Welcome to my personal webspace
Knock on the Doors of "Tube-Perception"
the glow of filaments, and invisible valence electrons in motion
making both music and great memories
TFirst door - Hand crafted audio amplifiers
Second door - Classic gear restoration & schematics
Third door - My loudspeakers rants
Fourth door - Tube Amp manifesto "The Una-Tuber"
Sixth door - Contact information
Seventh door - Hazard warning/notice
Eighth door - The basics of tube measurement
Ninth door - Hammond/Leslie/Wurlitzer
(Currently under construction)
Tenth door - Schematic Vault
(Currently under construction)
Merlot and Classic Rock, synergy and relaxation
My Audio Power Tubes Opinions
Hi-Fi, Guitar, Bass, Organs & Radios
KT-88/6550 - Cavernous lows & very polite highs, that trash metal crunch, surprisingly good with Horns and Lowthers
KT-66/6L6/5881* - Layered, tonal, great for both HiFi & Guitar Amps, many nice variants, the chameleon of Tone
SPECIAL HONORABLE MENTION IS THE 7355 TUBE* (RIP) - Small 6L6 variant, brilliant design, out of production (eg. Harman Kardon)
KT-77/EL34/6CA7 - Midrange Guitar "screamer", with a nice leading edge, crystal clear HiFi, very nuanced, KT77 smoothest
EL-84/6BQ5 - Musically engaging, great for Classical Music, a smooth operator, vocals are crisp and clean
7591/7591A/7868/6GM5 - Sweet sound, deceivingly smooth at high power, can kill speakers, current production is Russian
7027A (RIP) - Nice Warm & Detailed Sound, used when Tubes roamed the market
8417(RIP) - Audio Power Pentode, late bloomer, akin to a V8 and Oil Price Hikes, long out of production
6F6 Russian (US RIP) - In old Car Radios, absolutely fabulous tonality, a best kept DIY secret, listen here on 16 Ohm PSV-2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTS7HkzkWhE
6V6/7408 - Lighter version of 6F6 but different sound, filaments are not as hungry as 6F6, can be bright, glassy-clear
6AQ5 (RIP) - Out of production, have a few on hand, will made a prototype amp, with plans to enjoy later
6CM6 - (RIP) also out of production, fantastic Jazz and Vocal, listen... a small 6V6, similar sound character, glassy-clear
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrj1FGQ7e5Y&t=1s
E80L/6227 (RIP) - European 9 Pin Pentode. 10,000 hour PQ version, on my short list of Tubes to use, uncommon
2A3 - Single Ended Holography, Fine Bourbon & Single Malt Scotch, look for the Single Plate Sovtek
300B - The trusted voice of pure Class A - the golden S.E. standard - Expen$ive but Musical, used in Preamps as well
Special Mention Power Tube;
6146B - Commonly used for Radio Transmitters, used in Audio Amplifiers, bully of the block. Capable of 100W in PP
My Small Signal Voltage & Gain Stage Tube opinions
Line Stages, Tone Controls, Phase Splitters & Buffers
ECC83/12AX7 - High-Mu, Dual Triode everyone knows something about, it is very common in Audio
ECC81/12AT7 - Medium-Mu Dual Triode, common in Guitar amps, seen less in HiFi amps (Fisher SA300)
ECC82/12AU7 - The true 9 Pin chameleon, Low-Mu, versatile, ubiquitous, handy, the toolbox of small signal tubes
12DW7/7247 - Half of a 12AX7 plus Half of a 12AU7cool tube (Dynaco S35, EICO 2036), nice tube
ECC88/6DJ8/6922 - Frame Grid design, a Love/Hate HiFi reputation, I love'em Hot and Bothered (Audible Illusions)
