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https://www.decware.com/cgi-bin/yabb22/YaBB.pl AUDIO FORUMS >> General Discussion and Support >> Tubes, tubes and more tubes ... https://www.decware.com/cgi-bin/yabb22/YaBB.pl?num=1442964564 Message started by beowulf on 09/23/15 at 00:29:24 |
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Title: Tubes, tubes and more tubes ... Post by beowulf on 09/23/15 at 00:29:24 Hi All, even though I've been rocking Decware amps for more than a few years now I really haven't been tube rolling all that much. Recently I came into a $hit load of tubes from the awesome dude on these forums known as Pale Rider. I'd like to try and sort out these tubes by the Decware amps that they will work with, but there seems to be some confusion (mostly on my part more than anything) because I just don't get all the naming conventions and it seems like one tube may go by more than a couple different names (heck, even some of the boxes that the tubes came in say something different than what's printed on the tubes), so any help would be much appreciated! I was wondering if I posted them here (with pictures) maybe some of you tube gurus can tell me what they are and which amps they will work with? Also, if anybody else has tubes and they don't know what they are or amps/preamps they'll work with they are welcome to post them in this thread as well. I thought it could be really helpful to create a bible of some sort. I will try to make a couple posts each day with as much info that I have on each tube and until I've gone through my entire inventory of about 92 tubes. There's mainly 7 things that I'm looking for, (but if anybody else can think of important things to add please do so): 1. What Decware amps and/or preamps they will work with. 2. Other known alias/designations. 3. Years they were produced. 4. Country of origin. 5. Tube's position within an amp/preamp (i.e. rectifier, etc.). 6. What your impressions are of the tube's performance (if you have used it in one of your amps). 7. What they may be worth $$. What say you ... can you help a fellow Decware brother out? |
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Title: 274B (RCA) Post by beowulf on 09/23/15 at 00:54:23 Here is what I know: Tube = 274B Brand = RCA Country of Origin = USA  Does anybody else know: 1. What Decware amps and/or preamps they will work with? 2. Other known alias/designations? 3. Years they were produced? 4. Tube's position within an amp/preamp (i.e. rectifier, etc.)? 5. What they may be worth $$? 6. What your impressions are of the tube's performance (if you have used it in one of your amps)? |
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Title: 274B (O&J/Valve Art) Post by beowulf on 09/23/15 at 01:01:12 Here is what I know: Tube = 274B Brand = O&J/Valve Art (Cryoset)  Does anybody else know: 1. What Decware amps and/or preamps they will work with? 2. Other known alias/designations? 3. Years they were produced? 4. Country of origin? 5. Tube's position within an amp/preamp (i.e. rectifier, etc.)? 6. What your impressions are of the tube's performance (if you have used it in one of your amps)? 7. What they may be worth $$? |
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Title: Re: Tubes, tubes and more tubes ... Post by will on 09/23/15 at 02:42:58 The top RCA looks like a 50's 5U4G-ST in construction, but I have not seen an RCA 274B, so can't be sure. See if there is marking on the tube saying the tube type. Usually an RCA 5U4G glass is marked. If it is a 5U4G it works with Toriis, Rachels, CSP, Taboo, Super zen....If not, and a real 274B, it is supposed to work, but Steve did not used to recommend them as the amp caps don't match well with them electronically, causing quicker tube failure if I recall correctly. When a rectifier goes, it blows the fuse, hopefully before doing any other damage. The bottom, a Valve Art 274B. This particular 274, Steve once commented they were more-or-less a 5U4G-ST and have shipped with lots of the Decware line amps mentioned above. See the Decware amp page...many pictured with this tube. Cryo'd tubes tend to give a little more of what the tube has to offer being quieter/cleaner. |
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Title: Re: 274B (O&J/Valve Art) Post by Lon on 09/23/15 at 10:39:12 beowulf wrote on 09/23/15 at 01:01:12:
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Title: Re: Tubes, tubes and more tubes ... Post by beowulf on 09/23/15 at 22:51:48 @ Lon and Will, thanks for the awesome info! I know know that 274B and 5U4G are somewhat similar and can be interchanged with caution. @ Will, yes on the 2 RCA's that I have one of them is marked as 5U4G, the other tube has no markings, but looks exactly the same so I'm thinking it rubbed off or something. Interestingly, I have 2 other tubes where the box says Tube Store Preferred Series and the tubes are stamped "tubestore.com 274B preferred series" with no other markings, but after checking the tubestore website they are listed as 274B/5U4G and seem be from China/Shuguang. I have most the info on these: Tube = 274B/5U4G Amp = any amps Steve indicates a 5U4 or 5Y3. Brand = Shuguang Years = seem to be current Country of origin = China Position = Rectifier Price = 31.95 but has anybody heard them and what were your impressions? 
