Tube Rolling w/Crack

[hunkichunki]

Can someone help me ID this stock tube that came with my crack? I can't seem to decipher it.

thanks!

[debk]

Looks like a CBS black plate 12au7 with a date code of 52nd week 1958
Nice tube!

Debra

[hunkichunki]

Thank you Debra.

[Steakface]

Hi all, I built the stock Crack about a month ago and have been settling in with it.  I like it so far, but I'm looking forward to the Speedball upgrade now.

When I was looking for 6080 tubes, I stumbled on a good deal for a Bendix graphite slotted plate.  Turns out that tube was microphonic, but it still sounded good.  I thought about spending the money to go straight to the top and get a 5998, but instead settled on ordering the Speedball.  I sold the graphite plate and picked up a Winged C and a Gold Lion (the Russian pack).  Compared to the stock Sylvania 6080, I prefer both the Bendix and the Russian.  Against each other... hard to tell without the Bendix here to directly A-B, but from what I remember the difference isn't as big as I thought it would be.

At the prices the 5998 is at right now, it likely won't get any better and may become unobtainium.  The graphite plates are also getting up there too.  I want to thank everyone here recommending the Winged C - it's a great cheap tube and plays nicely with the Gold Lion.

[attmci]

Hi all, I built the stock Crack about a month ago and have been settling in with it.  I like it so far, but I'm looking forward to the Speedball upgrade now.

When I was looking for 6080 tubes, I stumbled on a good deal for a Bendix graphite slotted plate.  Turns out that tube was microphonic, but it still sounded good.  I thought about spending the money to go straight to the top and get a 5998, but instead settled on ordering the Speedball.  I sold the graphite plate and picked up a Winged C and a Gold Lion (the Russian pack).  Compared to the stock Sylvania 6080, I prefer both the Bendix and the Russian.  Against each other... hard to tell without the Bendix here to directly A-B, but from what I remember the difference isn't as big as I thought it would be.

At the prices the 5998 is at right now, it likely won't get any better and may become unobtainium.  The graphite plates are also getting up there too.  I want to thank everyone here recommending the Winged C - it's a great cheap tube and plays nicely with the Gold Lion.

Bendix 6080WB is a great power tube.  You driver tube may cause it sounds bad.  I have a couple of Winged C but never a fan of it. Just my 2c.

[howzz1854]

hey guys,

looking to possibly buy these two tubes from the used market. although i am a bit concerned about the RCA rebranded TS 5998's carbon'ed color domino plates. is that a sign that the tube is at end of its life?
see pic

i am also looking to possibly buy this TS 6080WA. i currently have a TS 6080WB slotted graphite column. can anyone identify this TS 6080WA? it doesn't look to be a graphite column, so my understanding that it isn't as special. does this mean it's just exactly the same as a stock Sylvania 6080WB?

look forward to hear your thoughts.

[attmci]

hey guys,

looking to possibly buy these two tubes from the used market. although i am a bit concerned about the RCA rebranded TS 5998's carbon'ed color domino plates. is that a sign that the tube is at end of its life?
see pic

The question had been answered by Paul and Dr.  B.

i am also looking to possibly buy this TS 6080WA. i currently have a TS 6080WB slotted graphite column. can anyone identify this TS 6080WA? it doesn't look to be a graphite column, so my understanding that it isn't as special. does this mean it's just exactly the same as a stock Sylvania 6080WB?

Doesn't look like a rebranded bendix on my phone.
 You should go for this one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/232327296459

look forward to hear your thoughts.

[howzz1854]

thanks i looked it up. and seems matte black plates are a variation.

[howzz1854]

has anyone dealt with this seller on ebay?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-TUNG-SOL-5998-TUBES-DOMINO-BLACK-PLATE-421A-TYPE-TWO-AVAILABLE-/182572854832?hash=item2a8230ae30:g:H8kAAOSwnF9Y770H

i am looking at possibly purchasing one of those 5998 from him. his listed price seem average, if anything slightly above average. i don't think i've seen one lower than $150 in the past 12 months per tube.

also are there any difference between a chrome top or a clear top? the seller mentioned in his comments that you need to specify which of the two you prefer.

