Reply #2 on:** 1 Mar 2006, 11:10 pm »

Hey Jamie,

Try Mike Marx at http://www.vacuumtubes.com - SND tube sales located in St. Charles, MO. I just recently purchased a couple of pairs of 12au7's from him myself. Look to pay anywhere from $5-50 a piece. I've got some RCA 5814 Black Plate's that I like (Command series I believe). If you want mellower try some RCA cleartops. Man there are tons of choices in 12au7 and their variants, and opinions gallore.

Brad

jcrane · « **Reply #3 on:** 1 Mar 2006, 11:46 pm »

Thanks for the info guys. I am pretty new to the tube thing and do not know much about the different tubes. I am plannig on using the Bottlehead preamp with a SONIC Tamp digital amp for now.
I will look into these companies

Jamie

Scott F. · « **Reply #4 on:** 2 Mar 2006, 12:49 am »

On the inexpensive side, I have to agree with Meby. The Electro Harmonix tubes are a great value and sound good to boot. I think you can get those at Parts Express online. The EH are just a tad smoother than the Sovteks, but at about $10 bucks each, the Sovteks are a decent buy also.

DeadFish · « **Reply #5 on:** 2 Mar 2006, 12:52 am »

Sorry about the tube, Jamie.
I never noticed it.
I *did* say it wouldn't be as noisy as the ones I got with the pre when I got it.

I'll give you another if you want it.

Bill

bpape · « **Reply #6 on:** 2 Mar 2006, 04:17 am »

I'm working on a recording studio and one of the owners sells tubes. Says he can get pretty much anything from EH to NOS. If you let me know what you want, I'll see what he'll sell them for.

jcrane · « **Reply #7 on:** 2 Mar 2006, 09:35 pm »

Ok this might be stupid but what is the difference in between 12ax7 & 12au7?
thanks!
jamie

mark@marktwain · « **Reply #8 on:** 2 Mar 2006, 10:55 pm »

Hi Jamie,
Hows it going? I don't know the exact specs but they have different charasterisicts and are not interchangeable.

Mark

jcrane · « **Reply #9 on:** 2 Mar 2006, 11:13 pm »

Thanks,
Seems that I can find a lot more of the X than the U.
I guess I will keep looking!

jamie

ohenry · « **Reply #10 on:** 3 Mar 2006, 12:03 am »

jcrane,
Unless I missed it, I didn't see any mention of JJ's. Those are quiet and sound tonally balanced in the applications I've used them in. And they're pretty cheap as well.

Also, like others have stated, I like the EH's. In my experiences, they impart a lusher sound than the JJ's and may be the ticket if your system sounds a little thin.

I have a few matched pairs of clear tops that I haven't used, they are in good shape if you'd like to try a pair. I'm not sure why I accumulated these over the past few years as they haven't been my first choice in my situation. I guess they were attractively priced for good old tubes and I'm a sucker, etc. PM me if you want to try them. If they work for you, you can send me a pair of some other manufacture later on that you don't need.

Scott F. · « **Reply #11 on:** 3 Mar 2006, 12:20 am »

Quote from: jcrane

Thanks,
Seems that I can find a lot more of the X than the U.
I guess I will keep looking!

jamie

Here ya go

http://www.tubestore.com/12au7types.html

I'd go for the EH's. Nice tube and not too expensive.

jcrane · « **Reply #12 on:** 3 Mar 2006, 12:36 am »

Scott
Thanks ordered the EHs.
Thanks
jamie

Mike D · « **Reply #13 on:** 6 Mar 2006, 02:52 am »

There is a vas defrans between the x and the u.

jcrane · « **Reply #14 on:** 7 Mar 2006, 12:36 am »

I got the EH's from thetubestore today along with Henry's JJs.
I have the EH's in the bottle head now and was wondering if tubes are subject to "breakin" and if so how long?

Thanks

Jamie

ohenry · « **Reply #15 on:** 7 Mar 2006, 02:22 am »

Quote from: jcrane

I got the EH's from thetubestore today along with Henry's JJs.

I have the EH's in the bottle head now and was wondering if tubes are subject to "breakin" and if so how long?

Thanks

Jamie

Hi Jamie,
Those are RCA clear tops in JJ boxes. I'm glad they made it...

jcrane · « **Reply #16 on:** 7 Mar 2006, 02:35 am »

Thanks again Henry, showed up in perfect condition.

Jamie

Mike D · « **Reply #17 on:** 7 Mar 2006, 02:56 am »

There is not much, IMHO, to tubes break in time. They will have been burned in by the Tube Store. After 20 hours or so, you they should be burned in.

Enjoy