Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: TubeGeek on July 21, 2011, 09:23:24 pm

Title: Scored some tubes for cheap...
Post by: TubeGeek on July 21, 2011, 09:23:24 pm
Finally had some luck today...found a tv shop with a stash of tubes. 

Here is what I was bought...

Is the e88cc a useful tube for guitar amps?

Same with the telefunken ef85?
Title: Re: Scored some tubes for cheap...
Post by: Willabe on July 21, 2011, 09:29:19 pm
Nice!    :wink:


       Brad
Title: Re: Scored some tubes for cheap...
Post by: darryl on July 22, 2011, 08:28:08 pm
The E88CC and its functional equivalents - ECC88, 6922 and 6DJ8 certainly can be used for guitar amplifier service. Unfortunately the 6.3 volt heater means they are not interchangeable with members of the 12A*7 family, without rewiring the valve socket.

Valve hifi zealot$ love E88CC's.  You may find a home for them there.

I found a stray box of valves in my shed a couple of years ago - I have no idea where it came from.   :dontknow:

The contents are pictured below:

(http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr333/valvetone/magnesium/valves.jpg)

With 124 E88CC/6922 valves looking for homes, I began using them in several of my amp builds, as a gain recovery stage and cathodyne phase splitter. They work fine in that application.

(http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr333/valvetone/magnesium/backfinal.jpg)

That particular construction article is here: http://www.guitargear.net.au/discussion/index.php?topic=18245.0 (http://www.guitargear.net.au/discussion/index.php?topic=18245.0)

Sorry I can't offer any advice on the EF85 - I've never used one.   :sad:
Title: Re: Scored some tubes for cheap...
Post by: TubeGeek on July 22, 2011, 08:36:23 pm
Yeah I did look up the datasheet and found that they were indeed twin triodes.  They do look useful and definitely built with quality in mind.  The gold pins are nice touch.  

I tested them in my hickok 600 transconductnce tester and they measured 10,000 mho's!  Significantly higher than 12ax7's and similar in my tester.

I'm sure someday I'll find a use for them.

You sure have a nice collection.  Oh and I am drooling over the nixie tubes you found!   :occasion14:  I'd love to score those and build a neat clock project someday.

Title: Re: Scored some tubes for cheap...
Post by: HotBluePlates on July 23, 2011, 11:46:24 am
The 6DJ8/ECC88/E88CC is highly valued by hi-fi people. Your best use (especially for the gold-pinned E88CC's) is to sell them to the hi-fi folks.

You can use them in amp circuits, but they specially optimized for use in cascode circuits (or grounded-grid, which is usually described as "cathode-drive" on the data sheets).

You have one tube marked "ECC83/12AX7 Made in Germany" which has a plate structure like an american 12AT7. I have a few tubes like this as well. I can't remember offhand if they actually exhibited 12AT7 gain or not.