[attmci]

has anyone dealt with this seller on ebay?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-TUNG-SOL-5998-TUBES-DOMINO-BLACK-PLATE-421A-TYPE-TWO-AVAILABLE-/182572854832?hash=item2a8230ae30:g:H8kAAOSwnF9Y770H

i am looking at possibly purchasing one of those 5998 from him. his listed price seem average, if anything slightly above average. i don't think i've seen one lower than $150 in the past 12 months per tube.

also are there any difference between a chrome top or a clear top? the seller mentioned in his comments that you need to specify which of the two you prefer.

Be patient.  http://www.ebay.com/itm/371645521761?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[Lawrence Ho]

has anyone dealt with this seller on ebay?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-TUNG-SOL-5998-TUBES-DOMINO-BLACK-PLATE-421A-TYPE-TWO-AVAILABLE-/182572854832?hash=item2a8230ae30:g:H8kAAOSwnF9Y770H

i am looking at possibly purchasing one of those 5998 from him. his listed price seem average, if anything slightly above average. i don't think i've seen one lower than $150 in the past 12 months per tube.

also are there any difference between a chrome top or a clear top? the seller mentioned in his comments that you need to specify which of the two you prefer.

It has been listed for quite a while yet still not sold for reasons.
IMHO:
1). It is skeptical. Professionally match 8% (which is not that exceptional) between triode and cathode but no readings are provided? “Nos” is too general..
2.) 159 usd is way above the average (100usd nos these days).
3.) if you are about to pay that much money, why not we421a? Max. bid for a used, but as good as nos, 421A will settle at somewhere around 160usd. If i am not too wrong.

[Doc B.]

Who is a "Professional Tube Matcher"? Is there an accredited school for that? Even professional wrestlers have to go to school.

Actually 8% matching is exceptional for these 6AS7 variants. They can be as far off as 20-30% between halves. It's also of little concern since we use the tube as a cathode follower where the differences from triode to triode are not that critical.

Some day we will design an amp that uses an obscure tube, that I will buy all remaining copies of in advance to releasing the amp. Then I could be the guy charging 5X what people should have the good sense to pay...

[howzz1854]

sigh.... tube shopping is just so much headache. maybe i'll put the money into upgrading to a ladder dac instead.

[BZ58]

I finished my Crack recently and now experimenting with some other tubes. The stock tubes I received sound very good. They are Philips 6080WC 34167 and Raytheon 12AU7 A CC82.  When I replaced them with a "Winged C" Svetlana 6H13C and RCA 12AU7A Clear Top I didn't hear any difference. The RCA 12AU7A Clear Top has "Con" stamped on the tube. I think I liked the stock tubes better. I initially got the replacements as spares while I was building.

So I recently scored four tubes on an eBay auction for $52. They were advertised as "4 Tung-Sol Chatham 6080 Rugged Tubes Dual Top D Getters Tested".

Would love to hear your experienced opinions on these tubes. What do you think?

[howzz1854]

I finished my Crack recently and now experimenting with some other tubes. The stock tubes I received sound very good. They are Philips 6080WC 34167 and Raytheon 12AU7 A CC82.  When I replaced them with a "Winged C" Svetlana 6H13C and RCA 12AU7A Clear Top I didn't hear any difference. The RCA 12AU7A Clear Top has "Con" stamped on the tube. I think I liked the stock tubes better. I initially got the replacements as spares while I was building.

So I recently scored four tubes on an eBay auction for $52. They were advertised as "4 Tung-Sol Chatham 6080 Rugged Tubes Dual Top D Getters Tested".

Would love to hear your experienced opinions on these tubes. What do you think?

congrats.

i personally have those Winged C tubes as well. i find them way too dark and muddy for my taste coming from a stock Sylvania 6080wc. but i guess it depends on what headphone you're using. on a brighter can, it can tame down the brightness. but it's just way too muddy and lay back for my taste. i shelved those for the time being. you might not notice a difference, but you might try the RCA 5963 for input tube. i find those give you a slight extra layer of openess without sacrificing any tonality. i actually love them so much that i just placed another order for three more as backup.

the TS 6080 rugged tubes you got, which if are the same ones i assume have been on sale for Ebay for a while, should be the black plate 6080. if they're indeed the black plated 6080, they "should" sound the same as the stock tubes. although i cannot attest, since i don't have them. that's just the online community consensus.

the TS 6080 graphite column series, especially one with slotted graphite column are the more sought after ones. i have one of those slotted graphite ones, and it's VERY open and airy, nice low end punch and very dynamic extension without any muddiness. supposedly it's close to TS 5998 domino plates, based on online community feedback. but again, i can't confirm, since i never got my hands on a TS 5998.