Old Mesa STR440 6CA7 El34 for Mark IIB

[Dutchman]

Anyone know who made these. STR440 el34 6CA7

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=190264146042&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=009

I was hoping for Big Bottles :shock: but I'm guessing they are Chinese, I needed a set of matched spares anyhow.

Any info appreciated.

Thanks

 

[jonarobb]

Chinese

 

[boogietone]

I thought STR440's were 6L6's.

 

[Dutchman]

Yup the current STR 440's are Chinese 6L6's

Janarobb, can you give me a heads up on the tone of these tubes????

I contacted Boogie and they are trying to figure out what they are also.
The rep said he had only heard of one other set, so he's checking.

I'll let you know.

Big Bottles.....Big Bottles.....Big Bottles, come on Big Bottles!!!

 

[dancullinane]

I think they are chinese. I have them in my mark IV, they are not great but not the worst either.

 

[Boogiebabies]

Still Chinese from the photo and small bottles. The only big bottle's available during the early 90's were NOS Phillips or GE 6CA7's. Until recently, you could get GT 6CA7 GE's or EH 6CA7's. Today, real NOS big bottle's or Fat Boy's will run you $220 a pair new.

 

[jonarobb]

Yup the current STR 440's are Chinese 6L6's

Janarobb, can you give me a heads up on the tone of these tubes????

I contacted Boogie and they are trying to figure out what they are also.
The rep said he had only heard of one other set, so he's checking.

I'll let you know.

Big Bottles.....Big Bottles.....Big Bottles, come on Big Bottles!!!

Yeah, the first STR 440's were in fact Chinese EL34's. Roughly 1988-1990. Mesa subsequently recycled the STR 440 tag on some other Chinese 6L6 type tube.

At the time the STR 416's were drying up so Mesa was forced to source some others out. In my opinion they couldn't have made a worse choice. They're some of the most inferior and poor sounding tubes on the planet. They are the 6L6 rejects that because of production variances didn't have the guts to idle in the 6L6GC range. Rather than throw them in the garbage which is where they belong they were relabled EL34/6CA7 and sold worldwide. They're about the farthest thing from an EL34 possible and share absolutely no similarities whatsoever with a 6CA7....

 

[jonarobb]

Here's 2 auctions to grab/watch...

http://cgi.ebay.com/EL34-VALVE-VINTAGE-SYLVANNIA-6CA7-EL34-US-EVO-TEST-G_W0QQitemZ380077981213QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item380077981213&_trkparms=72%3A1234%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

http://cgi.ebay.com/Match-Pair-USA-Sylvania-6CA7-EL34-Fat-Boy-Tubes-Welded_W0QQitemZ220303597752QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item220303597752&_trkparms=72%3A1234%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

 

[Dutchman]

At the time the STR 416's were drying up so Mesa was forced to source some others out. In my opinion they couldn't have made a worse choice. They're some of the most inferior and poor sounding tubes on the planet. They are the 6L6 rejects that because of production variances didn't have the guts to idle in the 6L6GC range. Rather than throw them in the garbage which is where they belong they were relabled EL34/6CA7 and sold worldwide. They're about the farthest thing from an EL34 possible and share absolutely no similarities whatsoever with a 6CA7....

That would explain the larger bottle like a 5881.

I guess they go back on flea bay then. I had high hopes for awhile, but I knew it was a risk.

Thanks for the help everyone and the heads up on the Sylvania 6CA7's they're mine now :twisted:

 

[JOEY B.]

Check those Sylvania "fat bastards" for microphonics when you get them. They can be noisy in a combo.

 

[Dutchman]

Thanks for the heads up Joey, much appreciated.

 

[MrMarkIII]

They are the 6L6 rejects that because of production variances didn't have the guts to idle in the 6L6GC range. Rather than throw them in the garbage which is where they belong they were relabled EL34/6CA7 and sold worldwide. They're about the farthest thing from an EL34 possible and share absolutely no similarities whatsoever with a 6CA7....

Found some more..
Sure look like EL-34s, though, not 6L6s.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Mesa-Boogie-EL34-amp-tubes-STR-440-4-Matched-set-6CA7_W0QQitemZ110309423873QQihZ001QQcategoryZ10171QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[kidred]

I just bought Brian Stoltz' 1974 Music Man HD 212 130. It has four Mesa power tubes labeled str 440 and at the top el34/6ca7. It looks like I should change them.
kid red

 

[stephen sawall]

Yup the current STR 440's are Chinese 6L6's

Janarobb, can you give me a heads up on the tone of these tubes????

I contacted Boogie and they are trying to figure out what they are also.
The rep said he had only heard of one other set, so he's checking.

I'll let you know.

Big Bottles.....Big Bottles.....Big Bottles, come on Big Bottles!!!

Yeah, the first STR 440's were in fact Chinese EL34's. Roughly 1988-1990. Mesa subsequently recycled the STR 440 tag on some other Chinese 6L6 type tube.

At the time the STR 416's were drying up so Mesa was forced to source some others out. In my opinion they couldn't have made a worse choice. They're some of the most inferior and poor sounding tubes on the planet. They are the 6L6 rejects that because of production variances didn't have the guts to idle in the 6L6GC range. Rather than throw them in the garbage which is where they belong they were relabled EL34/6CA7 and sold worldwide. They're about the farthest thing from an EL34 possible and share absolutely no similarities whatsoever with a 6CA7....

Where did you get this information ?

 

[Silverwulf]

Epic bump, old topic I know. I was digging through tubes I had and ran across a quad of the Mesa STR 440 EL34/6CA7's. Tossed them in the Roadster, and they actually sound pretty good to me in that amp.