Is the Shuguang 5AR4 any good?

Buy real old production Mullard/Philips GZ34’s (or two) from a reputable tube dealer before they become unobtainable @ sane prices.

Seen them recently in the $150-$200+ range.

Don’t fret about metal base et cetera as they all sound good and last if properly tested (even the early 70’s production).

Aside from Mullard/Philips I have a few 1983 Sovtek’s and much earlier Japanese 5ar4’s that sound good and are reliable, but that boat passed years ago as I purchased them NIB way back then.

Used Mullard GZ34’s 10-15 years ago in HiFi gear that were from guitar amps that I owned in the mid 1960’s on, as well as some from Dynaco gear that I purchased in the mid 1970’s.

PS:

I used them in Pilot 232/240 amps, which run the crap out of the rectifier/GZ34.

DeKay

@dekay   the one that is in the mail & on its way is a UK Amperex (which I was told here was probably made by Mullard) and one of the ones I have already received was sold as a Hitachi and I see on the base that it is labeled Matsushita.  The three I have bids on are Mullards and I believe that two of them are claiming to be NIB.  (AS I typed, I don't have high hopes for those, as I am not going to bid much higher, if even at all higher.)

Your thoughts are to leave the Shuguangs alone then.  Okay, I was just thinking that the price seemed okay and if they were as good or any better thyan the stock Sovtec, a couple of spares wouldn't hurt.

Okay, thanks. 

No different than the Sovtek in sound or reliability.  If they are good strong tubes the Amperex and the Matsushita will last a decade at least unless damaged by something. 

Okay, @jackd that’s probably the bottom line then--no point in getting them if they aren’t better than the stock Sovtec. I'll try to win one of those other auctions I bid on.

What I tried to say was save money in the long run and purchase one (or two) properly tested, widely liked for their sonics and reliable old production tubes while they are still available @ sane prices.

Though my favorites have been Mullard and Amperex, the Sovteks (correction - they are 2003 production/not 1983) and the Japanese GZ34's sounded just as good (a tiny bit lighter/thinner in my amps - I prefer fuller).

The Sovtek production I purchased came out shortly after they were panned for producing unreliable GZ34's.

My tube testers TV-7/539C did not seem to properly test GZ34's as they always tested pretty close to spec until they suddenly did not (same thing when testing 12ax7's).

Don't know how the good tube dealers test them, but assume that they are using different/better test equipment.

I have enough tubes to last a few lifetimes, but recently purchased 5 pairs of Converse/Chuck/Vietnam tennis shoes and 12 pairs of Polo striped cotton pajama pants (70% off on the pants and $45/pair for the shoes) as supplies are drying up and/or are now gone @ reasonable prices.

I spend money to save money.

DeKay