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Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs / Re: Favorite 6AQ5 SE and PP power sections?

« Last post by bmccowan on January 20, 2026, 09:28:44 am »

I suspect that "safe" operation does not really equate to tube longevity all that well. Back in the day - carry spare tubes. No crying when a power tube goes. With the price of tubes today it makes sense to either have a lot of amps, so that none get stressed too much, and/or use power tubes within, or close to, their design specs. But then I prefer amps that do not push the power tubes too hard. I may be in the minority there. But 6V6s run at 325 to 350 Vs are sweet.

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Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs / Re: Favorite 6AQ5 SE and PP power sections?

« Last post by mountainhick on January 20, 2026, 08:44:54 am »

Also note that the 6AQ5 is listed as 250V max, but from what I've dug up from other peoples' projects, it's safe to go up between 250-300V.

My query pertains directly to this issue. Of course there are many ways to skin the cat, but I did have one project that ate/redplated tubes at 280 plate volts. Sometimes schematics can give up pearls of wisdom regarding B+, biasing and screen control that allow lower dissipation at higher voltage. I m pretty surprised at the Sluckey SE shared above, and expect the lower B+ amps you cited will provide longer tube life.

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Other Topics / Re: Anybody watching Gold?

« Last post by bmccowan on January 20, 2026, 08:36:03 am »

world's "stability" is gett'n sketchy

The next few days will be telling. If we can make it to the Olympics when Trump can start asking for a Gold Medal instead of the Nobel Prize we might have a chance at stability.

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Other Topics / Re: Anybody watching Gold?

« Last post by bmccowan on January 20, 2026, 08:32:19 am »

This guy got 5 fake Silver Eagles from Walmart

 


been a minute since I thought Walmart was a reputable silver dealer 

In the S department at Walmart I like socks and salad dressing.

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Other Topics / Re: Anybody watching Gold?

« Last post by shooter on January 20, 2026, 08:30:18 am »

that'll tend to happen when the world's "stability" is gett'n sketchy 


the more I watch, the more i see "Big time Wrestling" in everything I thought was "market driven"

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Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs / Re: Favorite 6AQ5 SE and PP power sections?

« Last post by shooter on January 20, 2026, 08:26:48 am »

Uh? 6AQ5 to KT88?

 


rev .101 was a PSE 6AQ, just never got where I wanted, thought about up'n it to 4, had a bench KT88 n iron on hand, so.....
from there I never looked back at the 1/2 dozen small-bottles i'd already tinkered with.

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Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs / Re: Favorite 6AQ5 SE and PP power sections?

« Last post by bmccowan on January 20, 2026, 08:24:18 am »

On the PP side. I have an Epiphone EA50T (schematic is in Doug's Library) I modded the preamp to remove some filtering, but the power amps is stock 2x6AQ5. As you noted the B+ is a bit below 250. It's one of my favorites.

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Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs / Re: Favorite 6AQ5 SE and PP power sections?

« Last post by dogburn on January 20, 2026, 08:19:40 am »

Also note that the 6AQ5 is listed as 250V max, but from what I've dug up from other peoples' projects, it's safe to go up between 250-300V.

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Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs / Re: Favorite 6AQ5 SE and PP power sections?

« Last post by mountainhick on January 20, 2026, 07:50:52 am »

They worked very well in this amp
THE HOWLER

Not seeing any schematic?

I have a howler monkey schematic I found I while ago is it the same as this?

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Other Topics / Re: Anybody watching Gold?

« Last post by EL34 on January 20, 2026, 06:33:42 am »

Gold has gaped up!!