LittleJoeSamson
385 posts
Jul 30, 2010
3:42 PM
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So, I've been acquiring a collection of NOS/NIB old tubes.
My 1941 Gibson always sounded great for harp with the tubes that were in it....just not alot of volume. Expected. I've rolled better quality 6V6GT's and 6V6GTY's with really only marginal differences.
It did improve with the swapping of the regular 5Y3GT with a 5Y3GTB, and then I got a Bendix 6106 intended for the Rocket ...but was too smooth versus the 5CG4. I tried it in the Gibson and that sounded fuller. Not louder...just more dimension.
The pre-amp tubeswere the metal jacket Mullard 6SQ7's that came with it when I got it, but I'm pretty sure are not original.
These metal jacket types are pretty cheap and evidently plentiful. Not so plentiful are the glass tube 6SQ7GT, although the prices are comparable.
Well, I finally picked one up for a decent $ : a Sylvania JAN VT-103A made for Western Electric. It's a medium bottle GT with a metal collar base. Popped it in to V2 and fired it up. Incredible ! Really a noticeable increase in volume without a loss of tone. Better, actually.
I don't gig with it, except for the special shows I put on.
[ Have another coming up in October. This time three harpers doing two legends each . One is a specialist with Little Walter and Junior Wells...another is SB II and Sonny Terry. I will play Big Walter using the '41 Gibson and Butterfield using the Rocket. )
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