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Title: Re: Tubes, tubes and more tubes ... Post by Lon on 09/23/15 at 22:56:32 My guess is that these are the same or similar Chinese/Shuaugang tubes to those Vale Audio "selects." |
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Title: Re: Tubes, tubes and more tubes ... Post by beowulf on 09/23/15 at 22:57:56 Thanks Lon, that is what I was thinking as well. |
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Title: Re: Tubes, tubes and more tubes ... Post by beowulf on 09/23/15 at 23:27:55 Ok, guys this helped me a lot, I have my 274B and 5U4G tubes squared away. Here is an oddball that I only have one of and here's what I know: Tube = GZ33 Brand = Mullard Country of origin = British Made Year = 1959 Does anybody else know: 1. What Decware amps and/or preamps they will work with? 2. Other known alias/designations? 5. Tube's position within an amp/preamp (i.e. rectifier, etc.)? 6. What your impressions are of the tube's performance (if you have used it in one of your amps)? 7. What they may be worth $$? 
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Title: Re: Tubes, tubes and more tubes ... Post by will on 09/24/15 at 01:20:45 For a start, I think I recall Pale Ryder wanting to compare the 274B Select tubes with Cryo Valve Art?......I think these are Shuguang Select 274Bs, a tube some folks have liked and thought was better sounding than the Valve Art do to the selection process refinement. You would have to compare, and remember, these two particular 274Bs are not in the same category as some of the famous older 274Bs where I think the voltage from Decware amps is a stress. These both should be more 5U4G-like according to Steve's earlier posts. This is an interesting chart for some of the rectifiers. http://www.300guitars.com/articles/rectifier-tube-voltage-drop-chart/ Looking at this, that Decware can use such a range is cool. That last tube, a Mullard GZ33 is a rectifier also, likely between a GZ32 and GZ34 voltage-wise, both of which work in Decware amps made for 5YG-5U4Gs. Mullards from this time are famous for beautiful tone. Worth a listen if you have an amp that needs only one rectifier. GZ34/5AR4 tend to be an open, articulate, fast, dynamic sounding rectifier with tightish bass. GZ32 are mellower, less pushed but open and tight performance also. I use these in my Torii MKIV and I think Lon does in one of his MKIIIs. I think the GZ33 should be quite nice. |
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Title: Re: Tubes, tubes and more tubes ... Post by beowulf on 09/24/15 at 22:24:40 Thank you Will for both your impressions on the GZ33 and that link is really helpful as well so I bookmarked it to use as a reference! Ok, up next is a set of tubes I know little about as they did not have an original box or many markings. Here's what I know: Tube = CF2C (possibly OA3) Country of origin = (possibly Russia) Does anybody else know: 1. What Decware amps and/or preamps they will work with? 2. Other known alias/designations? 3. Years they were produced? 4. Country of origin? 5. Tube's position within an amp/preamp (i.e. rectifier, etc.)? 6. What your impressions are of the tube's performance (if you have used it in one of your amps)? 7. What they may be worth $$?  Thanks in advance for any feedback guys! 8-) |
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Title: Re: Tubes, tubes and more tubes ... Post by KP on 10/05/15 at 16:56:42 I love this thread. |
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Title: Re: Tubes, tubes and more tubes ... Post by will on 10/05/15 at 18:02:24 I am not sure about those VR's beowulf. I have seen Russian OA3 and OC3 looking basically like this. They vary in terms of getter flash (the silver in the glass) depending on construction. Some net searching might help. OA3 are VR75 I believe. The stock tubes with Toriis are OA3s, and though Pale Ryder may have been experimenting with other VRs since his MKIIIs worked with OB3, OC3, and OD3, my guess is that his guess of OA3 is correct. These are not costly tubes, and many find them super clean and a little characterless compared to some other VRs. But as with all tubes, vintage and construction matters, and finally it is synergy. I think Steve ships the MKIV with Russian OA3, and he works hard on voicing, presumably combining some level of reliable availability and cost considerations as aspects of his choices. |
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Title: Re: Tubes, tubes and more tubes ... Post by beowulf on 10/07/15 at 10:13:26 I believe your assessment is correct and these were probably experimented with PR's Torii MK III. I'm going to call these OA3's and bundle them with my other OA3 types for now, but I'll look into this tube a little further and see what I can find. Really big help Will, greatly appreciated! 8-) |
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Title: Re: Tubes, tubes and more tubes ... Post by will on 10/07/15 at 16:06:31 Yes. And beside the Toriis, I think Pale Ryder has/had a Decware Ultra Preamp which uses four OA3. |
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