Wow!

[54strat]

Bass player in my band gave me a couple of large boxes full of tubes he got from some old ham radio guy.
One box is mostly old TV/Radio stuff, radio transmitter tubes, rectifiers, all kinds of weird looking stuff, but I did find a bunch of JAN 6SN7 power tubes in the original boxes...mostly RCA. So far I know they are still popular in stereo/hi-fi amps. Any guitar amps use these?

The second box had a bunch of loose junk tubes on top...old 6 series pre-tubes, sub minis...but when I got that stuff out of the way I hit pay dirt. Two cigar boxes FULL of pre-tubes.

40 or so 12AT7's RCA/GE/Sylvania AND three GE labeled Mullards. They are all used and a few obviously look used up with little or no flashing left, but the large majority still look like they may have some life left. I did find one, still in the box, Sylvania 6201 Gold Pin 12AT7.

I also found a couple dozen 12AX7's RCA/GE/Sylvania and three Tung-Sol's. AND I have three Sylvania 5751's. Same condition as the 12AT7's; used, a few obviously shot, most appear to have some life left.

I do not have a tube tester so I can only try the better looking ones in an amp. Of the stuff I mentioned who likes what in what positions?

[Big Mike]

12AT7's can be nice in the PI's.

Any of those old 12AX7's in V1 will kick ass. 5751's are decent there, but better in V2 or PI of a Marshall.

The 6SN7 might work int he old 50's fender deluxe (pre-5e3)

nice stuff.

[54strat]

[quote="Big Mike"]12AT7's can be nice in the PI's.

Any of those old 12AX7's in V1 will kick ass. 5751's are decent there, but better in V2 or PI of a Marshall.

The 6SN7 might work int he old 50's fender deluxe (pre-5e3)

nice stuff.[/quote]

What I have settled on so far and plan to test drive at next gig...
V-1 GE 5751
V-2 RCA 12AX7 Black Plate
V-3 GE 6201 (12AT7) Gold Pin (This is the only tube I believe to be un-used)

The amp with this set-up is only a little less Marshall-y, which is a good thing for me. I run it fairly clean and use pedals. It's less noisy. I've got all kinds of sparkle...and bottom for days but it is well defined/less flubby even with the front end dimed.

Still running big bottle JJ6CA7 PT's which I love. Overall I would describe this amp as a 50watt Major.

I've still got some more decent RCA/Sylvania/GE 12AX7's to pop in if I want all the gain and crunch back.

And looks can be deceiving...a few of the best looking tubes I've tried so far are probably used up...hissy and/or hummy.

***After posting above I looked at the Major schematic and noticed 12AT7 in V-3. I had forgotten about that. So having a T for phase inverter/driver and non EL-34 power tubes must be why is sounds more Major-ish.