12au7 Tube Substitution?

[jeffdavison]

Can an e80cc / 6085 sub for a 12au7?

Thanks

Jeff

[erichayes]

Hi All,

If memory serves me correctly, a 6085 was a high gain version of a 12BH7 or 6350. If the amp's power transformer can handle the extra 300 mA/tube of heater current, I'd go ahead and try it in place of a 12AU7. I hope you already have some on hand and aren't planning on buying some for the experiment, though. Those pups have gotten quite pricey of late.

[jeffdavison]

looks like they should work. I'm building a Hedgerman Clarinet
Using a 5YGB for the rectifier and 2 12au7's
Transformer is a Hammond 370BX which supplies 5v @ 2a for the rectifer
and 6.3v @2a for the heater filiments. both 12au7's draw .600 together, so subing the e80ccs will double that to 1.2... still under too much draw so things look like they should work.

Those tubes are starting to get pricey, but now is the time before the go through the roof. I can get a nos matched pair, Siemans, Telefunken, Phillips etc for $40 to $ 80 now whereas the top shelf NOS 12au7's, CV4003, M8136's etc are fetching close or better than $100 per tube!

Anf these are "supposed to sound better! So if I like what I hear, I'll probably build up a stash for my estate planning ;^)

Jeff