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Hey guys, I'm not a happy camper...I just realized that the tube that rocks my world is the Sylvania 6CA7 and im pretty sure we all know their status.

I guess my question is, before I turn off my amp and hang up my gitter for good what would be some good tubes for me to try?

Amp's a Marshall 1968 12xxx series 100w clone and I'm going for EVH1 tone. Plate voltage is ~389VDC, bias ~40ma and I run it wide open at 16 ohms into a Marshall Power Brake then into a Marshall 2203 then into a 16ohm cab with essentially 4 25w Celestion Greenbacks.

I've tried the new EH 6CA7 and while it's ok it AINT a Fat Boy, i've also tried an assortment of EL34's and their so so i guess. I just purchased a quad of JJ KT77 and JJ KT66 from Eurotubes as well.

Please tell me there's hope

Thanks,

David

Hi,

Try some winged =C= Svetlana tubes.

Cheers!

Those came in my Bogner 101b, they're ok i guess.

What about the Shuguang Treasure 6CA7-Z? Anyone ever tried them?

Some clients have blown up some Shuguang "EL34's" in an ST-70, if that's any indication...

Cheers!

The shuguang and "sino" power pentodes and BPTs are generally pretty whimpy, as are their (alleged) 5AR4s, which barely make the cut as a 5Y3GT. The Chinese made power triodes and small signal 2ubes are generally OK, up to excellent quality.

/ed B

dtdionne wrote:Hey guys, I'm not a happy camper...I just realized that the tube that rocks my world is the Sylvania 6CA7 and im pretty sure we all know their status.

yes, that's why I got me 5 PhilipsECG (Sylvania plant) and 5 as new used Sylvanias. I like them.

EH 6CA7 work since 5 months in my VTA ST70 with no flaw.

I also have 2 sets of Old Stock Tesla which are ok too. I guess the best I got are 6 new or as new Philips Double-D-Getter Brown bases.
JJ el34 are junk as I found. I have one set of Ei6CA7 wich worked more than a year flawless in an original ST-70 and still are fine.

Very well alrounders are GDR made RFT. Have some sets and never had a problem with one of those.

can you describe what it is about the sylvania 6ca7s that is so superior to all the other makes? i have a real hard time believing you are hearing dramatic differences in output tubes, in a guitar amp

To my eye, the Sylvania / Philips 6CA7 has a lot in common with their 6550. Perhaps you could try a few of the 6550 types in your amp? It might give the sound you're after.



Sovtek used to build a 6CA7 that had a similar appearance to the Sylvania 6CA7. It had the round plate holes, but a tab in the plate sticking out. I can't comment on how they sound.

Those Sovtek 6CA7's look to be a copy of a GE 6CA7, I wonder how the reliability was?