NOS RFT Siemens (TGL9649) - Ebay Vendor

[Braciola]

Just bought these from ebay yesterday.
They will be going to Greg Germino to install in a HR100 Super Lead that he is building for me.
These look like the better ones from the 70's, and the seller seems honest and legit.

Anybody have any experience with this vendor?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&hash=item45f8b1fb84&item=30 0525157252&nma=true&pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&rt=n c&si=XZdgmwi01N%252FWiT3oL6sRUhG%252FJ5o%253D


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[Timbre Wolf]

It's too late to ask for references, since you've already made the transaction. The testing seems legit. The only red flag I see it that there is nothing "Telefunken" about those tubes - that name is dropped for chicanery only. Seller feedback is excellent, and you'll have your turn to speak up in that regard.

Enjoy your tubes!

- T

[Braciola]

Originally Posted by Timbre Wolf

It's too late to ask for references, since you've already made the transaction. The testing seems legit. The only red flag I see it that there is nothing "Telefunken" about those tubes - that name is dropped for chicanery only. Seller feedback is excellent, and you'll have your turn to speak up in that regard.

Enjoy your tubes!

- T

Thanks Timbre Wolf,

I was hoping you would reply.
When it comes to tubes, you are the most knowledgeable member I have run across here on TGP.

Yeah, I thought about asking before I made the purchase, but then I thought, if someone else looking for these sees them, I might loose the tubes to someone here biding before I did.

So, what do you think of these tubes sonically?

[Timbre Wolf]

Originally Posted by Braciola

So, what do you think of these tubes sonically?

Thanks for the kind words!

Funny - as I was reading through your response, I was thinking that the world of tube lore is much too vast for any one individual to be an expert. And I can think of others from whom I've learned (Jeff West, Rockon1, to name two) and similarly appreciate them. Now you've asked me about these RFT EL34, and I have to say - I have no experience with them I wouldn't have bought them out from underneath you, though - that wouldn't be fair play.

I only use EL34 in single-ended mode in my Victoria Regal II. I've tried a few types, and have learned that I prefer '50s Sittard or Brussels/MBLE Philips ("Amperex") over Mullard Xf1 or Xf2. Lots of others like RFT EL34, and I will gladly abdicate to their expertise...

- Thom

[jcs]

The best RFT EL34 are the early 60s versions but the later versions are decent tubes and fairly easy to find.

I always match my tubes for current draw in an amp at full operating volts, i am not sure that is the case with these tubes.

Measuring for transconductance / mutual conductance /grid emission in a tube tester doesnt tell you how much current each tube is pulling at idle unless you have a maxi matcher which will measure current draw at operating volts.

[Braciola]

Thanks guys

[EuroCool]

RFT= Radio France Television

[Braciola]

Originally Posted by EuroCool

RFT= Radio France Television

oh la la!

[Timbre Wolf]

Funny...

I always thought this East German company was named Rundfunk- und Fernmelde-Technik. I wonder where I got that impression?

- T

[rockon1]

RFT steht als Abkürzung für:

• Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française, frühere Bezeichnung des französischen Fernsehsenders TF1
• Relational Frame Theory, eine psychologische Theorie, siehe Bezugsrahmentheorie,
• RFT Brandenburg/Havel ein deutscher Kabelnetzbetreiber
• Rich-Field-Teleskop, eine Teleskopart
• Run Flat Tire, Reifen mit Notlaufeigenschaften
• Rundfunk- und Fernmelde-Technik, ein Herstellerverbund von verschiedenen Unternehmen der Nachrichtentechnik in der DDR
• Request for Transfer (RfT), Auftragsart aus dem ZKA-Standard für elektronischen Zahlungsverkehr (EBICS)

[EuroCool]

I've been taught by my "tube guru"*** in my teenage years that RFT was a branding put on tubes bought for the french TV & radio company who had the entire monopole of broadcasting here, from 49 until 1981 .
So, several RFT eL34s or ECC83s I had or listened to were Blackburn' Mullards for the oldest I saw, west german & Nederlands Telefunken and Philips made in the 70's... and the most commonly found, Siemens in the late 70's/early 80's.
So, in brief, RFT tubes are from differents manufacturers, depending from eras & type as far as I know.

*** thanks to M. Guy Thomas, I own him a lot...

Originally Posted by Braciola

oh la la!

[Timbre Wolf]

Originally Posted by EuroCool

So, in brief, RFT tubes are from differents manufacturers, depending from eras & type as far as I know.

That would be RSD*, not RFT. Check it out...

- Thom

*RSD was a German re-brander (like Ultron). To further confuse us, they put their label on many RFT tubes, as well as Telefunken, Siemens, Tungsram, and even British Mullard and Brimar tubes. But they also re-branded less desirable tubes, so you have to look inside the glass to truly identify the origin of an RSD-labeled tube. This is much the same as the "National" branded tubes, which seem to originate anywhere and everywhere.

[dsmc80]

I've bought from him twice before and it has been no issue at all. Prompt shipping etc. However, I bought some EL34's and a few other things about 2 1/2 weeks ago and I haven't seen anything yet. That said, in his shipping information it advises that the USA customs have recently changed how packages from Bulgaria are screened and there is additional time added to the shipment delivery because of this. In any case, I should have my tubes before you (the 34's I'm getting are early 60's RFTs) so I'll let you know how they test and sound in my equipment.

[SReynolds]

Can some of you EL34 aficionados post what current production tube is closet to NOS, lets say the Mullard single/double getters. I've got a feeling the answer is none of them, but man these nos are getting astronomical. I hade a set of Grove tubes EL34m's in an amp I got from Dominick and I thought they were pretty darn good. I'm currently running Winged C's but I swear those M's sounded better but we all know how that memory stuff goes.
Congrads on your Germino build Dominick, Greg builds a great amp. Right now the Lead 55s my favorite but I need to try one like your having built, that could change.

[soulohio]

I pulled Electro Harmonix EL34's from a 90's Orange OR120 and replaced them with some expensive brown base Siemans EL34's and after playing the amp for awhile decided I needed my head examined for spending the money. The EH tubes are fine in that circuit.