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BAT VK5i power tubes.. 6l6? 5881? kt66? by who?

Need help yet again... looking to replace/add to my currrent stock of Tung sol 5881 (NOS, NOT RE-ISSUES), i RECENTLY OPTED FOR the 'reissueed Tung sol 5881... fair price I guess compared to the NOS version... but two things come to mind...
1. Just how long do these tubes take to open up? ...under low to moderate power they produce little above the mid range... add power and they open up more, though not what i'm used to with the NOS versions... they've got about 100 hrs. or less right now...

2 Is it true that RCA & GE 5881's were made by Tung Sol? how can you tell?

I run a complete set of PQ USA AMPEREX WHITES W/SHEILD in the sig set... a pair of Amperex 7308 whites in the shunts... and I just bought another pair of the PQ USA 7308'S about a week or so ago... they opened up pretty quick... I don't think the 're-issued tung sol's 5881" have as yet... or they are bad. also one of the re tugns has a dent in the top of the tube... is that OK?

OTHER'S HAVE MENTIONED that 6L6, KT66, and some other tubes work the same as 5881's.... but I do not know myself... especially in the BAT vk5....

Any help is more than appreciated.... what's the best choice in the output tube slots for a bAT vk5i?
blindjim
talon4
185 posts
 
Hi Blindjim, I have a Bat vk5i with 4 sets of 7308 Amperex USA white label pq's circa 1963-65. They're very dynamic with a good soundstage, good detail and good highs. I also run late 1950's Tungsol 5881's. I got my pair (for around $100) from Andy at Vintage Tube Services. You can get his phone number off his web site. He's easier to reach by phone. He still had a few good sets as of a couple months ago. A pair of good Tunsol 5881's will take you to a new level. Way better dynamics, bass, soundstage and detail. As said previously, it should only be a matter of days for them to open up. All his tubes are tested at his shop. He has alot of the old testing equipment from the tube manufacturer's assembly lines dating from the 1920's to the mid 1960's. He's very knowledgable and also tests tubes. He has tested all my 7308's for 5 or 6 bucks each. (I bought those particular tubes elsewhere, actually.) All the tubes that I've bought from him have been first rate. I'd give him a ring. Best wishes. Stan
blindjim OP
3,092 posts
 
Stan, yeah, I bought some new/old Tungs just the other day from him... should be here hopefully today... then I should be set. One other unrelated item... he also mentioned some Matsushita tubes from the early 70's, or late sixties... as a warmer & richer sounding tube than the PQ's. Ever try them? ...or know someone that has? the price seems reasonable if the description bears out to be true...

As I have a number of lightly used signal tubes still in my little 'tube inventory' I'm not too sure about buying more... I doubt they'll be any richer than the Telefunkens I have. though they seem a mite light on the bottom end... I'd certainly love to have a set of tubes that provide the warmth, and richness the Tele's do though better on the bottom end...and with more 'body'.
talon4
185 posts
 
Hi Blindjim, No I've never tried the Matsushita. The Matsushita are from Japan's electronics boom in the early 70's. They were used in televisions mostly, as I understand it. Andy told me that they are excellent tubes, but still aren't Telefunkens or Amperex. They are better than anything made new now, however. I think that dynamics, clarity, top end and bottom end would be quite a bit better with Tele's or PQ's. For a nos tube, I'd put them just above the middle of the nos tube pack. Best wishes. Stan
bbolival
23 posts
 
I own both a quad of Amperex Orange Globe Logo Made In USA 7308s as well as a quad of Matsushita Made in Holland 6DJ8 (the Mats were from Andy of VTS) and yes the Mats are a tad warmer and richer than my 7308s. However, I like the sound of 7308s better since they seem to sound more natural. Nonetheless the Mats are nice tubes, a lot better than the Sovteks and Brimars I tried.
rilbr
100 posts
 
I also like the original Tung-Sols in the power supply.My 5se now has the 6H30s for the signal, but still uses the 6DJ8s in the outboard regulators. So I can't match the reg tubes with the signal tubes. There I use the Siemens 6DJ8s.

I would like to know if anyone has been using the 6L6GCs or any of the newer brands of 5881s, such as TAD or Electro-Harmonix ?
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