Still Freaking Out Over Tube Noise

I agree, use a known service! Of the "big three" mentioned" here, Andy at Vintage Tube Services (www.vintagetubeservices.com) knows tubes, has testing procedures and equipment that the others DON'T, so that when you buy a Mullard, you get a MULLARD and not a rebranded Brimar (I won't mention names!) Andy is definitely "the man"!

How do you guys get in touch with Andy? I have called his number about 30 times at different times and on different days over a 2 week period, and he never answered the phone. I finally got my tubes somewhere else.

Who sells Brimars as Mullards? Name names! I don't know why they would. The price on them is about the same. The Mullards factory codes are etched in every tube, and the internal structure looks nothing like a Brimar. Who is doing this?

It makes no sense. Funny how stuff happens. Just like the rumor that someone is counterfeiting Telefunken including the diamond in the glass. They would have no idea about the manufacturing business.

Here is the deal with your preamp. And we retube them DAILY. The PV-10, 11, and 12 have a bit of gain and no feedback. They sound great, but if there is any pimple on the tube, you will hear it.

So the tubes have to be quiet. They also need to be tight and won't shake apart. If you have noise, there is noting you can do except put in the best tube. If you have microphony....the tube rings constantly and will not stop....you may want to consider, if it is out of warranty anyway, rubber mounting the transformer. I know guys that have done this and it helps. But it takes a bit of time as it is tight. The transformer vibration is picked up through the tube pins and slowly over a period of time it shakes loose internally.

If you want ease, find some RFT 12AU7. They seem to hold up. We don't sell them, as people look for something more "sexy". We use the Mullard CV4003. This is about the only tube that works well, and even at that only about 10% pass muster here to be used in those!