Tube Assistance Please

[Yamaki]

I have an elderly friend who is quite the music aficionado.

He has an absolutely beautiful MC275. Everything appears to work, the unit is pristine and it's obvious it has been well cared for. It's also obvious it hasn't had a new pair of tubes in quite some time.

He's mentioned to me more than once that he misses how good this amplifier sounded.

Unfortunately, he's on a fixed income and getting new, good quality, tubes is not something he can afford.

So...I have a wild idea. I'd like to do something nice for my friend and fix him up with a new set of tubes on the power and signal side.

However, this is where my audio expertise is sorely lacking. I have no idea what to get or where to get it and that's what I need your help with.

He did mention he really liked a KT88 power tube and some Teles (I assume he means Telefunken) on the signal side.

Does anyone here have ANY idea what is needed, how many are needed and some sources?

I'll eventually have to learn more about tubes if I follow through with adding a McIntosh tube pre-amp to my system but for now, I'm focused on helping my friend enjoy his music once again.

Once I find what is needed and price them out, I'll see what I can do.

Thanks for any and all assistance in pointing me in the right direction!

[Now Slappy]

I'm new to the whole tube game myself( just bought two MC2301's from Dario), but if it helps out I have an extra complete set of tubes for the 2301's. I have no idea if they use the same tubes or not, but if the are hit me up and we'll get your friend taken care of. For the record, they are the factory tubes, Dario installed the upgraded Gold Lyons in the 2301's.

[Yamaki]

The unit takes 4 KT88 power tubes, 3 12AX7's and 4 12AT7 style tubes. That is a full replacement set for the power & signal sides.

I found a "premium" replacement kit comprised of all Genalex Gold Lion tubes for $545.

Time for some crowd funding!

[Toobs]

Michael
I don't think he could go wrong with Gold Lions. I plan on getting that exact same kit for my Mc275 VI

[Yamaki]

Thanks for the vote of of confidence, Bob!

[Mikado463]

Michael, while Gold Lions are a excellent choice, given your friends 'elderly' status you could substitute some JJ's , ElctroHarmonics save yourself some $$ and I doubt very much if his advanced hearing (or loss thereof) would ever know the difference !

[jdandy]

Michael.......I'll cast my vote for a full compliment of Gold Lion tubes. The KT88's are manufactured in Russia at the New Sensor factory. Be sure to specify gold pins on the Gold Lion 12AX7 and 12AT7 tubes. These are also manufactured in Russia. The non-gold pin small tubes from Gold Lion are manufactured in China. I can recommend you check out BnB Tubes. I have been purchasing my Gold Lion tubes from them for years. They have good pricing and fast shipping. They now have an Amazon store: http://www.amazon.com/gp/node/index....&redirect=true

BnB sells the Gold Lion KT88 tubes on their eBay store with free shipping at a great price for a quad. Copy and paste this web address into your browser: ebay.com/bhp/gold-lion-kt88

That is a really great gesture on your part to help this aging friend out like this. Much respect from me to you for doing this.

[Yamaki]

Originally Posted by Mikado463

Michael, while Gold Lions are a excellent choice, given your friends 'elderly' status you could substitute some JJ's , ElctroHarmonics save yourself some $$ and I doubt very much if his advanced hearing (or loss thereof) would ever know the difference !

Thanks for the tip, Dave! Fortunately, or unfortunately if you consider the impact on my wallet , his hearing has not seemed to diminish as quickly as the rest of his physical being. I've tested some different upgrades to cables on his sytem and he hears the difference and accurately describes what he hears. Good for him! Bad for me!!! LOL

So I'll get the best I can for his MC275 and let him enjoy the last of the music days he has in front of him.

[Yamaki]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Michael.......I'll cast my vote for a full compliment of Gold Lion tubes. The KT88's are manufactured in Russia at the New Sensor factory. Be sure to specify gold pins on the Gold Lion 12AX7 and 12AT7 tubes. These are also manufactured in Russia. The non-gold pin small tubes from Gold Lion are manufactured in China. I can recommend you check out BnB Tubes. I have been purchasing my Gold Lion tubes from them for years. They have good pricing and fast shipping. They now have an Amazon store: http://www.amazon.com/gp/node/index....&redirect=true

BnB sells the Gold Lion KT88 tubes on their eBay store with free shipping at a great price for a quad. Copy and paste this web address into your browser: ebay.com/bhp/gold-lion-kt88

Dan...thanks for much for the source info! I found their amazon store and they certainly do have great prices. No eBay store to be found at that link so I went to their website and their eBay store link there is empty as well. So I emailed them for a matched quad of KT88's.

Originally Posted by jdandy

That is a really great gesture on your part to help this aging friend out like this. Much respect from me to you for doing this.

awww shucks...'tis nuthin'... I want him to enjoy his the last of his music to the fullest extent. He's been a bit of a mentor to me and I cherish our friendship.

[jdandy]

Michael.......Try pasting this web address into your browser: ebay.com/itm/Four-Quad-Factory-Platinum-Matched-Genalex-Gold-Lion-KT88-Tube-Set-BRAND-NEW-/161223990576
This is another good tube vendor on eBay.