6CA7's

EddyInChicago · Post by **EddyInChicago** » Fri May 16, 2008 11:11 pm

Hi All.....................where can I purchase 6CA7 tubes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PLease Help

Ed

S.Marshall · Post by **S.Marshall** » Sat May 17, 2008 12:05 am

I was just looking at the Tube Depot earlier and remember seeing them listed. Not sure of specifics. I was looking for something else.

Roe · Post by **Roe** » Sat May 17, 2008 8:16 am

some of these are labeled mesa

KCA NOS Tubes · Post by **KCA NOS Tubes** » Mon May 19, 2008 7:33 am

EddyInChicago wrote:Hi All.....................where can I purchase 6CA7 tubes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PLease Help

Ed

If you're looking for NOS, I've got a pair listed. These are VERY difficult to find in matched pairs.

908ssp · Post by **908ssp** » Mon May 19, 2008 9:15 am

I have a pair of Mesa STR418 they are relabeled Sylvania 6CA7 tubes they say 6550 on them. I bought them new in 85 and hadn't used them very much in the last 20+ years so when I had my 2204 modded recently I put those in there and am very happy with the sound. I recently saw some that were labeled GT on ebay they didn't sell for all that much.

TubeGetter · Post by **TubeGetter** » Mon May 19, 2008 9:05 pm

GE & Syl. 6CA7's are getting up there in price. I've noticed in the last year or so audiophiles have really picked up interest in these. Before it seemed to be mostly EVH guys looking for the VHI Plexi thing.

There's still plenty of pairs and quads of these, the only problem is that they're pricey. Even used ones are going for good money because people know how rugged and long lasting they can be.

This is one tube that sounds good in a Plexi being somewhat loosely matched....and a lot of people have the same experience with this. At 400V @ -36V Bias a traditional match would be a 2 to 4 mA apart. I like them in early Marshall's at more like an 8 or 9 mA separation. Some go more than that, but that's where I stop.

cary chilton · Post by **cary chilton** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 12:39 pm

I have one seller who says he has a quad of Sylvania Branded 6AC7's and wants 395 USD. Is that way too expensive or the going rate???

Has anyone tried the GE 6CA7's or the RCA's? Are they as good as the Philips ECG/Sylvania's?

Tone Slinger · Post by **Tone Slinger** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:55 am

Punch in 'Lord Valve'on your search engine. I got the actual website info somewhere, but he goes by Lord Valve. He's in Colorado. He has the EH 6ca7 reissue's which are based on the Sylvania/Phillips 'big' bottles.

The thing that seperates him from other 'larger' sellers is that he really tests the tubes in amp circuits and burns them in real good before he sells them. These 6ca7 reissues are very prone to inconsistancies. Lord Valve weeds the bad ones out. Check him out.

cary chilton · Post by **cary chilton** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 11:24 am

THanks Tone, but what I mean is, do the real, NOS vintage Syl 6CA7's really sound that much better? Has anyone compared??

cary chilton · Post by **cary chilton** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 11:54 am

I just got an email from Terry Kilgore who feels it is all internet hype and he personally doesn't think they sound good at all.

Anyone else have similar experiences or quite the opposite?

rgorke · Post by **rgorke** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 12:12 pm

I have been using the EH 6CA7s and like them better than the JJ E34Ls I have.

TubeGetter · Post by **TubeGetter** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 3:26 pm

cary chilton wrote:I just got an email from Terry Kilgore who feels it is all internet hype and he personally doesn't think they sound good at all.

Man, I wish more people would think that way, then the price of those things would come down.

But people hear what they hear with these in their amps, and that's why so many people are after them. It seems like most of the people that really want them are the guys that already have a set and are trying to secure more for the future. Can't blame them, I did the same thing a long time ago.

Tone Slinger · Post by **Tone Slinger** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 4:08 pm

Cary, I havent tried any 'original' Sylvania's, but the EH 6ca7's are made to identical specs. From what I gather, tubes made in the 40's - 70's are much more long lasting than the new one's. I think it's intentional 'supply and demand type stuff, you know, sales/profit. As far as tone goes,I've heard that the new 'reissue' type tubes are right on.

harddriver · Post by **harddriver** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 10:20 pm

I'm sure they don't or won't last as long as the originals for sure but I thought they sounded close enough when I compared them to my sylvania 6ca7's for the money. As long as they get burned in good (bias drift is not much of an issue) and matched at full plate voltage(around 400DCV) they don't do too bad by my experience.

You can't expect them to be 100% like the originals for the prices.

Rgalpin and Stan have run them on some clips I thought they sounded alright and I use them as well, I don't cry when one goes poof!

45auto · Post by **45auto** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 12:16 pm

is there a decent modern substitute for the 6ca7? kt88? 6550? something that can handle the abuse perhaps. i had 6550's in my 67 plexi for all the years i had it & they did hold up well. alot of people seem to dislike their tone. i never really got the chance to compare then. when a tube died, i dropped in a new one. typically ge/rca/sylvania for $10 a pop from the local General Dynamics surplus.

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