Tube Help 6V6 NOS - Where To Buy?

Anybody know a reliable source for NOS 6V6 Tubes? I have a 1956 Tremolux it had some NOS RCA and I need to replace but don't know where to go. I've been looking on ebay and it looks like $100 - $150 is the going rate for a pair - but I have no idea what I'm really looking for and don't want to get something I don't want. The AMP is pretty close to original so I just feel like I need to keep old glass in it. Thanks for any help

Dan. :2cool

Another vote for Mike at KCA. Super selection and fantastic service.

I just retuned my 55 Tremolux and didn't have any NOS tubes. I used the JJ's and they sound as good to me. Saved a lot of dough. I'm planning on trying some different brands and stocking up on the ones I like best. The NOS thing is getting way too expensive for me and in all honesty some of the newer ones seem as good and way more consistent, as well as wallet friendly.

Good news is you can still find good NOS tubes if you search, there are several good places, but you will spend big bucks if they are any good.

I buy from Brent Jessee. He has RCA made, NOS 6V6GT for just $50/pair. They are relabeled Sylvania, Magnavox, Philco, etc. but I don't care what it says on the outside of the tube as long as they're RCA made. With current Russian 6V6 going for $40/pair, I see this as a no-brainer.

http://www.audiotubes.com/

Big Dave that is a great site and his prices are amazing! Thanks for the heads up.

Big Al said:

Big Dave that is a great site and his prices are amazing! Thanks for the heads up.

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Oh great! Now my source for NOS tubes will dry up! :biggrin:

But seriously, Brent has reasonable prices, a huge supply and he's knowledgeable and trustworthy. Every output tube he sells he tests on a Tektronic 576 Curve Tracer. I suppose there is someone else out there I could trust and is cheaper but I haven't found him or her yet.

The new 6V6S from JJ's sound great, as do the Tung-Sol 6V6GT reissues. Why spend huge money on NOS?

RJLII said:

The new 6V6S from JJ's sound great, as do the Tung-Sol 6V6GT reissues. Why spend huge money on NOS?

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I agree those tubes are in fact EXCELLENT. However $50./pr for NOS is way excellent! Not what I would call huge money.

100-200 bucks for a 12AX7 does frost my beans though, and some of the big bottle power tubes have gotten out of hand.

RJLII said:

The new 6V6S from JJ's sound great, as do the Tung-Sol 6V6GT reissues. Why spend huge money on NOS?

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I've seen new JJ pairs for about $30.

I've seen new Tung Sol reissue pairs for about $40.

I buy NOS RCA pairs from Brent Jessee for $50. Not a huge difference and these will most likely outlast new production tubes, making the difference even less of a factor. YMMV.

Big Al said:

...100-200 bucks for a 12AX7 does frost my beans though, and some of the big bottle power tubes have gotten out of hand.

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Agreed. But I seem to be able to find NOS Mullard 12AX7A on ebay at reasonable prices. The trick is to forget about getting the 'Mullard' labeled ones and get the relabeled ones. A couple weeks ago I scored a strong NOS Mullard 12AX7A (ecc83) for just $65. It was relabeled 'GE' in the original GE box. As long as the right codes are etched into the glass, it's a real Mullard. Here is what I look for when searching for Mullard 12AX7A (ecc83) tubes:

* I61 code etched into the side of the glass. Under the 'I61' code will be four characters beginning with the letter 'B'. The B refers to Blackburn where the great Mullard tubes were produced. If there is no B, then it wasn't produced at Blackburn in Lancashire, England. Following the B will be a number which is the last number of the year (a 2 would refer to 1962). The next character is a letter denoting the month (A = Jan, B = Feb, etc) and the last character is a number denoting the week of the month (1 - 5). An example would be B1F3 which is a Blackburn tube, produced in 1961, June, 3rd week of the month. The I61 tubes were produced from 1959 to early 1964.

* I62 - These were only produced for a couple months in early 1964. You'll probably never see one so let's not worry about it and move on to the I63.

