There’s a lot of tubes out there, from the usual suspects to the unique and rare.
What are the mainstream tubes you feel are necessary to a tube user, and what tubes do you think are out of the ordinary and worthy of discussion?
The ubiquitous 12AU7 and 6SN7 are used in numerous applications and are the backbone for many designs.
And we all are familiar with the EL34 power tube- perhaps most popular because of the best selling and absolutely charming and personable Dynaco ST70, and it’s less popular but equally capable twin brothers, the Dynaco Mark IV (this last statement is open for discussion and differences of opinions and/or facts).
But here’s a tube I’ve talked about in the past- and enjoyed immensely in a Dennis Had designed SET amplifier- the 807.
The 807, a beam tetrode popular among ham radio and broadcast (RF transmitter) use, was heavily purchased and used within the military, and the famed D.T.N. Williamson designed a circuit for a high-fidelity audio amplifier[pdf] initially I believe for the KT66 but very quickly a version followed which used the 807 tube. Of course the Williamson circuit became widespread for use among other tubes as well.
Just a lovely tube aesthetic, but what impressed me most was the sound that sweet Dennis Had amplifier produced.
Bonus- the 807 is not an expensive tube, and seems readily available, both used and new old stock.
So- I know of many, many more tubes beloved by us bottleheads- I’ll forgo mentioning any more for now and see what our illustrious members have to say.
So- what are your “must have” and “should have” (or at least should listen to) tube types?
What are the mainstream tubes you feel are necessary to a tube user, and what tubes do you think are out of the ordinary and worthy of discussion?
The ubiquitous 12AU7 and 6SN7 are used in numerous applications and are the backbone for many designs.
And we all are familiar with the EL34 power tube- perhaps most popular because of the best selling and absolutely charming and personable Dynaco ST70, and it’s less popular but equally capable twin brothers, the Dynaco Mark IV (this last statement is open for discussion and differences of opinions and/or facts).
But here’s a tube I’ve talked about in the past- and enjoyed immensely in a Dennis Had designed SET amplifier- the 807.
The 807, a beam tetrode popular among ham radio and broadcast (RF transmitter) use, was heavily purchased and used within the military, and the famed D.T.N. Williamson designed a circuit for a high-fidelity audio amplifier[pdf] initially I believe for the KT66 but very quickly a version followed which used the 807 tube. Of course the Williamson circuit became widespread for use among other tubes as well.
Just a lovely tube aesthetic, but what impressed me most was the sound that sweet Dennis Had amplifier produced.
Bonus- the 807 is not an expensive tube, and seems readily available, both used and new old stock.
So- I know of many, many more tubes beloved by us bottleheads- I’ll forgo mentioning any more for now and see what our illustrious members have to say.
So- what are your “must have” and “should have” (or at least should listen to) tube types?