How To Spot a NOS EL34/6CA7 vacuum tube

Rare vintage EL34/6CA7 tubes are highlighted in this first of several videos on this tube. This video shows metal base, XF1 and XF2 types by Mullard of the UK, plus the Fat Boy type from Sylvania USA.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• 6CA7/EL34
• EL34
• 6CA7
• Mullard
• Vacuum
• Tube
• Fat
• Boy
• Amperex

[petedogg369]

What is the difference between a 4 pin and 5 pin rectifier tube? Can they be used to replace each other? My Mesa guitar amp uses 5u4g tubes originally(4 pin) but Mesa now uses 5u4gb tubes(4 pin) because they say they are more stable. I came across some NOS rca 5u4gb tubes I wanted to try but they are 5 pin not 4 pin like my amp came with, can i use 5 pin style to replace 4 pin tubes?

[audiotubes]

Hi, Like the 5AR4, there were various numbers of pins on the base. RCA used 5 pins but pin 1 is not connected to anything. As long as your replacement is a 5U4G, GA, or GB it will work fine regardless of the pin count.

[MovieTech]

hailer ghetto... :)

[bigeddie38]

Hi. You may have seen the two monster valves I built and have on here. I was just wondering if you may have any suggestions of a popular or vintage tube I could build next. As you can see, I've done a 6L6 and an EL34.

[audiotubes]

@Nimrod9458 Yeah, say it fast 10 times. I need some video editing software!

[Nimrod9458]

@MovieTech ahaha yeh 1:58 "this one made for semens"... :)

[joeytruelove]

@Rocketfrogs Mate, the E34L is a beam tetrode, like a 6L6 or KT77, which doesn't electrically use that pin, it being internally connected to ground. Had it been the other way around there could have been a chance of a short circuit should the amp have been designed for tetrodes. The lug for pin 5 in some of those amps, such as Fenders, is used as a tie point. That shouldn't be the case with an amp designed for pentodes.

[strunzgracie]

Any plans on doing a EL84 spot?

[Rocketfrogs]

I have an hi-fi tube amp that uses EL-34B power tubes. I bought some replacements which were JJ electronics E 34 L blue tubes. I then discovered they had one pin less than the EL-34 B's and now I'm terrified to change them in case I blow my rig. Do you think they would be okay to use?