7308 tube code question

Ed's right re: 7308, and I'm second if you decide you don't need/want'em. They are a great replacement for any 6DJ8 or 6922 (or E88CC or ECC88).

I also have these tubes and if NOS they will require a minimum of 30-40 hours, or so, of use for the bass to kick in and for them to open up. In gear that runs them easy you may have to double this - plus. Just to say, give them some time. This was one of my favorites in the input section of a SET amp that I no longer own. Very odd for Amperex 6922 types to take this amount of time/use in order to open up, but this has been my experience with them.

I think he said it was a * on the bottom row, which signifies made in USA.

The delta, or triangle at the beginning of the bottom row denotes Holland. If it was an F it would be France. All three countries made them based on the same design in Philips-owned factories.

OK, now I am confused...the tubes say made in the USA, has a *5B etched under the VR5, which I am told means made in the USA, but also has the large white triangle (delta) which denotes made in Holland. Please note that the triangle is quite large and independent of any lettering. Am I confusing this triangle with a triangle used in place of the * to denote origin of manufacture??

Good question: I only have two out right now (just received them back from a friend) and they are etched VR5, *5D (also 518 on one and 535 on the other, towards the top). The white printing is: USN-CEP 7308, Made in U.S.A., Amperex and (65-35 on one and 65-14 on the other. There may be a faint delta on the bottom (between the pins), but it may also just be a natural variation in the glass (I cannot see it clearly enough). There are no remains of a large triangle on these and as the rest of the print is in good shape I doubt that there ever was. Hopefully Kevin can further ID these. The most important thing however is how they sound.