ECC85 - Used sparingly in Audio, very sweet, much more common in German Amps (Grundig)
EF86/6267 - A small Pentode Tube, everyone needs to listen to, most never have (Mullard 5-20)
6C4 - This is half of a 12AU7, small and petite, very cute, used in Hammond AO-28 Preamp (RIP)
6SN7/5962 - The bulldog of Small Signal Gain Stages, robust and musical (Cary Audio SLP-5)
6J5 - This just half of a 6SN7 (think 6C4), killer tone, a best kept secret, out of production (RIP)
6N7 - Rare metal audio tube, Stromberg Carlson Theater Amps (Stromberg Carlson APH50)
6SL7/5961 - Less seen in amps, Cary Audio used them in the 90's (SE300)
12BH7 - Robust dual triode, awesome & beefy, great good driver tube (Hammond AO-28)
ECC99 - The new kid on the block, speaks with an accent, nouveau 12BH7 (JJ Electronik)
6C45P - A best kept secret for Phono Stages, used in DIY for those in-the-know (Transcendent Sound)
6N1P - More robust than a ECC88/6DJ8, great driver for DHT Triode Tubes (ShermanAudio Kismet)
7199 - Out of production tube (RIP), Pentode/Triode, Russian version so-so (Dynaco ST70)
6AN8 - Out of production tube (RIP), Pentode/Triode (Dynaco MK3, some Japanese Amps)
Tube Rectifiers Review, the music makers
"The unfair reputation"
I hope to launch a Tube Rectifier revival.... QUIET, Shhhhhh, prices will skyrocket.
GZ34/5AR4 - 5V/2A Superman of tube rectifiers, general purpose (Dynaco ST70)
GZ37 - A somewhat filament hungry 5V/2.8A variant of the GZ34, British, rare & expensive
Type 80 Globe - Paleo Rare Tube Rectifier, too much for me as well, for museums
5Z3 - Also rare, museum stuff, not for DIY, unless there is extreme nostagia
5Y3/5Y3GT - Neutral 5V/2A, very reliable when operated within their maximum ratings, quick-on
6X4 - Lighter 6V/.6A version rectifier, mostly used in Preamps (Scott LC21)
5V4 - Rare now, 5V/2A sweetie, nice for medium powered amps 20 to 30w
12X4 - A 12V/0.6A version of a 6X4, same tube, different filament (Dynaco PAS)
6CA4/EZ81 - Like a 6X4, but not as popular, 1amp, think VOX (Leslie Reverb Cabinets)
5U4/5U4G - Robust Rectifier 5V/3A, tall, dark and handsome (US Navy)
5R4GY - That Sexy glass bottle, 5V/3A often seen with Brown Shorts (JAN)
5R4WGB - Potato Masher Rectifier, totally ready for Dinner and Battle (Military Grade)
6AX5/6X5GT - Popular 50's-60's 5V rectifier, similar to 5Y3 in ratings, 5V/0.6A from the 50's
274B - Western Electric, high end tube, available today, must be nice, Expensive as F, $$$
ShermanAudio - Tech Note - SA.TN01 7189 amplifiers
EL84/6BQ5 is not always a substitute for 7189
NEVER replace a 7189 with an EL84/6BQ5 in a 7189 amplifier
Unless the amp was designed for EL-84/6BQ5
RULE OF THUMB
If the socket or schematic labels read 6BQ5/EL84/7189
YES both tubes are compatible
If the tube socket is labeled 7189
STOP, you will eventully toast the 7189 amplifier and power tubes
The images above are brrowed from Duncan's Amps
Just an awesome tube website, link below;
7189 Case Study - The Olson AM240
Many of these amps were toasted and roasted by EL84/6BQ5's
A pity I did not take photos of the damage to the Output Transformers
before I discarded them at the local dump
These were charcoal black inside
The Mains Transformer oozed dark resin
A EL84 BBQ with catastrophic consequences
This donor amp gave me a Top Cover and Bottom Plate.
