Can anyone recommend "bang for the buck" tubes for the Eastern Electric Min/Max Pre?

Timothy Smith

Any recommendations on good "bang for the buck" tube upgrades for the Easterm Electric Min/Max tube preamp from your personal experience?

That would hopefully be tubes that are readily available from places like Tube Depot or other sources you can suggest.

I would, of course, prefer to have rare tubes like those from Saul Marantz's secret personal collection that might have rolled from his hand as he expired and whispered ".....12AU7....", but I don't think those are in my budget right now.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Tim

mhardy6647

Saul would've just grabbed a box off the shelf - it was a different world then in more ways than one.

I don't even know what tube types these components take, so I can't suggest anything, unfortunately. All's I can say, at this late date, is that the market has priced desirable NOS tubes according to perceived value (i.e., yez gets what yez pays for). Used tubes can be a fantastic value.

What tubes do they use? I can check stock and maybe make up a Care package... I know I'se gots some "clear top" 12AU7s somewhere in the deep dark recesses of the basement.

heiney9

Have you seen my running post about this pre?

H9

Timothy Smith

mhardy6647 wrote: »

Saul would've just grabbed a box off the shelf - it was a different world then in more ways than one.

I don't even know what tube types these components take, so I can't suggest anything, unfortunately. All's I can say, at this late date, is that the market has priced desirable NOS tubes according to perceived value (i.e., yez gets what yez pays for). Used tubes can be a fantastic value.

What tubes do they use? I can check stock and maybe make up a Care package... I know I'se gots some "clear top" 12AU7s somewhere in the deep dark recesses of the basement.

Thanks,

It uses two 12AU7's and one 6AX4 for rectification so pretty simple. The stock "Eastern Electric" brand tubes sould nice but I can't leave well enough alone.

Does the rectification tube make a big difference in sound?

Timothy Smith

heiney9 wrote: »

Have you seen my running post about this pre?

H9

Thanks for the reminder. I will go back and check.

The suggested tubes don't really have to be Saul Marantz's, but it would be nice if they were the kind that were warmed up for testing by rolling them gently on the inner thighs of beautiful young Eastern Block (female) figure skaters back in the bad old days.

heiney9

Timothy Smith wrote: »

Thanks,

It uses two 12AU7's and one 6AX4 for rectification so pretty simple. The stock "Eastern Electric" brand tubes sould nice but I can't leave well enough alone.

Does the rectification tube make a big difference in sound?

This piece is a tube rollers dream as it responds really well. Yes, the rectifier makes a difference. There is a lot of info out there for this very sweet piece of gear and rolling. I'd start with a Tung Sol 6X4 black and silver plate with the large "wavy" D getter rectifier.

Try 5814's too.

H9

heiney9

Also, because one slot is a buffer and the other slot is amplification you don't have to use the same pair of tubes, you can mix and match singles. I may have a couple singles for you to try.

H9

george daniel

GEC 6X4 for the Rectifier and Siemens Silverplates au's

heiney9

I have a nice 60's Orange Globe Amperex made in Holland and a really nice early (1954) Westinghouse Black plate w/long arm D getter that might help you out.

PM me if interested.

Those are nice George but normally not budget friendly...........atleast not as much as others.

H9

Timothy Smith

Thanks for the vintage tubes H9. They were an immediate and big improvement and I have really been enjoying them since. Now I have to try finding a replacement/upgrade rectifier tube.

george daniel

heiney9 wrote: »

I have a nice 60's Orange Globe Amperex made in Holland and a really nice early (1954) Westinghouse Black plate w/long arm D getter that might help you out.

PM me if interested.

Those are nice George but normally not budget friendly...........atleast not as much as others.

H9

Brock,, I cannot believe you said that