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Western Electric 300B Tube Problems

I purchased a pair of Western Electric 300B tubes a few months ago. Installed the tubes in an Air Tight ATM-300 amplifier. Before the even initial 90 days was up one of the tubes shorted and destroyed a capacitor and resistor in the amplifier to the tune of $1000 in repairs.

I returned the tubes (within the 90 day warranty period) to the store from which originally purchased. The store promptly sent me a replacement pair of new Western Electric 300B tubes. I installed the replacement tubes in another amplifier (Elekit 8600S, since my Air Tight was in for repair) and one of the replacement tubes was faulty! No music in the channel with the faulty tube, just some crackling and popping noise.

(Yes, the Elekit amplifier worked perfectly with other 300B tubes, and the problem moved channels when the tubes were switched)

I have now returned the replacement tubes for a full refund. I had heard rumors of quality control problems at Western Electric. I will not be buying ANY Western Electric tubes after this experience. Very sad since I really wanted to support an US manufacturer.

   -GAR

gareents
carlsbad2's avatar
carlsbad2
2,023 posts
 

I've heard of infant failures in these tubes.  Generally failures go open rather than short.  Sorry it cost you $1000 to replace less than $50 in parts.  I had a tube short (not a WE) and blew a resistor.  Replaced it for $1.10 the next day. Free one day shipping.

Jerry

jond's avatar
jond
5,949 posts
 

Wow a cap and resister replacement should be maybe a few hundred not $1000 unless you're having other work done?!

And sorry about your WE failures it was a bad WE 300B from the 1997 re-issue series that put me off 300B tubes for life just too $$$.

corelli
1,035 posts
 

Bad enough to hear about the WE tube issue. But even worse yet the cost to repair your amp---you can't be serious. Did they replace anything else?  If not, that is highway robbery.  Not sure who did the repair, but they need be avoided like the plague.  Please share the details.

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