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looking for origanal rca 811a tubes

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Nicko

Wed Dec 29 2010, 06:17PM

Registered Member #1334 Joined: Tue Feb 19 2008, 04:37PM
Location: Nr. London, UK
Posts: 615

Steve McConner wrote ...

Oh man, 13E1s.

I've got a few 12E1s and S11E12s, but they're not the same thing at all.

We should get together and talk tubes sometime. Is there an audio geek equivalent of a Teslathon in the UK?

The 13E1s are for a Morgan Jones-based "Crystal Palace" (him being ex-BBC and all that). Picked up 14 NIB in an estate sale about 20 years ago before they got popular and rare - at the time I just thought that they looked cool and they were as cheap as chips! The iron they need is a) very large and b) very expensive - Sowters made mine - they weigh a ton and I was never brave enough to tell SWMBO how much they cost... even today I break out in a cold sweat at the thought of her finding out...

There are occasional diyaudio UK meets (or there used to be) - there was a Northern one in 2010 - see

- not been to one as I don't do "North" unless taking daughter back to uni. A chat / meet up would be good at some stage, even if it happened to be at a Teslathon! (Derby?) Just noticed that the head-fi lot are trying to arrange one in Manchester

for early(ish) 2011.

Interesting thread but should probably be in "General"...

803

Mon Jan 03 2011, 10:26PM

Registered Member #2807 Joined: Fri Apr 16 2010, 08:10PM
Location:
Posts: 191

Also, go to antique radios.c om and search russian and chinnese tubes

Look, I'm not realy into tesla coil, mostly vacuum tube radios of the 30, and 40s. I think I know more about tubes than you if I've spent all this time, not creating sparks or building tesla coils, but repairing and restoring antique radios.

I will admit that the maching part isn't entirely true.....

these people are nice!

Steve Conner

Thu Jan 06 2011, 09:44AM

Registered Member #30 Joined: Fri Feb 03 2006, 10:52AM
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Posts: 6706

No you don't. Nick and I have probably built about half a dozen tube amps each.

Here's one of mine,

If you read this:

it says that tubes have always needed matching, backed up by experimental evidence from testing a batch of 300 GE 6CA7s.

I'm not disputing that Russian and Chinese tubes are poorer quality than NOS originals, but all tubes have always needed matching for critical applications like a push-pull hi-fi amp.

ubuntupokemoninc

Thu Jan 06 2011, 03:50PM

Banned on 1/22/2011 for repeated rule violations after multiple warnings.
Registered Member #3299 Joined: Sat Oct 09 2010, 08:11PM
Location: Bantown, USA
Posts: 220

wow my uncle was wrong thanks

But i've seen people build a dual gu-81m vttc using non matched tubes whats with that?

quicksilver

Thu Jan 06 2011, 07:55PM

Registered Member #1408 Joined: Fri Mar 21 2008, 03:49PM
Location: Oracle, AZ
Posts: 679

Steve McConner wrote ...

I'm not disputing that Russian and Chinese tubes are poorer quality than NOS originals, but all tubes have always needed matching for critical applications like a push-pull hi-fi amp.

Not only am I not disputing what you've said but it seems that buying tubes for a VTTC may be one of the biggest gambles ever.
...Had a tough time getting two to heat evenly; tried everything I could find. Now I am forced to recognize that I got ripped off (2 811's @ $39.) was told as sorts of BS when I asked about matching. Took the coil down as I believe now it's simply not going to function beyond such a minimum capacity.

Nicko

Thu Jan 06 2011, 10:57PM

Registered Member #1334 Joined: Tue Feb 19 2008, 04:37PM
Location: Nr. London, UK
Posts: 615

Steve McConner wrote ...

No you don't. Nick and I have probably built about half a dozen tube amps each.

Here's one of mine,

...I've even recently started repairing valve radios too...

...but only as a present for SWMBO

Nah

Fri Jan 07 2011, 02:12AM

Registered Member #3567 Joined: Mon Jan 03 2011, 10:49PM
Location: USA, 1960s
Posts: 260

say, I repair and collect tube radios!

Just this week, I won a bid for one of my grails, a grandfather clock radio

I wish I could get a Strat for free.......

Also, did you use a tube portable for that amp! Thats horrible! You just ruined history!

Steve Conner

Fri Jan 07 2011, 09:54AM

Registered Member #30 Joined: Fri Feb 03 2006, 10:52AM
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Posts: 6706

The cabinet was actually a modern reproduction of an old Fender tweed amp, made by Mojo Musical Supply. Read the story behind it here.

It's bigger than one of those old portable tube radios: the speaker is 12" and the whole thing weighs nearly 40lbs.

However, I have "ruined history" on many occasions by modding old amps extensively.

I wouldn't do it if they were collectable ones with lots of resale value, but I wouldn't buy one like that in the first place.

I also just finished fixing an old Grundig Model 3088 radio. (I ruined history again by grounding the chassis and installing an IEC mains inlet.) Still need to get round to replacing the main smoothing cap and selenium rectifier. They seem to be working fine, but probably a bit of a safety hazard.

You won't get a Strat for free, but you can get a Chinese or Mexican Squier Strat really cheap, especially if you try your local Craigslist etc.

Nick: I'm also a member of the Vintage Radio forum, I signed up looking for some advice on my Grundig. Geek disclosure over.

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