Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => AmpTools/Tech Tips => Topic started by: DummyLoad on February 12, 2012, 04:15:20 pm

Title: 8 pin sub-miniature tubes.
Post by: DummyLoad on February 12, 2012, 04:15:20 pm
love the 'lil fellers...

i started a matrix of types grouped by base type.

the types in bold are what i would or might consider suitable for AF amp use. Mu and transconductance are specified for triodes - transconductance is in Siemens - mA/V

please feel free to suggest additions, comments, etc... 

spreadsheet attached in PDF format. if you have interest, send me a PM with email addy and i'll send you the spreadsheet as .XLSX attachment.

respectfully,

--DL

Title: Re: 8 pin sub-miniature tubes.
Post by: John on February 12, 2012, 08:22:58 pm
DL, what is it you like about these tube types? And what sets them apart from the more common 9-pin and octals?

Title: Re: 8 pin sub-miniature tubes.
Post by: DummyLoad on February 12, 2012, 11:17:16 pm
smaller
lower operating voltages
less heat
lower output power and lighter iron
more compact designs/chassis
extremely rugged
high reliability
nearly roadie-proof; some were made for missile use, some were even designed to survive being shot out of a cannon, the remainder seem to be, at the very least, rated for industrial use.
they're cool lookin'!
+ they also make great pedals without the need for the 200V+ to wake up 12A(x)7 types.

i got hooked on them when PRR jokingly (maybe not?) suggested i use one to drive a 125W RF pentode in SE configuration a-la champ layout. i chose the 6948 - rare tube, but makes great tone.

the down, aside from the tubes being rare, is that sockets are even more so rare - to circumvent, i use 8 pin DIP wire-wrap IC sockets that have milled-pins.

--DL
Title: Re: 8 pin sub-miniature tubes.
Post by: John on February 13, 2012, 05:55:56 am
Cool beans. Thanks!
Title: Re: 8 pin sub-miniature tubes.
Post by: spacelabstudio on February 15, 2012, 07:30:04 am
Very cool compilation.  Making some sort of subminiature based preamp and/or teeny tiny power amp is on my todo list.  I'm wondering if you have a key for the codes used with the pentodes?
Title: Re: 8 pin sub-miniature tubes.
Post by: stingray_65 on February 15, 2012, 04:03:21 pm
http://pacifictv.ca/socket.htm#submin (http://pacifictv.ca/socket.htm#submin)

odd sockets
Title: Re: 8 pin sub-miniature tubes.
Post by: DummyLoad on February 15, 2012, 08:52:13 pm
PBP - power beam pentode
SCO - sharp cut-off pentode
RCO - remote cut-off pentode
SRCO - semi-remote cut-off pentode.
RF - radio frequency
AF - audio frequency

--DL
Title: Re: 8 pin sub-miniature tubes.
Post by: DummyLoad on February 15, 2012, 09:04:05 pm
http://pacifictv.ca/socket.htm#submin (http://pacifictv.ca/socket.htm#submin)

odd sockets

appreciate the the link ray.

i have bought stuff from john - a very pleasant man. mostly i've bought compactrons and the last few chassis mount sub-mini sockets he had. 

i found 20 or so on ebay last fall for about $3.50 each so i sprung for them - i'll probably end up using them in custom pedals and some for a mini princeton reverb.

--DL
Title: Re: 8 pin sub-miniature tubes.
Post by: thermion on February 17, 2012, 12:42:38 pm
Quote
i use 8 pin DIP wire-wrap IC sockets that have milled-pins.
that's a darn good idea...
Title: Re: 8 pin sub-miniature tubes.
Post by: zendragon63 on February 18, 2012, 10:12:53 pm
smaller
lower operating voltages
less heat
lower output power and lighter iron
more compact designs/chassis
extremely rugged
high reliability
nearly roadie-proof; some were made for missile use, some were even designed to survive being shot out of a cannon, the remainder seem to be, at the very least, rated for industrial use.
they're cool lookin'!
+ they also make great pedals without the need for the 200V+ to wake up 12A(x)7 types.

i got hooked on them when PRR jokingly (maybe not?) suggested i use one to drive a 125W RF pentode in SE configuration a-la champ layout. i chose the 6948 - rare tube, but makes great tone.

the down, aside from the tubes being rare, is that sockets are even more so rare - to circumvent, i use 8 pin DIP wire-wrap IC sockets that have milled-pins.

--DL

+1 DL. Thanks for the compilation. There are several SE and P-P schemo floating around the web if you don't want to start from scratch; Google '5902 tube' for starters. Easy enough to build a JTM"4.5" that sounds quite a bit bigger than it looks. Regards

dennis
Title: Re: 8 pin sub-miniature tubes.
Post by: DummyLoad on February 19, 2012, 05:40:35 am
thanks zendragon & will do.


--DL