| “super strong quad set in boxes...120% (this is better than new, as reference min = 70%) MATCHED, beautiful sounding & testing 1960's, super early production RCA 12AX7A (the 14 mm / 1960's 7025 grey plate design), (1) RCA 6V6GTA 30mm grey ribbed barrel plate, early 1960s, and (1) RCA 5Y3 dual round black plates . Well matched, quiet performance, and in original boxes! See detailed test reports below.” |
Using modern tubes? You've just stumbled onto the savior of your Fender amp! If you are the owner / player of nice one of these smaller practice amps, you've got to love that clean ans surprisingly loud 6V6GT -- one of the worlds best configuations for efficient speakers! Be it an original 1950s-60s type ... or reissue, pay close attention to which tubes you use!
Fender bought out the Groove Tubes name several years ago (many yrs ago Groove sold USA made surplus tubes) , and ever since (and before) they've been OEM equipment. The problem is ... there really aren't any tubes manufactured to vintage standards. Sadly, modern offerings don't come close to what your Fender left the store with circa 1960s!
In fact, just as important as the model of your amp, the speakers it's driving or the guitar you use... these are the tubes working inside .. the active devices that are producing the voltage swings and current availability. They affect deeply the pedigree of your amp. The best vacuum tubes accentuate your tone, without coloration -- and with tons of depth and detail.
Spend your money wisely. If you're considering fresh tubes, don't waste your time with brands made in China (Ruby), Russian Federation, JJ Slovok, or any of the confused re-issue wanabee names put out by New Sensor. While it's nice we have new replacements to trash or leave on 24/7. Or to fill that empty socket when strapped for cash... but really don't waste your free time. As a player and listenrr .. your enjoyment and pleasure hinge on quality tubes -- really.
Not only that, but lower quality, post 1970s Ru/Ch/Yugo/Eastern Bloc tubes have a high rate of failure, random noise (due to poor spacing and tolerance).
Modern tubes while not *always* bad.. often have nasty tone, and don't last anywhere near as long as vintage US tubes do! The bit of extra dough you're investing will pay back many-fold in better tone. RCA, Sylvania, GE, Tung Sol, Western Electric tubes would be far to costly to produce 50 years later. They used chemicals and metallurgy in the old factorues that have frankly been completely forgotten in modern tube factories. 1950's era quality tubes are not made in this millenieum, it's not happening.
It's a shame to know this .. but many of your new amps in Guitar Center / Sam Ash etc. could sound a soooo -- much -- better, leaving the store, if the mfr's would only put vintage (even carefully checked used ones) tubes in from the factory. They never will, don't worry. It's far too costly, and too hard to find matched sets.
Back in the 1950's,60's and 70's cutting edge technology depended on tube performance and people really listened to the product... Nowadays, manufacturers only care if the tube is electrically compatible..and if it does basic job's req'd specs....they don't care how it "sounds"... and they certainly don't care if it's not up to spec against an old RCA. With tube amps here to stay, tube factories will always be in business, as new amps require a steady stream of tubes.
Compare that, to the steadily dwindling supply of vintage #s. If you are an occasional player, purchasing this set could last you years. As such a beautifully, complete documented set -- you may just make a profit -- whether these are needful spares, or daily drivers, it's a wise purchase.
MATCHED TRIO of early 1960's, LOW HOURS, early production tubes. Exhibits shown below are of actual tubes AND actual boxes and brand you'll receive. 100% guaranteed. No switcheroo!
These are the real McCoy. In storage for years in the original boxes. Completely matched and tested with the Amplitrex AT1000 tube tester. For easier reference, refer the the full load emissions test for each tubes. Cosmetic condition and test results are shown in all Exhibits below (see included reports).
Standard test procedures:
The signal tubes: Checked 3 times with different checkers. Starting with the automated, Amplitrex AT-1000... Checked for even the faintest shorts beyond 2 meg ohm, on the Jackson 648. Then, they're screened for microphonics and noise -- graded both by ear and with an o'scope (most dealers charge for this). Then, they are played with audio and rechecked by ear once again! All of these tubes are functioning at strong, like new tube levels. In the case of mini triodes (12au7,12ax7,12at7) we carefully test EACH side, ensuring each halve is well matched. View below exhibits for signed test report (you receive each & every test report with your tubes.)
The power outputs: Tested on the Amplitrex, exact performace of the tube is noted in each exhibit on it's signed test report (you receive each & every test report with your tubes.)
The rectifier / power tube: carefully screened for shorts, multiple testers. Then, checked at full load with filament drop test to check for extended life. Rectifier yubes only pass if they have extended remaining life (referred to as the space charge).
(1) RCA 12AX7A
(the 14 mm / 1960's 7025 grey plate design).
If you're shopping for one of the best 12Ax7 designs .. rest easy -- you've just found a particulary nice looking, strong testing and wonderful sounding unit. This era kicked off the start of the 14 mm low noise plate design, a ... They're the very earliest incarnations of the 12Ax7A .. all (4). The 1960s encompassed RCA's first generation of the 12AX7A (industrial version was 7025) -- they stayed the same late 50s til the end of the 1960s (end of the decade). (see exhibit E,F).
This is a RCA 12Ax7A type, matched halves (see included report, and Exhibit showing actual test) .Featuring All the old meatball-era logos, though sometimes the powdered ink is rubbed original off (see included report for lettering condition) -- this tube always has the correct ETCHED-in-Glass 12Ax7A identification. It also features an embossed production code on the base of the tube (see report).
