Which EL34/6ca7 for just arrived Niteshade amp??

starkiller · « **on:** 29 Jan 2010, 12:56 am »

Just got my Niteshade amp today and its gorgeous

Nice, deep, dark, Red. Blair said it would be all right if I ask what people might be using in their Niteshade amps that tape the El34/6CA7's. I currently have a quad of Winged"C"s and EI 6CA7's. Am always on the hunt though for deals, and sometimes those deals come and go really fast

The other tubes are 2 12au7's and I am good to go with a set of Philips Mini-watts and a set of EI's.

Thanks!

Pez · « **Reply #1 on:** 29 Jan 2010, 01:40 am »

Well I don't own a nightshade amp, but I have owned plenty of el34 amps to know what's good. Try the Gold lion KT66s which should work with this amp as they are electrically equivalent for the most part. Also the penta labs kt66s are probably da bomb if they're anything like the kt88s. And if you really want to go nuts my favorites are the Shuguang Treasures either el34 or Kt66 variety though I have heard great things about the 6CA7s. As far as signal tubes I'm a NOS guy. Get yourself some NOS mullards or Phillips.

starkiller · « **Reply #2 on:** 29 Jan 2010, 01:43 am »

Thanks for the info. I already have a set of the Philips signal tubes so half-way there I guess. I will of course scope out the sound for a bit though with the 6CA7's before spending more $.

Pez · « **Reply #3 on:** 29 Jan 2010, 01:44 am »

Tube rolling can be great, unless you spend a lot of cash and end up with something horrendous which is always possible. I Do like the Winged C stuff. Very sweet and smooth sounding.

Mariusz · « **Reply #4 on:** 29 Jan 2010, 02:16 am »

Do not own Niteshade amp but use JJs (blue), NOS Siemens and EH 6ca7 in my amp.

Mariusz

starkiller · « **Reply #5 on:** 29 Jan 2010, 02:18 am »

the JJ's have that cool blue glow right? is the sound the same though, cool rather then warm?

Mariusz · « **Reply #6 on:** 29 Jan 2010, 02:36 am »

No difference to my ears - but they look cool. (nicely balanced top to bottom)

Mariusz

Pez · « **Reply #7 on:** 29 Jan 2010, 02:37 am »

In my experience JJs do no wrong, yet somehow they just do not float my boat. I think they have a nice sound from top to bottom, but lack definition in a sense. Obviously YMMV but I will not be using JJ anything any time soon.

Ericus Rex · « **Reply #8 on:** 29 Jan 2010, 02:48 am »

I'm with Pez on the GL KT66s. I've tried lots of EL34s (JJs, SED, Mullard reissues, orig Teslas), Ei 6CA7 'fatboyz', Shuguang KT88s and settled on the GL KT66s in my Quicksilver GLA. They have very good punch in the bass and I felt they were more even across the entire frequency range than the other types. I would guess you'd get similar results in Blair's amp.

Mariusz · « **Reply #9 on:** 29 Jan 2010, 02:52 am »

Use Siemenses most of the time, Russians & JJ on occasions.

Audioclyde · « **Reply #10 on:** 29 Jan 2010, 02:53 am »

I have to vote for the Black Treasure 6CA7's--I preferred these over even more expensive NOS el34's in my Cary SLI-80. I also have the GL reissue KT-77's (as well as the JJ's) and although I like these, still prefer the Black Treasures. Downside is that they are a bit pricey.

markC · « **Reply #11 on:** 29 Jan 2010, 03:06 am »

Don't own Niteshade either. But try some Bugle Boys for the U7's. I certainly like 'em in my amps. I tried several including Mullards and prefer the BB's.

starkiller · « **Reply #12 on:** 29 Jan 2010, 05:53 am »

well, i guess i need to move a little quicker on this. On one of the tubes the key pin broke off and is now in the bottom of the amp and there is a nice hole into the tube. so now all i have is the set of Winged "c"'s and i like to have backups.

Ericus Rex · « **Reply #13 on:** 29 Jan 2010, 01:53 pm »

You can still use the tube, unless the glass broke. Just be extra careful that you've put the tube in the socket properly. Just put a mark on the side of the tube base where the pin key used to be and line that mark up with corresponsing indention in socket. Getting them off could ruin your nice shiny new amp so get it right!

starkiller · « **Reply #14 on:** 29 Jan 2010, 01:56 pm »

the tube does not light up...so i am afraid its gone

Ericus Rex · « **Reply #15 on:** 29 Jan 2010, 01:58 pm »

I'd love to try the Black Treasure tubes sometime. I'm just waiting on more information regarding reliability. They're so new they don't have a track record yet. If they turn out to be super-reliable (in addition to better sounding) compared to other current production tubes then the high price is well worth it. Only time will tell!

Ericus Rex · « **Reply #16 on:** 29 Jan 2010, 01:59 pm »

Bummer!

Quote from: starkiller on 29 Jan 2010, 01:56 pm

the tube does not light up...so i am afraid its gone

Ericus Rex · « **Reply #17 on:** 29 Jan 2010, 02:00 pm »

How about some pics of the amp?

iGrant · « **Reply #18 on:** 30 Jan 2010, 03:37 pm »

Quote from: Ericus Rex on 29 Jan 2010, 01:58 pm

I'd love to try the Black Treasure tubes sometime. I'm just waiting on more information regarding reliability. They're so new they don't have a track record yet. If they turn out to be super-reliable (in addition to better sounding) compared to other current production tubes then the high price is well worth it. Only time will tell!

Zero failures reported on the GF Treasure Series since we started grading them early last year, thanks to the Amplitrex AT1000 tester. Over 1000 pairs sold since then by us. I'd say this is the most reliable new production tube I have seen. As far a sound goes, lots of end user feedback out there and again, no reports of a failure that I am aware of. Most bought them with the one year warranty, so I'm sure I would have

Generally a tube will fail pretty quick if it is going to before it's life expectancy, on an EL-34 it will likely be the Heater to Cathode leakage or Excess Gas that will kill them (or a bad component), which many or most can't test for, we discard any H to K above zero tube, or more than 10% Grade B, 5% Grade A, Excess Gas on power tubes, half that again on signal/driver tubes.

We have no reason not to believe the factories claim that they have well over 5,000 hours of the Treasure Power tubes. I've seen them running in the matching Treasure amps at the factory, where they run them 12 hours a day, so one on and off cycle per day. The Treasure amps do have a standby feature, so minimal start-up strain.

Cheers,
Ian

Niteshade · « **Reply #19 on:** 30 Jan 2010, 03:45 pm »

I wish they made Beano for tubes.

What is the reason for the gas? A bad vacuum, gas in the metal?