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AUDIO FORUMS >> General Discussion and Support >> Tube rolling SE34I.5 - old tube store in my city..
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Message started by DanH on 04/03/16 at 18:25:21

Title: Tube rolling SE34I.5 - old tube store in my city..
Post by DanH on 04/03/16 at 18:25:21

Hi all. I have an SE34I.5 and am interested in rolling tubes. I've been running the stock TUNG-SOL tube config for the last year and it sounds really good. So here's me question. What other tubes might I consider that would really make a great impact for this amp? I'm running them into a matched set of Klipsch Heresy 2s.

So there is a throwback store in my neighborhood with many hundreds of old stock tubes. For example, he has a few RCA EL34's from the early 70's for 25 bucks each, and when I check Ebay, the same ones are selling for much more. I asked if he had 274 rectifiers and he said he'd have to get his helper (that wasn't there) to fetch them out of the back room. I take that as a good sign. Should I consider the RCA EL34's? and what other potentially nice tubes might I look for at this place?

Thanks,
Dan

Title: Re: Tube rolling SE34I.5 - old tube store in my city..
Post by Syd on 04/03/16 at 18:56:05

Hi Dan,the RCA`s could be pretty good. Dont think I`ve noticed many. The RCA 5R4GY`s are good and theres usually a choice of `getters`.
I`m actually running Foton 6P3S-E`s in my Rachaels which I like a lot, replacing my Tesla nos tubes for an extended run. The Fotons are the pre-70`s.

Title: Re: Tube rolling SE34I.5 - old tube store in my city..
Post by busterfree on 04/03/16 at 18:56:20

I would say go for it and report back on what you think. If you don't already have a set of back up tubes, you should get back ups.

I would suggest that you search the forums about the 274B. There are some warnings out there about tube life with certain brands of 274B.

Title: Re: Tube rolling SE34I.5 - old tube store in my city..
Post by will on 04/03/16 at 19:13:34

Dan,

The Valve Art 274B that is likely your reference, Steve thinks is really more a 5U4G-ST type. Real 274s can be a potential problem with Decware amps, electronically being different, but I can't recall why. If you search the forum for posts from Steve with 274 in the search, you will likely find his post on this.

Sounds like a great find and worth doing some research on what else the guy has!

Title: Re: Tube rolling SE34I.5 - old tube store in my city..
Post by DanH on 04/03/16 at 20:34:46

Wow great information. I really appreciate the feedback! I will report back after I pick up the EL34's this week. I asked if the tubes were tested and he said "they were by the factory" many years ago, and that they shipped him 8% extra on every order since that was the pass/fail rate on tubes back then. I suppose I can use the built-in testers on the amp to gauge their viability. Any thoughts on this?

Thanks!
Dan