NOS tube stash - suitable for guitar amp?

[jordan86]

My neighbor has a stash of 250+ NOS tubes. Her father was a tv repairman and passed a few years back. Finally cleaning out his old stash in their basement. Several moving boxes full, and some CRAZY huge tubes, bigger than a water bottle.  Some guy had just swung through and took all her 12AT7's. I got her last two 5Y3GTs. $10/each.

Fortunately she is detailed and methodical. She sent me her spreadsheet (attached). Would any of these be good for a guitar amp?

EDIT: Reattached the spreadsheets, now sorted by name for easier scanning.

[jordan86]

I think the 5Z4 and 5AZ4 are variants of a 5Y3, which I could use.

[PRR]

5Z4 was only on offer for a couple years. I have seen 5Y3 bodged into a 5Z4 socket but it was not a direct fit. Frankly this may be one for a Collector; 5Y3 is common.

866A is a *mercury* rectifier, there are restrictions on shipping these.

[HotBluePlates]

... Would any of these be good for a guitar amp? ...

The one 6L6GC and one 6V6GT would be good, as would the couple of 5879s (for the few people who have this tube as a preamp pentode, either in a Gibson amp or their home-brew build).

Several others are useful in some tube gear, but aren't common (12BH7, 12B4 and similar).

The 6SL7s are useful, one a type I need for one of my amps.  But they're priced through the roof compared to everything else (maybe they were thinking of how some audiophiles love 6SN7s).

[jordan86]

How did I miss the 6L6 and 6V6?!?! To be fair, I sent her a list of tubes I was looking for and she said she had none of those. So maybe I just wasn’t looking.
Thanks HBP!

[tubenit]

6AQ5 is a nice power tube.  Similar to a 6V6 but in a 7 pin

[kagliostro]

There is more of one usable tube on that list that isn't so diffused on use (see tubes like 12AU6 - 12SL7)

and looking to the prices they aren't so popular as to worth the effor of use those tubes on new builds

generally all the prices aren't popular (or at least they are not on this side of the pond)

Franco

[66Strat]

... Would any of these be good for a guitar amp? ...

The one 6L6GC and one 6V6GT would be good, as would the couple of 5879s (for the few people who have this tube as a preamp pentode, either in a Gibson amp or their home-brew build).

Several others are useful in some tube gear, but aren't common (12BH7, 12B4 and similar).

The 6SL7s are useful, one a type I need for one of my amps.  But they're priced through the roof compared to everything else (maybe they were thinking of how some audiophiles love 6SN[/n]7s).

Those 6SL7 prices are rather nutso. Brent Jesse and Doug's Tubes have much better prices for NOS 6SL7 tubes.

[tubeswell]

NOS 6SL7s on the local market here are like $20 a pair

[bmccowan]

There are quite a few that are "useful" as preamp tubes - but they are not bargains. For example the 6C4 is a nice 7 pin triode. There are a couple of funky Harmony/Lectrolab amps popular with harp players that use that tube. But you'd have to be planning an amp with that tube, not thinking that it has a lot of universal potential. Her price is no better than ebay prices for that tube or the others I recognize.

[HotBluePlates]

... For example the 6C4 is a nice 7 pin triode. There are a couple of funky Harmony/Lectrolab amps popular with harp players that use that tube. ...

There were some like that I saw but didn't mention on purpose.

The 6C4 is basically a half-12AU7: if you have an amp that needs one you already know what it is, but if you don't know what it is it's almost worse than no-use.

I've got a couple that have been kicking around in a box for 25 years or more on the chance "I might have a use for them one day."  No such luck.  I've also got ~100 or so 12AU7s that had no home for two decades until I bought a couple AC30s.  Now I only have ~85-90 more than I'll need in my lifetime. 

[jordan86]

Thanks all. I grabbed everything I thought I could use. Including some for some friends’ amps.

5879 (works in a DR Z DB4)
6V6GT (going in a champ)
6L6GC (SE Marshall I have)
5Y3GT and 5Z4 (equivalent tubes)

The rectifiers worked great in my Dr Z M12.

6L6GC worked in my single ended super lead but too different. I prefer a KT66 or 88. May keep it as a backup for my Showman. Will get it tested to see if it matches.