Old Tubes!
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Posted on Aug 11, 2009 04:20 pm
Rob Stemple
The Czar of BS
Member Since: Dec 31, 2007
Where I work, we have the classic sliver face SVT.
When I was checking it the other day, it was only outputting about two watts.
So I brought it back into my shop, and started to look it over. The first tube I pulled out was marked "Made in Japan" Made in Japan? When did the Japanese make tubes?
I turned the tube around, and found that it was also stamped Magnavox. And I remembered that Magnavox owed SVT for a short period of time in the 70's.
That would make these preamp tubes around 30 years old or more!
Not bad! Too bad that some jerk had to stomp the input and burn them out.
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Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Aug 11, 2009 09:21 pm Not bad on them tubes there Rob.
And yes, there were Tubes made for not only Magnovox but a couple others in Japan. Made like Russian tubes from what I have heard. I've got a couple old Magnavox tube consoles that I picked up to restore. I've not looked but I wonder if they have tubes from Japan in them as well.
But indeed 30 year old tubes that were still working. That's a good sign I guess. Are you going to try and find NOS replacements for them?
Aug 11, 2009 09:28 pm I wish!
NOS is over $40 for them.
I put a Tung Sol 12AX7 in one, and I have to order the 12DW7 for the other.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Aug 14, 2009 02:53 pm I was going to say to try the Tung Sol. We just did the same amp that my buddy got in his store with toasted tubes and switched in the Tung Sol for the 12ax7 and it worked great. Talked his co owner who runs the northern store into putting them in his Marshall as well and he flipped out on the difference.
And ya, NOS is kind of over rated but some guys swear they can hear or feel the difference. For the extra money I can't.
Aug 14, 2009 04:27 pm The thing that was getting to me at first, was that there was a tube shield over the original 12AX7.
The tube shield was only 3/4" in dia.
The Tung Sol is close to 7/8".
I just took a pair of pliers and ripped it out of there, and put the Tung Sol in.
The great part of this story is that I was looking for the 12DW7, as both the summing and preamp ones were burned out.
Just as I was about to hit submit order on New Sensors site, a box caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. When I look to see what it was, it turned out to be 5 of the 12DW7's sitting there from the previous repair tech here at Bauder.
So, I have the Silver face back up and running! Yeah!
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Aug 16, 2009 07:26 pm Odd, even the Sovtek is a little bigger the 3/4" I'm pretty sure.
Dumb luck sometimes wins the battle. Nice find on the other tubes I guess then.
