ExactlyOriginally Posted by Ali Tait
Senior Member
Location: Glasgow/Italy
Posts: 866
I'm Drew.
Exactly
Site Owner/Administrator
Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK
Posts: 110,012
I'm AudioAl'sArbiterForPISHANTO.
Ha - indeed... As you know full well, as soon as you apply power to a valve, in circuit (especially ones that are 30, 40 years old or more) what happens next is often in the lap of the gods!
Marco.
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Don McCorleone
Location: Galashiels
Posts: 13,693
I'm inthescottishmafia.
Yep, especially with the age of these things.
“Music has always been a matter of energy to me, a question of fuel. Sentimental people call it inspiration, but what they really mean is fuel. I have always needed fuel. I am a serious consumer. On some nights I still believe that a car with the gas needle on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio”
Hunter S Thompson
Senior Member
Location: Bristol
Posts: 6,843
I'm Justin.
I think eBay is fine for the most part. Just use the stats but a lot of sellers have amazing feedback for selling valves - many 1000s in some cases still with superb feedback.
I speak as I have been using it for this purpose since it began pretty much.
Sure not everything has been perfect but where it hasn't been it has been resolved for about 97% of my cases.
The fact is it is an amazing resource for buying valves.
Don McCorleone
Location: Galashiels
Posts: 13,693
I'm inthescottishmafia.
Yes agreed, just use sellers with lots of good feedback and you should be fine.
Do your own research though, so you can check what you're getting are the real thing.
“Music has always been a matter of energy to me, a question of fuel. Sentimental people call it inspiration, but what they really mean is fuel. I have always needed fuel. I am a serious consumer. On some nights I still believe that a car with the gas needle on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio”
Hunter S Thompson
Senior Member
Location: north
Posts: 459
I'm mick.
Pre-amp valves do not have as hard a life as output valves so even after tears of use they can still test as new.They are less of a risk to buy s/h and will be cheaper.If you do buy new or s/h ,do not pay extra for yellow print Mullards,they are no different to white label types.You may find Brimar will give the type of sound you described and should be cheaper still,but do your homework because a lot of tube manufacturers bought in and rebranded stock from inferior suppliers after they stopped making their own.It can be a minefield.Just my 2pennorth Good luck Mick
Nothin' I do don't seem to work ,it only seems to make matters worse!. Jagger/Richards
Member
Location: Sheffield, UK
Posts: 59
I'm Alfie.
Evening all,
Thanks for your comments. Point noted on NOS! I wonder in fact if a really "strong" and known to be good valve is sometimes better? I am no expert, but I'd almost rather part with my money for that as there are fewer unknowns.
Anyway, here is where I am with my seemingly endless tube rolling with my croft 25 (zero gain ECC2 version) and series 7 (normal version). I am absolutely 100% certain that I like my Mullard M8136 in the 25, so it's a lovely feeling to close the door on one thing at least and shows it is possible! I'll buy some spares and that will be that
In the 7, I have tried many valves and some are so close but not quite right. I've narrowed it down to the stock JJ, a JAN GE 5751 and a Mullard ECC83 Ladder Plate (Yellow Print - Meaningless I know). The JJ doesn't do vocals and mids smooth enough for me and the 5751 is a bit too hifi (sorry, I'm coming from a Quad 33/303). The Mullard ECC83 is Superb. From the bottom through the middle it is stupendous and could make me cry sometimes it's so good, but right at the top the treble stands out disproportionally to the the rest of the frequency range. It's overall so warm and smooth but sometimes cymbals and in particular brushes on cymbals are much louder in the mix than the ought to be I think.
This leaves me wondering:
A) How different would another Mullard ECC83 be? Is there some variation in them? Worth a punt on another?
B) How different is a CV4004 / M8137? I notice they are box plate, presume they sound different?
I'd quite like to try a CV4004, even if it's not virginal. If anyone knows of a swap shop? Otherwise I shall let the moths out of my wallet.
Whilst I'm here, anyone know how many posts before I can buy and sell here?
Cheers
Senior Member
Location: London
Posts: 685
I'm James.
M8137 is a different beast, if you are a tube roller that is. In the circuits I've tried it on (tbh not many) it has always brought heft and a surefootedness to the music. You won't lose money if it is a half way decent example, but it may cost you. Exaggerated treble is not a feature that I have experienced with them, I have with 5751 in my Vinyl1 which is a pity as it has about 500% too much gain as is.
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Mad as a Box of Frogs
Location: U.S.A. Neo-Socialist Kalifornski
Posts: 3,262
If you are wiling to step away from Mallards ?
I love these and like them a little more, https://tubedepot.com/products/genal...iABEgIZkPD_BwE
Jeff :UBERTHREADKILLER
Mad as a Box of Frogs
Location: U.S.A. Neo-Socialist Kalifornski
Posts: 3,262
If you are wiling to step away from Mullards ?
I love these and like them a little more, https://tubedepot.com/products/genal...iABEgIZkPD_BwE
You will find they have as black of back ground if not better than NOS, Really no noise floor and the midrange is really full and nuanced also mid bass is very well controlled.
Last edited by goraman; 24-03-2020 at 20:33.
Jeff :UBERTHREADKILLER
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