As if there weren't enough reasons to love the Shindo Cortese already

[Alberto]

I don't need to repeat how much in audio-love I am with my Shindo Cortese. I can't imagine what would take its place. But here's another bonus: I play it an average of 4 hours/day (more weekdays less week-ends) ... and I've been doing so for 3 years ... ON THE SAME SET OF TUBES!

4 hours/day * 365 * 3 ~= 4 * 1,000 ~= 4,000 hours ... and the F2s are going as strong as ever!

I am about 40% into the conservative life of the F2s (10,000 hours) but some people/reviews are saying that they can easily go to 50,000hrs.

In the past, with other power tubes, I was watching my usage and worrying about using them up to quickly ... saving them for "special occasions". But on many days, I turn on the Cortese after breakfast and turn it off before dinner. Heck, I even use it to listen to Pandora.

Bottom line, even if the F2 tubes may be a bit expensive ($4-500/pair?) and not too easily available, even at the lower end of the range (10,000hrs) their cost comes to $0.05/hr.

Sounds fantastic and low-maintenance. Can't ask for more!

Alberto

[PHC1]

Alberto, I still have a NOS sealed in a box F2a tubes but my Cortese is now gone. Let me know if you ever need them. Probably not for a long time my friend

[Alberto]

Originally Posted by PHC1

Alberto, I still have a NOS sealed in a box F2a tubes but my Cortese is now gone. Let me know if you ever need them. Probably not for a long time my friend

Thank you Serge. I appreciate that. I have spare pair too, but at this rate we'll both be really hard of hearing and probably senile before we need them :-).

I posted this because it just hit me today that this is the first time in owning a lot of tube gear that I am not "babying" my amp or worrying about leaving it on all day.

Alberto

[arbitrary]

Originally Posted by Alberto

Thank you Serge. I appreciate that. I have spare pair too, but at this rate we'll both be really hard of hearing and probably senile before we need them :-).

I posted this because it just hit me today that this is the first time in owning a lot of tube gear that I am not "babying" my amp or worrying about leaving it on all day.

Alberto

But your worry eventually came !

[Freestone]

Originally Posted by PHC1

Alberto, I still have a NOS sealed in a box F2a tubes but my Cortese is now gone. Let me know if you ever need them. Probably not for a long time my friend

I do worry about replacing we 300b's ...and the price...

[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by Freestone

I do worry about replacing we 300b's ...and the price...

I guess Shindo must have a few of them for the WE300B owners. Apart from Shindo, they are almost impossible to find.
The GL reissue are amazingly good BTW. Shindo chose them for the D'Yquem amps. And I tried a pair in my 300B preamp. They are terrific and do not cost a fortune.

[kev313]

Originally Posted by Jerome W

I guess Shindo must have a few of them for the WE300B owners. Apart from Shindo, they are almost impossible to find. The GL reissue are amazingly good BTW. Shindo chose them for the D'Yquem amps. And I tried a pair in my 300B preamp. They are terrific and do not cost a fortune.

I can apply this statement to many things, I suppose.....but I am kicking myself for not sticking up on WE tubes when they were "affordable" 10 years ago.

Of course, I thought they were pricey then, but, wow, have they gone up!

[arbitrary]

Originally Posted by Jerome W

I guess Shindo must have a few of them for the WE300B owners. Apart from Shindo, they are almost impossible to find.
The GL reissue are amazingly good BTW. Shindo chose them for the D'Yquem amps. And I tried a pair in my 300B preamp. They are terrific and do not cost a fortune.

I ended up buying a matched pair of 1950’s 300b’s - for way too much $$$

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by arbitrary

I ended up buying a matched pair of 1950’s 300b’s - for way too much $$$

In case you are not aware the 300B is once again available from Western Electric. IMHO it is the BEST way to get into the 300B without risk of purchasing unknown history tubes for ludicrous amount of money. https://www.westernelectric.com/

[JPrest]

No worries brother, I have a dozen or so. By the way they only average $125-$175 new, it's not that they are rare, just not used in many applications.

Trying to figure out where else I can retrofit some. The F2A is Vf 6.3 Volts / If 2 Ampere vs KT88 Vf 6.3 Volts / If 1.6 Ampere.

So glad You are happy with your system.