Tubes for BAT VK60. Need help

You can get those 6c33 tubes from Parts Connexion for $27, or from tubestore.com for a bit more. I believe they all come from the same Ulyanov factory regardless of distributor. As remarked by jfrech, in the BAT they lose their punch after about 1200 hours (1800 hours with Pearl Tube Coolers). About 25% of them eventually ARC out (loud popping sound followed by hum), so buy a spare or two. After sanding the pins, try Walker SST silver paste. I use EH 6SN7s in my VK75SE and they hold up well and sound fine.

Jim for 10K you can go to the Soviet Union and take a flight in a Mig. Just don't take any tubes out before pre-flight...lol ;)

Jim- There are a couple of good sellers of 6SN7s right here, who have pretty good knowledge of their typical sounds. Jsautter and Kalidelkol (not sure on teh spelling) come to mind, but there are also a couple of others. Of course Andy at Vintage Tube and Upscale Audio also.

Dgarretson -I do appreciate it

...a third more life expectancy using Pearl tube coolers...

Speculation, or your own experience? ...if so, that bears looking into for sure.

"EH, hold up well and sound good".

Wow. I've only had one pair of EH tubes, 12AT's, and I didn't care much for them... but they weren't new, so that played a part I'm sure.

In my 'researching' both types, 6SN7-GTB & 6c33c-b, (those numbers and designations are accurate for the VK60 application), Dan at BAT said to insure the SN7's handle 600v, or they'll run out fastER, AS 600V IS APPLIED AT START UP & DURING THE BIASING.

The least price I found so far on the 6c33c-b or cb, is right from Russia. Averaging about $8 - $10 es. less than Paarts con., but a bit more for shipping, I'd bet.

"Parts con. doesn't test them or offer warranties do they?

That would change things. I'm also finding out the 33's being sold aren't usually tested prior to the sale. Well at least it's rare.

Lastly, "Is matching needed on these big current supplying tubes?"

Samzx12

Thanks much. Think they'll take a check? ...for free, I can swim, uh, paddle, over to cuba and nab some there maybe... have to brush up on my Spanish though and get a dog that can swim.

Swampwalker

Big help. Thanks. Andy doesn't do 6c33c-b. he does do Sylvania, tungsol, & RCA. he had said in that order they'll range from open and extended to more full bodied, were their sonic traits. Also that they would gain in price going back towards earlier itterations, which is expected i suppose.

For posterity, the front 6SN7's are the more important tubes in the array. use of the lowest noise and harmonic preffs here will dictate more to the amp than elsewhere on the VK60... or so said BAT.

Chris at Parts Connexion stated to me that upon request he will test each 6C33C and offer a 90-day warranty.

After many retubings of 6C33Cs in the VK75SE without Pearl Tube coolers, I noted (subjectively) about a 50% extension in tube life with the Coolers. I now use them everywhere, particularly with hot-running & valuable 6H30-DR input tubes. However I don't think the Pearl Coolers extend tube life 2x-5x as claimed.