It never stops

heiney9

So since switching to this Vanilla format and changes in how I spend my free time I am not here as often as before. It's really hard to get the "old feel" back with this new software but I think we all realize it ain't going anywhere.

I know I owe Tony a review of the Eastern Electric Mini Max tube pre I bought after selling the Dared. Patience my good friend, patience....lol. It's only been less than 2 years.....lol. I'll give you a teaser..........."oh my" (compared to the Dared)

I went cold turkey for a while not buying a single tube, it lasted about 9 months......just cold turkey I'm telling you. Logged off Ebay one day and never looked back. Well, starting a few months ago I fell off the wagon and have been on a buying frenzy lately.

I have gone from, "oh I need to try that" to becoming a collector. I have been buying mostly long plate European tubes and the oldest American tubes I can find.

Tube rolling is still so much fun.....................latest, best sounding combo in the Mini Max. As you know each 12AU7 in the Mini does a different duty. One is the buffer and one is the amplification.

(1) 1950 Lansdale JAN CBRZ - 6X4 rectifier, black plate, square getter.
(1) 1954 Sylvania JHS 5184 - 3 mica, black ladder plate w/square getter (buffer)
(1) 1958 Amperex BB ECC82 - long gray plate, single post halo made at the Mitcham plant Eng. (amplification)

Wowzers, does it sound good. The soundstage is fricking huge, top to bottom, side to side.

Tubes Rule

H9

heiney9

Also, if you can find the late 40's Tung Sol, black glass, black plate 12AU7 it's superb as is the slightly earlier clear glass, black plate, vertical D getter Tung Sol.

H9

tonyb

Yeah man, 2 years bro....Cathy's greasing up her spiked leather gloves as we speak.

Have you done any mods to that puppy yet ? Nuthin' but great reviews all over for that pre. Tube hoarders anonymous meets every second Tuesday of the month.

heiney9

No mods, Tony.

It still amazes me when I listen, it is so receptive to tube rolling, and the combinations are staggering.

Not to the tube hoarding level yet, but I have 2 pairs of all my faves. Keep in mind I have another integrated tube amp that uses 12AU7's and equivalents too. That's my rationalization for buying more tubes.............yeah that's it!

It's a keeper and tube rollers dream (and nightmare) all in one. The nightmare being the total amount spent on tube rolling.

Mullard long plates, goal post getter, square getter, round getter, Mitcham or Blackburn.......Valvo short plate slanted getter, long plate slanted getter, long plate D getter, long plate foil D getter...........Siemens long plate foil D getter, sliver plate.....Amperex Holland, short plate, large halo, long plate foil D getter......and on and on and on.......


H9

SCompRacer

Just when you thought the tube market was safe!

Just leave the EF806S/EF86 alone till I secure mine for an upcoming build...

Love the way these EF86 look.

heiney9

Lol Rich, no worries. Love the mesh plate tubes. I hear Valvo (Hamburg) makes a nice one.

I am winding down again. It's more of the thrill of the hunt.........but I have recently gotten some of the so called "rarer tubes" at a decent price. But the wallet for such things is running low........again.

The Tung Sol's have been an eye opener.

Next up is trying to convince myself I need the new Nelson Pass offering - First Watt F6. A single stage class A push/pull power Jfet with input transformers.

SCompRacer

heiney9 wrote: »

Next up is trying to convince myself I need the new Nelson Pass offering - First Watt F6. A single stage class A push/pull power Jfet with input transformers.

Wants trumps needs! You both WANT and NEED it!