* I63 are the other Mullard ecc83 tubes I look for. These need to have the same four digit coding as the I61 tubes. The I63 tubes were produced from early 1964 through the 70's. Here's something to note, suppose you have a tube marked (for example) B4L2. We know it's a Blackburn tube by the letter 'B', and we know it was produced the 2nd week of December, but how do you know if it was produced in 1964 or 1974? If you look inside the top of the top, you will be see a ring (known as the 'Halo Getter') welded to a support rod. If the support rod is straight, the tube is 1969 or prior, if the rod is bent, it's 1969 or newer. But I don't get hung up on if it's a 60's or 70's tube, as they're all great and blows anything made today out of the water!

In summary, if you're looking for real Blackburn-made Mullard ecc83 tubes, look for the etched I61, I62 or I63 code, as well as the 'B' at the beginning of the four character code below the "I6x" code. And make sure they are tested strong on a good tube tester. I don't even consider the Mullard labeled ones any more because the price on those have become ridiculous, you're only paying for some ink. I don't care if it says GE, or RCA, or John Doe Tubes, as long as it has the right codes, it's the real thing.

Thanks everyone. Good information. Good sources and some discussion. This is why I love the LPF? :dude:

Big Dave, help me, if you would. I have several I61 Mullards with 3-character etchings below the I61. They all begin B9, and the 3rd character is H, J, or K. Those are short-plate Blackburn ECC83s from October, November and December 1959, correct? I'm guessing I wasn't used due to it looking like a "1," the same as Marshall with their serial numbering. I also have an long-plate I92 with a 3-character code of B9C, which I would interpret as March 1959. Am I interpreting all this correctly?

DrewB said:

Big Dave, help me, if you would. I have several I61 Mullards with 3-character etchings below the I61. They all begin B9, and the 3rd character is H, J, or K. Those are short-plate Blackburn ECC83s from October, November and December 1959, correct? I'm guessing I wasn't used due to it looking like a "1," the same as Marshall with their serial numbering. I also have an long-plate I92 with a 3-character code of B9C, which I would interpret as March 1959. Am I interpreting all this correctly?

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Yes, B9C is March, 1959.

If the letter is H that corresponds to the 8th letter of the alphabet and hence the 8th month which is August. Otherwise, you are right J is Oct. and K is Nov....

I have seen "I" in a post 50's format where there are 4 alphanumerics. I am not sure about the 3 letter late 50's format whether they used "I" or not.

You may email me if you wish

evans21@rocketmail.com

Thanks, Dan. What a meathead! I was A-B-Cing on my fingers and forgot I only have 10! :ha

They sound wonderful in the new build - I'm glad I finally got around to putting together the "special application" I had been saving them for!

Ace139 said:

Anybody know a reliable source for NOS 6V6 Tubes? I have a 1956 Tremolux it had some NOS RCA and I need to replace but don't know where to go. I've been looking on ebay and it looks like $100 - $150 is the going rate for a pair - but I have no idea what I'm really looking for and don't want to get something I don't want. The AMP is pretty close to original so I just feel like I need to keep old glass in it. Thanks for any help

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I have a lot of info for you

evans21@rocketmail.com

Dan

BIG Dave said:

I buy from Brent Jessee. He has RCA made, NOS 6V6GT for just $50/pair. They are relabeled Sylvania, Magnavox, Philco, etc. but I don't care what it says on the outside of the tube as long as they're RCA made. With current Russian 6V6 going for $40/pair, I see this as a no-brainer.

http://www.audiotubes.com/

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I just made an inquiry, and the 6V6GT tubes are $109/Pair as of yesterday. For $50 I was willing to roll the dice. I think the Tung-Sols and JJs will have to be just fine.

RJLII said:

I just made an inquiry, and the 6V6GT tubes are $109/Pair as of yesterday. For $50 I was willing to roll the dice. I think the Tung-Sols and JJs will have to be just fine.

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Look below the $109 pairs, four down:

"6V6GT made by RCA, OEM labels, blackplate, greyglass and blackglass"

These are $25 each, or $50 for matched pairs.

BIG Dave said:

Look below the $109 pairs, four down:

"6V6GT made by RCA, OEM labels, blackplate, greyglass and blackglass"

These are $25 each, or $50 for matched pairs.

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Yes, I cited those to him specifically. He told me these were not suitable for the high (430) plate voltages in my 5F10 Circuit Victoria Ivy League. Truth? Attempt at upsell? Who knows? The guy has some street cred so I'll take him at his word and stick with what's working for me.