Beauty in a Vacuum: Tube pics and close-ups

[Redboy]

Ever marvel at the beauty of a tube bottle? Or wonder at the intricate structures within? How about a thread to highlight the craftsmanship and artisanal qualities of these ethereal devices that we love?

Let’s see your pictures and close-ups of vacuum tubes for tubes’ sake (not so much the amps and equipment they’re put in). Original content would be nice.

I’ll start things off with this old globe RCA 46

 

[Redboy]

This one's another 46, by General Electric

 

[Redboy]

A mesh plate 280 rectifier

 

[TubeHiFiNut]

How do I just "auto-like" this whole thread?

Gorgeous tubes.

 

[Redboy]

This is one of the most beautiful tubes I own, an Airline GX-245 (early 45).

 

[prime minister]

We do need to see some tubes aglow also!

 

[Redboy]

Sylvania 6B4G, anyone?

 

[prime minister]

Sylvania 6B4G, anyone?

View attachment 4647

Prettiest yet!

 

[Redboy]

We do need to see some tubes aglow also!

I’m not very good at those, but...

 

[je2a3]

Nice pics, I'm listening to my SE46 amp right now.

 

[inthewoodsnolonger]

They do look lovely don't they

 

[Redboy]

Nice pics, I'm listening to my SE46 amp right now.

Thank you! You’ll see more 46 pictures here - I’ve collected a few. :-)

 

[Redboy]

They do look lovely don't theyView attachment 4650

Beautiful picture!

 

[Redboy]

Here’s a blue Arcturus 46.

 

[inthewoodsnolonger]

And do those globe tubes sound ah, any different. I've
got to get me a pair.

 

[Redboy]

And do those globe tubes sound ah, any different.

Different, yes. But whether it's the kind of different you're looking for might be hard to say. I feel like the globes offer a fuller, more open sound in the midrange. I'd hate to use the word ethereal too much so I won't, but it's one of the words that comes to mind. Some people think it comes at the expense of a little top end sparkle, but that hasn't been my experience. It makes sense to me that globes might be more prone to harmonics, with their more fragile structure than the ST shaped tubes; if it's harmonics I'm hearing, I'm okay with that!

 

[Redboy]

More 46 tubes, these are the Raytheon 4-Pillar type. They've got a really interesting internal structure, and I'm excited to try 'em!

 

[mhardy6647]

well, I was gonna post a photo of the single Arcturus Blue 27 (sounds like a Jimmie Rogers song!) but @Redboy already way outclassed the image I have hanging around.

I'll snap a few piccies anon, I promise -- not really many hubba-hubba sexy tubes here, unfortunately.

Maybe a well-worn 6BK4 or 6JE6 shot...

 

[4-2-7]

 

[4-2-7]