This is just a story for all of you, especially you toobies: About 2-3 weeks ago, a forum member asked me "How long does a Russian 5AR4 last?". Well, I had one in my #2 Dynaco St70, and it hadn't died yet. "Should last QUITE a while. I've never seen a 5AR4 go." Famous last words. That night, I noticed some crackling in my #2. Might be the tuner, but with my Foreplay on my CD, same thing. It stopped. I turned the sucker off and went to bed. The next night, I turned the amp on and got nothing. FFFFTTT! Fuse! Hmm. I go down to Rat Shack to get another Slo-Blow pak. FFFFTTT! It blows again. (Explitive deleted). This time I take it down. I notice with a 3rd fuse, the baby lights up, and stays steady, but I get no reading. Not even a smidge. (wha??). Took the 5AR4 off and looked at it. If a fuse blows on a Dynaco, almost every time, the 5AR4 is almost always at fault. I took the Mullard off the #1 and took it to the #2 for a temporary time. Bingo. Sucker lit, and I got plate. This Mullard is over 30 years old. My Russian SOVTEK was umm.... 8 months old. (I noticed also that the Mullard did some large ammounts of warmth to the sound). I ended up telling Steve. "I've not had ONE 5AR4 blow, ever." he wrote back, and confirmed my thoughts. So, I wrote back to this forum member: "You won't beleieve this, but MY Sovtek 5AR4 just gassed too. You are a jinx. Thanks a lot....-Sckott" He wrote back; "No way! Geez I'm sorry!" Well, you know who you are, but I hope all is well. Friends don't tell friends their tube gassed.
Hey Sckott, Hmmm, I've got about 1.5 years on my Sovtek 5AR4 (also in a Stereo 70). Guess I'm "living on the edge" and had better start shopping for a new 5AR4 before it's too late! Otherwise, I'm stuck listening to SS! God forbid! :-o Thanks, Kevin
Spend $60 on a Mullard GZ34/5AR4. The tube will be a big difference and will possibly still work long after we all get old. I got some more Sovteks to get me by until I can get down to the MIT yard sales this spring. Sure to find one there....! Good luck to you, as well....!