Does this tube look defective?

[arvee72]

Hi Folks,

Let me start by linking to my thread regarding my struggle with tube noise in my Mark 5 combo:

http://forum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=46036&start=0&view=viewpoll

I'm working with Mesa about the issue and they have been supportive, but I wanted to share this pic with the forum nonetheless:


Click the thumbnail image for a HUGE pic.

So, what are those pointy tips at the end of the pins? Also worth noting, due to some build up of (??), this tube is difficult to wiggle into any of the appropriate slots.

Does this tube look defective?

Here's another ridiculously large image:

 

[94Tremoverb]

It's fine, but rather badly made. I've been seeing this quite often on tubes recently. The pointy bits are the ends of the wires from the tube itself (the glass bottle) which are inserted down inside the actual pins, which are hollow, and soldered. Usually the wire ends are cropped off much neater than that before soldering so the solder covers the end completely and you can't see the wire.

Check that none of the wires is loose within the pins - just the other day I had a faulty EL34 where the filament was going on and off, and it turned out to be a cold solder joint just there, and I was actually able to fix the tube just be re-soldering it. Obviously the children working in the factory are not being supervised properly any more...

 

[arvee72]

It's fine, but rather badly made. I've been seeing this quite often on tubes recently. The pointy bits are the ends of the wires from the tube itself (the glass bottle) which are inserted down inside the actual pins, which are hollow, and soldered. Usually the wire ends are cropped off much neater than that before soldering so the solder covers the end completely and you can't see the wire.

Check that none of the wires is loose within the pins - just the other day I had a faulty EL34 where the filament was going on and off, and it turned out to be a cold solder joint just there, and I was actually able to fix the tube just be re-soldering it. Obviously the children working in the factory are not being supervised properly any more...

Thanks for the reply 94Trem.

I received an email from Mesa as well stating that the tube is fine.