When I got my new Taboo from Steve from Mac cables he sent the original tubes ,and some of the Russian tubes n15n-eb ,and 6n15n-ep . I put my tubes in right away which are 1950's 6bq5,a 5u4GB, and a bugle boy. I have been using this combo. Today I'm going to try the tubes supplied by Decware at purchase. First of all whats the difference in the Russian eb and ep? Also I was wondering what other owners like? Thanks.

Charlie

Congrats! Enjoy keep us posted.

i've stopped the rolling in the amps finally.
in the taboo:
mullard 5u4g
mazda EL84 (going to try some siemens cv2975 i won off german ebay though).
the driver tubes make a nice difference in rolling. i got some 12au7 Sylvania 1950s production and i like them. also like an RCA 12at7wa that i got off ebay.

in my se84csp:
i was using 6n1p everywhere with a mazda 5y3g and was happy.
but i got a blackburn Mullard ecc88 and put that in the front, and then put some west german production Valvo Ecc88 and that made a nice difference, still warm but a little more air and better imaging, presentation is a little more laid back too. that tube compliment is going to stay in there.

After several weeks of swapping tubes in the Taboo I have settled on the Genelex EL84. These are the new run Genelex but I think they beat the new run Mullard for my tastes. The front tube is a NOS RCA blackplate and the rectifier is still the cryo Mazda 5Y3GB.

I have my amp sitting on Vibrapods with a Herbie's Audio Lampblack ball in the center well and the amp on top for feet. The Vibrapods sit on a Mapleshade 2" Maple platform using double Isopods for feet. The Equipment rack is by VPI. I am also using Herbie's Audio tube dampers and PS Audio Prelude power cord. Interconnects are Decware Silver and speaker wire is Kimber 8TC with my DIY dress up kit. I have decided I like the Kimber 8TC over the Mapleshade Golden Helix speaker wire.

I have a lot of spare time to kill while waiting on my new ERR Radials. I'm retired and don't have much to do other than listen to music and sip scotch.

I made another swap yesterday. TAD EL84-STR power tubes, I hear these are made special for The Amp Doctor in China. They are a little shorter than other EL84 but are much heavier. They do run hot, glow bright and have some of he best bottom end I have heard and that includes NOS Genelex, Mullard and Telefunken. They also play louder than my other power tubes which is a bonus for me.

I also added an International Service Master GZ34 which I find was built by Matsushima (Japan) using the old Mullard tools. I'm down to one Mullard GZ34 and it lives in my guitar amp.

Up front is a Telefunken 6922.

I am liking this setup very much.

Pale Rider,

You are correct, the EL84 does negate the Hazen mod. I can hear the difference.



ZYGI

Stone Deaf, the GZ37 came up in another thread as well. I am very happily using a Mullard GZ37 in my Taboo.

Just this week, I started using a 1970 RCA 12AY7 (6072) in my Taboo. In its first few hours, it is so far my favorite tube in the Taboo. I have a 12AY7A on order as well, and my guess is it will sound similar. These are apparently popular in Fender guitar amps. Anyway, great dynamics, excellent highs, and very tight bass. And spooky, dead quiet. Low gain makes the Ultra preamp very useful here.

That's the 12AT7 equivalent, right RR? I have read good things about the Phillips. Still enjoying the Taboo? Me, too. But I have to admit that I do not listen to headphones as much as I once did.

the EL84 does negate the Hazen mod. is that really?

That would be my understanding. The mod works only with the SV83 tube.

Are you getting the old one or the new, redesigned one?

Telefunken EL84's
Amperex Bugle Boy GZ34
Sylvania 5751 blue tip
Lucid Mode