Tube Rolling w/Crack

[cddc]

Bangy Bang Tubes does not have a particularly savory reputation, I'd suggest doing some research before spending any money there.

Although these are labeled as "Stromberg Carlson", they are Tung Sol 6080s.

Tung Sol 6080s

This has one Tung Sol and one GE:
Tung Sol & GE

Hi Paul,

You are definitely an expert in tubes. I think most of us here do not possess the knowledge like you do to find out the target tubes from these rebranded ones, while you can easily tell them apart just by the look and structure of them.

If you do find some good deals on 5998/6520/421A/6AS7G tubes or other good tubes for Crack from eBay or other places (rebranded or not), can you post them here? I think lots of Crack users here would be very interested.

Thanks a lot!

[Paul Birkeland]

I would recommended talking to Jim at vacuumtubesinc.com, or Jim at McShane Design.

It takes a ton of time to sort through all the listings on eBay!

This is a pretty decent listing:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/4-PCS-CSF-6080WA-6AS7G-Chinese-6N5PJ-TUBE-VALVE-french-made-one-of-the-best/173722865320?hash=item2872b08ea8:g:HSoAAOSwwTla~7iv

[Rossputin]

I know this advice won't be for everyone but here goes...

I realized that the world of tubes is so enormous that I had to do something to limit what I'd consider buying. So my filter is that I only buy tubes from the year I was born. It makes the shopping process quite a bit less time consuming. And it's also fun to learn how to understand the codes on tubes. Surprisingly easy to find tubes from the year of my birth (in the 1960s).

My favorite so far, and I absolutely can't believe I found one, is a Burroughs 2399 (Made by Tung Sol but quite rare and sounds fantastic!)

My 12AU7 is by LaRadiotechnique...another fairly cool brand.

[Tom-s]

Rule no.1. buy cheap. 

Get a cool coke shaped bottle for Crack.
The output tube i recommend to try (prefer it over RCA 6as7g) is the Russian 6N13s https://www.ebay.com/itm/382880263018

Pair it with some locally found Ecc82/6sn7.
A Tungsram E80CC is a nice tube in a speedballed Crack.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/142545441812

Edit: La Radiotechnique is a Philips tube. Ecc82 was made in the Suresnes Philips factory, like ECC40.

[cddc]

I would recommended talking to Jim at vacuumtubesinc.com, or Jim at McShane Design.

It takes a ton of time to sort through all the listings on eBay!

This is a pretty decent listing:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/4-PCS-CSF-6080WA-6AS7G-Chinese-6N5PJ-TUBE-VALVE-french-made-one-of-the-best/173722865320?hash=item2872b08ea8:g:HSoAAOSwwTla~7iv

These French 6080s seem to be a great deal. Thank you very for the link.

I will also give Jim a call sometime. The problem with vacuumtubes is that they list tubes and prices on their website even thou they probably do not have most of them. So it is really hard to find tubes from them unless you give them a call.

[cddc]

Rule no.1. buy cheap. 

Get a cool coke shaped bottle for Crack.
The output tube i recommend to try (prefer it over RCA 6as7g) is the Russian 6N13s https://www.ebay.com/itm/382880263018

Pair it with some locally found Ecc82/6sn7.
A Tungsram E80CC is a nice tube in a speedballed Crack.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/142545441812

Edit: La Radiotechnique is a Philips tube. Ecc82 was made in the Suresnes Philips factory, like ECC40.

These Russian 6N13 should be the same as Winged C 6H13C, am I rignt?

[Paul Birkeland]

These French 6080s seem to be a great deal. Thank you very for the link.

I will also give Jim a call sometime. The problem with vacuumtubes is that they list tubes and prices on their website even thou they probably do not have most of them. So it is really hard to find tubes from them unless you give them a call.

I would e-mail him, that gives him the time to get everything together without the time crunch of being on the phone.

-PB

[cddc]

Cool, will definitely write an email to them. 

[attmci]

Cool.

I don't remember where I read it, but someone reported the wirewound resistors under the heat sink became very hot and wires next to them turned brown after rolling in a 6SN7. So I was kinda concerned about 6SN7 tubes. But it's okay now. Thanks very much.

Hopefully I won't get into the trap, or at least not too deep into the trap. We'll see. 

Nope, you have to use a 6SN7GT to 12au7 adapter. So the heat is not a problem here.

Have you read this?

https://bottlehead.com/smf/index.php?topic=663.465

These are great drivers for Crack (bent ones):

https://www.ebay.com/itm/CBS-5814A-Pairs-Black-Plates-3-Pairs-available-5814-12au7-ecc82-/202623303320

[JLDub]

Same seller that Paul (very cool find on the 6080 BTW) linked to earlier has a listing for Mullard CV4003. Super popular for the Crack. Although a little on the expensive side, still cheaper than most, usually see these around $99.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mullard-ECC802S-M8136-12AU7WA-ECC82-box-plate-small-shield-UK-made-TUBE-VALVE-/173814424654

[cddc]

Rule no.1. buy cheap. 

Get a cool coke shaped bottle for Crack.
The output tube i recommend to try (prefer it over RCA 6as7g) is the Russian 6N13s https://www.ebay.com/itm/382880263018

Pair it with some locally found Ecc82/6sn7.
A Tungsram E80CC is a nice tube in a speedballed Crack.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/142545441812

Edit: La Radiotechnique is a Philips tube. Ecc82 was made in the Suresnes Philips factory, like ECC40.

So I just grabbed 2 of the eight 6H13C tubes as some backup. I was quite surprised to see someone had already grabbed 3 just ahead of me (must be some Crack user here acted earlier than me...lol). Now only 3 tubes left. At $8 apiece it's just too good to be missed...lol 

Thank you very much for the link and search, Tom!

The print on the tubes from this ebay seller is slightly different than the ones I saw before. The ones I saw before have "OTK 1" vertically printed beside the 6H13C label, but this one has "OTK 27" printed inside a circle. So I am not too sure if the ones in the link should still be Winged "C" 6H13C or not? 

Another thing I noticed when I was searching for 6H13C on ebay is that some seller dated his/her 6H13Cs as 1997 new production, while another seller dated his/her 6H13Cs as 1978 vintage. Not sure if there is any sonic difference between the new production and vintage, and which one is preferred in Crack?

 

[Tom-s]

They appear to have a winged C on the photo's. So they'll be fine.

I only have one 6H13C and one 6H5C in my collection.
With +- 30-50 output tubes for Crack i've plenty of variety, no need to buy different date codes to try different sound. I just put in a different 6080/6as7 and discover a new sound every time.

From personal experience with tubes, the date code makes minor difference in sound compared to just putting in another brand of tube.

[cddc]

Jaw dropped...I wish I started the collection much earlier and had such a large reservoir.

Agree with you different batches of the same brand should make small differences. Now eyeing on 5998s...

[cddc]

Nope, you have to use a 6SN7GT to 12au7 adapter. So the heat is not a problem here.

Have you read this?

https://bottlehead.com/smf/index.php?topic=663.465

Got it, thanks a lot!

Regarding input tubes, do you guys have any recommended 12AU7/6SN7 (w/adapter)/or other tubes?

[Paul Birkeland]

Used Mullard/Amperex 12AU7 tubes can be bought inexpensively, especially if you buy strange rebrandings.