Yes Viridian you are right I get those two confused. The one tube I need most is a real pain. Its the 7868 I know that number. The problem is that with a few notable exceptions I think that the counterfiet expensive 1940 -1980 tube replicas I have, sound much better than the new production replicas.
The old production 7868 is approaching EL-34 prices and aren't matched. You may say -"so what?" that isn't critical but in the Sherwoods I own they caution that the 2 tubes in each channel must match. I tried a mixed pair once and watched one tube lit up nicely as it should whereas the other did the crispy critter in less than a second or two.
Fortunately the amp suffered no injury I could find. The good part is that it will operate well enough with two matched pairs but it's tough.
The new production 7868 is too fat for the space that this amp provides.
I can't find any old 7189 readily in matched pairs either for a different amp.
I have quads of EL-84s but not these fancy jobbers and I am unwilling in fact unable to pay out the schnoz . I better sell some of my redundant tubes like 120 + 6SN7s. I need a total of five if I were to keep all the amps and pres I have what a but I really am going to sell this stuff. If I do sell all those amps except one that is a pre with really good tubes in there. That would leave me with still around 100 with 3 or 4 pairs as back ups.
The old production 7868 is approaching EL-34 prices and aren't matched. You may say -"so what?" that isn't critical but in the Sherwoods I own they caution that the 2 tubes in each channel must match. I tried a mixed pair once and watched one tube lit up nicely as it should whereas the other did the crispy critter in less than a second or two.
Fortunately the amp suffered no injury I could find. The good part is that it will operate well enough with two matched pairs but it's tough.
The new production 7868 is too fat for the space that this amp provides.
I can't find any old 7189 readily in matched pairs either for a different amp.
I have quads of EL-84s but not these fancy jobbers and I am unwilling in fact unable to pay out the schnoz . I better sell some of my redundant tubes like 120 + 6SN7s. I need a total of five if I were to keep all the amps and pres I have what a but I really am going to sell this stuff. If I do sell all those amps except one that is a pre with really good tubes in there. That would leave me with still around 100 with 3 or 4 pairs as back ups.