(1)
RCA 6V6GTA
RCA made some of the best 6V6's. The 6V6GT(A) goes way back. 6V6's were originally developed back in the 1930's, as an ST bottle. During the war this versatile, wicked sounding pentode got a smaller bottle, and lots more rugged. It proved to be an outstanding tube for audio, and found use post war, where it was refined into the even more rugged compact octal package. The RCA 6V6GT features beautiful Red ink base, nice thick 30mm round ribbed plate and 2x lower d getters.
(1) RCA 5Y3GT (Rectifer / Power tube)
The job of the rectifer is often unerappreciated. These original 1950s era 5Y3GT types are good sounding and longer laster than moder counterparts. This early 5y3 has dual 33mm round blackplates , and a nice lower 1x side D getter. Flashing is lined along the bottom inside the base, and looks beautiful.
Exhibit B, C,D -- shows actual listed tube (s) under test, dynamic emissions at full load for easy reference. All sides read strongly! -- 110% (or higher).
They were tested & matched for sound, low noise (audio and scope verified) and were also current matched (for balanced plates) on a calibrated lab tester at full operating plate 250V set on fixed bias.
In original, very early RCA boxes where they've been stored carefully for years. Quite old tubes, low hours, these were amongst low use spares from early HiFi estate. Just throughly checked using multiple testers and played with music. Working well; quiet and matched, detailed and sounding great! Guaranteed no problems, and REALLY fast shipping, in the mail usually same day, with a tracking #. See my detailed, 100% feedback on tubes. Buy with safety here and your happiness is always assured.
They are the real McCoy, and you should not pass up the best. The most throughly tested, closest matching Trio of replacement tubes you could ever find for your amp.
Please check my recent 100% feedback above on these RCA tubes -- all extremely happy, happy new owners!
The last set sold (in under 12hrs after listing!), went to a nice fellow in Italy who reported back.....
""Hi, everything arrived safely and I must confirm you that I'm extremely satisfied of the buy: the tubes are really excellent, smooth, quiet, musical: my poor Electro Harmonix have been swept away from the pre-phono, as expected !!! Thanks again and be sure I will check your site frequently from now on .... "
There are many choices out there.... RCA was the leader in business. More than half of a century has now passed since this set was made. RCA masterfully made their dual triodes. powers and rectifiers -- they literally wrote the book for so many designs. Imagine back then ... to the 50s and 60s -- paint and metal thicker, and unforgettable industrial design magically harmonized with the arts.
Whay are old tubes better? Companies and workers had time to do it right, and the materials were pure. Originals are simply better ... right down to the molecule.
They are what your amp / preamp was born to run. And without the timeless quality these will render -- your rig may not sound it's best.
We've all been there. Expectaions of your amp fade.... happy already with the sound we're getting.
How could it get any better? Then tired of de riguer, finally you make a tube swap .... Wow!!
The tube, particularly at voltage amplification / signal stage, gives equipment much of its inherent personality, clarity and is crucial for picking up all that detail you hear. The tube is the active device, the part that does all of the work and receives all the wear.
Very hard to find gems like this. Compare with other offerings ... and then study these .... the high fixed bias GM (mutual conductance, aka mhos) and cool matching boxes --- you'll see these are the best online and will sell quickly.
Dealers all over can no longer find tubes like this. For guitar amps -- they are some of the very best tubes you can use ... this Trio; is amazingly well matched. A plates are strong performers ... at full operating 250 volts eP -- .. they're are also all very closely related dates of production (see exhibit B,C & D for dates -- all from the 1960s).
Cosmetics are very nice .... flashing is very shinny & thick, idicative of gentle, low hours and a long life ahead. Study my photos, sometimes these tubes show darkness in the otherwise shinny top (it's noted on each tube's tag) - from a few hours burn in use, before packing or from the / low hours use matching procedure back in the 1960s. All tubes in this set are close, and will provide a very, very long life expectancy. Sometimes the ink on old tubes have worn / missing ink & letters, RCA's always also have RCA's signature 12AX7A etched right into the glass (see exhibit B,C,D). Strong and super quiet (no microphonics), no gas or shorts. They were carefully checked and played with music -- for full details please read the reports in exhibit A,C,D,E below for date codes and exacting test results.
Again, this is the super cool early version of the RCA 12AX7A, aka any place you'ce got for a 7025 ... you don't see A's ---- this old ... pretty darn rare ... if you're collecting or planning to use in your old Fender or hifi amp or preamp -- and it calls for the low noise ECC83 / 12Ax7A / 7025 --- here you go... probably the earliest & best matching set you'll see on here for a very long time - hefty grey ribbed plates and 1x top halo and super thick mirror flashing . With closely matched ip & mhos & dates -- you just don't see'em like this very often.
Study the included tube test results in photos and you'll see just how nicely fussed over, clean and well tested these originals are!
If you're currently a user of modern tubes then these will make a world of difference in your sound. They are a real upgrade and a treat for your ears -- an exciting purchase if it's your first time with vintage tubes. They will sound cleaner, clearer and more overall detail / presence you can really hear in any gear.
These are the real thing -- made in USA --- and from the very early 1960's! They sound wonderful and as before, will sell very quickly (nice one's such as these are usually sold within 12hrs of listing!).
Buy Now to avoid a bidder’s war.
Check my 100% feedback (check over what buyers have to say ... they love these vintage US tubes and I get allot of repeat customers, who don't hesitate to snap these up) ... always super fast shipping, and always super safe double box packing !!
100% happiness assured on all tubes and old audio items. Guaranteed NO DOA.
