"They're Off" - in more ways than one-- 275s on the Way

[thughes]

I have shipped my two MC 275's to Jdandy and Two.dot via UPS Ground. I live in the south western tip of Indiana on the Ohio River. Jdandy's 275 left my location headed north to Indianapolis on its way to Florida. It's now in Cinncinnati. I can't imagine going that way to get to Florida. If there are any AA members in Ohio, keep a look out for Jdandy's 275. You may have to fetch it for him.

Two.dot's 275 is going to Santa Barbara, CA, near LA. It's now in the Chicago area. Someone may have to retrieve his too.

Jdandy is schedluled for Thursday delivery, Two. dot for Friday. Will they make it?

[jdandy]

Terry.......The amps will make it, even if they have to go around the horn.

I remember from my contracting days the same thing routinely happened to me with air filghts from one project to another. At one point I had seven projects going simultaniously (fiber optic relay stations) in Mobile, AL, Montgomery, AL, Nashville, TN, Chatanooga, TN, Augusta, GA, Richmond, VA, and Evansville, IN. These were accelerated schedule projects, so I was flying seven days a week, spending the day at each job site, and flying at night to the next project. No matter which city I was in, I had to fly through Atlanta to get to the final destination. It always seemed so rediculous to me to be in Mobile, flying to Montgomery late in the day, and having to go to Atlanta, and change planes just to get to Montgomery, which is only 170 miles from Mobile up Interstate 65. It was crazy, but I always made it. It was said, you can't go to heaven or hell without going through Atlanta. I don't miss those 16 hour days, seven days a week. I am so happy to be retired with all of that behind me.

[two dot]

Dan,

I used to be on a similar travel schedule... always going through "hotlanta"

At least back then the flight attendents were cute...

I wish that I could retire like you and sit in my chair and listen to the McIntosh tubes and PMC.

A big thanks to TERRY for getting OUR amps out so quickly.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by two dot

A big thanks to TERRY for getting OUR amps out so quickly.

A BIG +1 on that.

[jdandy]

Sweet. The Gold Lion KT88 power tubes, and the Philips 12AT7 driver tubes for the MC275 amp just arrived. It's all coming together nicely.

[two dot]

Dan,

I know you love the Gold Lions...

But, I am really looking forward to hearing the "Pentas" that Terry replaced the original McIntosh tubes with.

Do you have any experience with this tube?

[thughes]

Since Evasnville, IN is my home, I'm familiar with the pain of flight from here. I have flown out of here to Atlanta to go to Denver and other points west.

[jdandy]

Stephen.......I have heard the Penta KT88 tubes in a used MC2102 I listened to last year. They sounded good, but then I didn't have anything to compare them with. They are a Chinese tube manufactured in the Shuguang factory in China. They are suppose to be a copy of the old Genelex KT88, but who knows how accurate the copy is. There are many important aspects to tube design beside the shape of plates and envelopes, metallurgy being one of the most important aspects, and that information isn't just given away. I will say, the Penta tubes seem to enjoy a decent reputation.

I instructed Terry to keep the Penta KT88's that were in my amp. I'll play with the stock McIntosh tubes, and the Mullard small tubes he is sending, but will ultimately install the Gold Lion KT88 power tubes, Philips 12AT7 tubes, and probably Tung-Sol 12AX7 tubes since the Philips 12AX7WA tubes seem difficult to locate. I have four brand new Tung-Sol 12AX7 tubes that I had played with in my C2300 and liked, so I will use them in the MC275 inverter sockets. Of course, if the Mullards sound better, I will keep those in the amp.

Tube rolling is one of the fun aspects of tube amps and preamps. You just don't want to go off the deep end buying and trying everything out there. It gets expensive, and you are left with a slew of tubes you may not prefer to use.

[thughes]

While I was moving things around to pack the 275s, I found that I had a set of Philips ATs and Tung Sol Ax's for one 275. I had them in the amp Stephen has with the Pentas. When I bought the second amp, I used all McIntoshes before I bought the Mullards and another set of Pentas.

I had forgotten that I had the Philips and Tung Sols.

[jdandy]

Terry.......That's amazing that you were using the same small tube compliment I'm planning on using. Small world. Hang on to them. You never know when another tube amp may enter your home.