5AR4/GZ34 Rectifier Tubes

I have some Sylvania 6SN7 GTB brown base mid 1950's coming for my player. I will report out on the sound relative to the Sophia's when I get them. From what I understand, the earlier the tube, the more "chrome" there is in the bottle. If you look at 1960's tubes, just the cap has chrome.

My Genalex Gold Lion 5AR4 failed within 2 months. I bought a used Amperex Bugle Boy to replace it.

Jazzdrummer, sorry to hear you got a dud. I've got 5 months of steady use on mine with no indication it is starting to go. I guess we will need to keep this thread running to see if others find a short tube life. At $40, if I went through 3 a year it might still be worth it.

A rectifier tube that only lasts 2 months is defective. When speaking with Andy of Vintage Tube Service these should last for years.

Has anyone tried the Weber WZ68 solid state rectifier .
It plugs right in the place of the 5AR4. I ordered one to try on my New VTA-ST-120 (Bob Latino) Amp.
I do not have it (The Amp)yet ,but he recommended it as an upgrade to the Ruby 5AR4