Try Russian 6n14n-EB Tubes, tough as nails
Some cool links to 7189 resources
https://www.antiqueradios.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=148527
https://www.dougstubes.com/nos-6n14n-eb.html
https://upscaleaudio.com/collections/power-tubes/products/russian-6h14-7189
http://www.mcshanedesign.net/tubes.htm
The Subject Matter Expert Speaks
Mr. Kevin Deal
"HIGH PRIEST OF TUBES"
Direct from the Tube Tabernacle
When great advice is given, certain reactions may manifest
"You are not generally upsetting a Person, you are upsetting their Programming"
The Obligatory "Man Cave" #6
Man Cave #7 Under Construction
Dudes all benefit from a time-out here and there
Forget the Bar's and the Golf Clubs
Put on some Porcupine Tree BluRays...
Personal Guitar Collection (began in the mid 70's)
Giannini GNF-8R CEQ (Brazilian design, crafted in China) needs the bridge piece replaced
Fender Newporter (Crafted in Japan) plays and sings with 18:1 Grover Tuners, pawn shop buy Roanoke, VA 1996
Giannini AWN-20 3/4 size (Made in Brazil, my oldest guitar 1974), needs fretwork
Epiphone Invader Electric (Made in Japan), plan to swap Machine Heads
Fun at 1980's themed Birthday Party
I went as a Europe Band Member
Turn-Key Hangover Service - in Las Vegas
Alcohol is the worst "legal liquid"
Makes for tragedies when incorrectly consumed
Self inflicted pain, nausea and "motor-mouthing"
When you party in Vegas, they have you covered in all aspects
Even Hangovers are no match for the "Hangover Bus"
International Business Travel
Was this pure coincidence or providence?
During my years of random global motion
90% constant travel phase 2000-2015
15 years of filling up passports and adding new pages
GSM, 3GPP, 3GPP2 (RIP) and LMR
I had the honor of meeting a true legend and Master Percussionist
Mr. Billy Cobham
While attending an L.M. Ericsson business Dinner
in Panama City, Panama
Listen to "Palindrome" & "Glass Menagerie"
"One Word" from the Mahavishnu Orchestra LP "Birds of Fire", just amazing
Billy's virtuosity and skills, they transcend the ordinary
Billy's playing emanates from somewhere within a parallel universe
Old and New Geek Testaments
Sacred Electrical Theory
Remember always safety first
Prevent fatal electric shocks
& Soldering Iron Burns
Always use Eye Protection
Never work when tired
When measuring, one lead grounded
One hand with probe, other hand in pocket
My general Bio and Tube Story
"From Tuba to Tubes"
Born on Urantia (Earth)
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN
Puerto Rico (Borinquen) - 60's-80's
Xmas Concert, Sousaphone - 72
Gianinni AWN-20 3/4 Student Guitar - 75
High School Jazz Band, Electric Bass - 78-79
Arian Music Award Recipient 79 & 80
Antilles Pirate A.H.S. - Class of 80
AHS Varsity Soccer #4 1977-1979
Coached by the best Math Teacher ever - Mr. Paul Trittschuh
The Quaternians
LIKE E.L.P., IN THE BEGINNING.....
To the left, my first Vacuum Tube Amplifier - late 1972 (Photo in 73-74)
The LP spinning - Elton John's Greatest Hits Vol.1
The age of Alice Cooper, The Who, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin
Tube Amp pulled out of Dictograph 100A Mono Console
a hand-me-down gift from Mr. Beck
Thank you so much Mr. Beck
You launched me on this journey
100A Console and internal Tube Amplifier
From Radio Museum Website (thank you!)
https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/dictograph_100_a.html
https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/dictograph_10w_amplifier_chassis.html
B.S.E.E. - Class of '86
Electrical Engineering
Month's out of College
Motorola Site Survey Work 1987
Radio Systems support, late 80's
Cool High Voltage "Hockey-Puck" EIMAC Tubes
Microwave Transmitters +1250 Volts DC on the Plates
The tube cage had an "interlock" plug, to avoid shocks
Legacy 1962 Lenkurt Microtel 76A Microwave Radio (2 GHz)
The MW system was as old as I was, yellowing Service Manuals
by turning pages they would rip apart
