Anyone every tried swapping in a 6211 in for the 12AT7 ?
Not trying to accomplish anything in particular here, but I've got some "HP" branded 6211 tubes here (made by GE) and based on some research they are basically a lower mu 12AT7. Apparently used in ENIAC back in the day.
George, or anyone else, is there any risk involved in popping these into the SSE and seeing what they sound like as drivers?
Not trying to accomplish anything in particular here, but I've got some "HP" branded 6211 tubes here (made by GE) and based on some research they are basically a lower mu 12AT7. Apparently used in ENIAC back in the day.
George, or anyone else, is there any risk involved in popping these into the SSE and seeing what they sound like as drivers?
Well the data sheet doesn't instill much confidence as a potential sub, but I've been wrong before. The curves look pretty ugly, and only a mu of 27.
If you're ichin' to roll 12AT7 variants, try a nice mil spec 6201.
jeff
If you're ichin' to roll 12AT7 variants, try a nice mil spec 6201.
jeff
Not really itching. I've got some really nice NOS Marconi Canada (CMC) Radiotron 12AT7 tubes here that I have no complaints about at all. Was just curious what would happen with the 6211 tubes.
If the worst that could happen is "bad sound" then I might throw them in for a giggle.
If it could damage something, then I am not interested. 🙂
If the worst that could happen is "bad sound" then I might throw them in for a giggle.
If it could damage something, then I am not interested. 🙂
Well, I tried some 6211 tubes...and the results weren't encouraging. They sounded nice, but they were not designed for the 10ma current that the SSE will drive through their plates. Plus, their max plate voltage is specified as 200v. I think I ran them for an hour or so, when the volume began to drop I pulled and tested them. Basically, they were toast.
6201, on the other hand, will not disappoint! GE made some really fine ones...
6201, on the other hand, will not disappoint! GE made some really fine ones...
That's great info, stereo71!
I'll not test drive the 6211 tubes then.
I see a popular store has NOS GE 6201 for a pretty reasonable price. I don't "need" one... but my mouse finger is itchy.
These are the 12AT7 I am running now.
From my research, they are identical to the RCA black plates of the same era. In fact, these would have pre-dated the RCA company slightly. The history is a bit cloudy. CMC Products - Vacuum Tube Era There was a relationship with CGE (Canadian General Electric) obviously but the name "Radiotron" was later used by RCA (as you know).
So ya. 50's NOS 12AT7 made in a factory in Toronto. Good sound and Canadian nostalgia all wrapped up in a nice little tube (3 of them, actually) 15-20-ish years older than I am.
I'll not test drive the 6211 tubes then.
I see a popular store has NOS GE 6201 for a pretty reasonable price. I don't "need" one... but my mouse finger is itchy.
These are the 12AT7 I am running now.
From my research, they are identical to the RCA black plates of the same era. In fact, these would have pre-dated the RCA company slightly. The history is a bit cloudy. CMC Products - Vacuum Tube Era There was a relationship with CGE (Canadian General Electric) obviously but the name "Radiotron" was later used by RCA (as you know).
So ya. 50's NOS 12AT7 made in a factory in Toronto. Good sound and Canadian nostalgia all wrapped up in a nice little tube (3 of them, actually) 15-20-ish years older than I am.
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Hey, really nice looking 12AT7s! They do resemble RCAs, but I only have a couple of those; not a good matched pair. I have also had nice results from 5965s, especially the GE ones with side getters. Typically sold as 5965A. My favorite for nice midrange, good bass, and clean but not sparkly highs, are the British military CV4024. Mullards are good, but the Brimar ones are king, in my opinion.
Have fun rolling some!
Have fun rolling some!
I have a couple of old GE 12AT7, but I think they are pretty tired. Sound is sorta dull and washed out and I don't think the gain is where it should be, but I can't recall exactly.
I'll keep my eyes open for the ones you mentioned, but in the meantime maybe I'll grab a NOS GE 6201 and see how they compare to the Marconi Radiotrons.
One thing that has occurred to me is that I will never really own "too many" tubes. 🙂
I'll keep my eyes open for the ones you mentioned, but in the meantime maybe I'll grab a NOS GE 6201 and see how they compare to the Marconi Radiotrons.
One thing that has occurred to me is that I will never really own "too many" tubes. 🙂
A cool fact from the page I linked to earlier: "There were some 1,800 separate steps in the production of the typical vacuum tube. Of the total, 450 were testing and inspection steps. By 1934, there were 140 different tube types being produced in Canada . There was over 100,000 square feet of floor space devoted to this effort and 1,100 people employed in the production of tubes."
The photos from the factory make me nostalgic about an era that I didn't even experience.
Another interesting anecdote: When I told my mother about these tubes, and the factory in Toronto, she told me that her aunt (who was a prostitute at the time) "dated" the son of Mr. Marconi who owned that company. 🙂
The photos from the factory make me nostalgic about an era that I didn't even experience.
Another interesting anecdote: When I told my mother about these tubes, and the factory in Toronto, she told me that her aunt (who was a prostitute at the time) "dated" the son of Mr. Marconi who owned that company. 🙂
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Aha. Now I see that there was also an American Marconi Company, which was inherited (absorbed?) by RCA...along with the Radiotron name - RCA - Wikipedia
The history is a bit clearer now... RCA - Wikipedia
The history is a bit clearer now... RCA - Wikipedia
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