Mesa 5AR4 / GZ34

[domct203]

Anybody know who the supplier is?

I think the only current production ones are JJ, Shuguang, & Sovtek

Dom

 

[stokes]

At one time it was a Chinese production,but it is possible they changed suppliers.In any case a good NOS would be a better choice.

 

[212Mavguy]

+1

Spend the money, get a vintage old stock tube. Can't go wrong with Mullard for VOS. The newer stuff is not of the quality that is found in the vintage stuff. Does not have to be an unused NOS tube.

 

[domct203]

I hear you both on the Vintage tube. I've been watching the 'bay' for a few weeks now myself, but with some of those prices I'll have to wait until after the holidays so the wife don't kick me out :shock:

I figured they were chinese, and was curious to see what Mesa's markup was. Mesa is asking $22 each, and I see chinese (Shuguang) versions for $11-13.

Dom

 

[stokes]

Back in the late '80's the chinese were actually re-labeling 5Y3's as 5AR4's.Imagine how fast a cheapo 5Y3 fried in a 5AR4 circuit.Like Mav says,even a used quality tube will outlast any of the new crap.I would not even be too concerned with brand just look for the vintage.I picked up a couple of used Internationals from the '60's or '70's that are actually Mullards- $25 for the pair.One has been going strong for about 2-1/2 years now.Performance is identical to an unused old Amperex I have.

 

[LerxstLee]

These are nice . A tad expensive but N.o.s. of these are getting hard to get .

http://kcanostubes.com/products/148/NOS-GE-5AR4-GZ34.htm

A 5y3 can be had for 18 bucks ge N.O.S.

 

[stokes]

They can be found for much less.Dont try to use that 5Y3 in place of a 5AR4,it wont last very long.

 

[domct203]

They can be found for much less.

+1000

$90 each :shock: f32 Mullards can be had for less than half that.

Dom

 

[LerxstLee]

These are nice . A tad expensive but N.o.s. of these are getting hard to get .

http://kcanostubes.com/products/148/NOS-GE-5AR4-GZ34.htm

A 5y3 can be had for 18 bucks ge N.O.S.

They can be had for less surely . I am not selling tubes , simply trying to help .
My point of the 5Y3 is simply how cheap they can be had .GZs are more desirable thus more expensive in general .
I think we already agreed never use a 5y3 in a gz34 spot , vice versa sometimes gives less sag .
I would rather pay $50 and get what I paid for , then pay $25 and hope I get something . thus ebay

-1

 

[stokes]

Of course ebay has its risks,but I have gotten a load of very good tubes from ebay,with very few dissapointments.I have a very large supply of NOS tubes,and no,I dont sell them either,and I havent paid close to what KCA or any of the other suppliers charge.You have to be willing to get out there and search.Most rectifier tubes are a pretty safe bet,even from ebay,I've never gotten a bad one there.Your power and preamp tubes are a different story and you have to be wise to the way a seller presents them and expect to cull out some less than ideal specimens.

 

[droptrd]

I would asume they are Shuguang, since most of the other mesa tubes are from that factory. I will say this, a couple years ago i broke one and picked a sovtek replacement. The mesa rectifier tube was way better than the sovtek. So it is safe to say that they are not new sensor sovtek reflektor made tubes.