best replacement tube for 7199 in old Ampegs?

[pula58]

I'm working on an old Ampeg Gemini (G12) for a friend. The phase-inverter tube is shot, it's a 7199 pentode/triode.

That tube is no longer made, and I don't want to pay NOS prices.

So, what is the most commonly used replacement in these ampegs? I realize I may need to do a little socket rewiring.

I have seen some mention of using a 6U8 tube, and also a 6GH8A.

Any ideas would be appreciated!
P.

[ToneMerc]

I'm working on an old Ampeg Gemini (G12) for a friend. The phase-inverter tube is shot, it's a 7199 pentode/triode.

That tube is no longer made, and I don't want to pay NOS prices.

So, what is the most commonly used replacement in these ampegs? I realize I may need to do a little socket rewiring.

I have seen some mention of using a 6U8 tube, and also a 6G8HA.

Any ideas would be appreciated!
P.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/7199-6GH8-Tube- ... 2560339df5

TM

[selloutrr]

No direct sub, but a 6AN8 is the exact same tube as a 7199, just a different pin out.

[gary sanders]

I think I have a few 6G8HA pulls.Old GE ones.Let me know if you need one

[Structo]

Yeah, since that is half pentode and half triode it makes finding a substitute difficult.

[renshen1957]

I'm working on an old Ampeg Gemini (G12) for a friend. The phase-inverter tube is shot, it's a 7199 pentode/triode.

That tube is no longer made, and I don't want to pay NOS prices.

So, what is the most commonly used replacement in these ampegs? I realize I may need to do a little socket rewiring.

I have seen some mention of using a 6U8 tube, and also a 6G8HA.

Any ideas would be appreciated!
P.

Hi


7199 - Triode - Pentode 7199 Substitution

You can substitute the following tubes in place of a 7199 tube with a 6BL8, 6EA8, 6U8, or 6KD8 provided that you make the following wiring changes to your socket:

Move wire from pin 2 to pin 6, pin 6 to pin 7, and pin 7 to pin 2

6BL8/6LN8 - Triode - Pentode runs about $6.10 or less.

Two 6gh8A tubes and socket adapters $35.00

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Two-6GH8A-7199- ... 1e69996e08

Or AES has the tube for $35.00 not as big a hit to the pocket book as some NOS Tubes. CE Dist. (wholesale arm of AES) charges the same price.

Sovtek 7199 was about $15.95 but New Sensor took it out of production. To quote their website "Sovtek Discontinued. Use 6U8A JAN Philips as a subsititute. "


Best Regards,

Steve

[renshen1957]

I'm working on an old Ampeg Gemini (G12) for a friend. The phase-inverter tube is shot, it's a 7199 pentode/triode.

That tube is no longer made, and I don't want to pay NOS prices.

So, what is the most commonly used replacement in these ampegs? I realize I may need to do a little socket rewiring.

I have seen some mention of using a 6U8 tube, and also a 6GH8A.

Any ideas would be appreciated!
P.

Hi,

I found these NOS Sovtek tubes http://tubedepot.com/7199.html for $16.00

[pula58]

I'm working on an old Ampeg Gemini (G12) for a friend. The phase-inverter tube is shot, it's a 7199 pentode/triode.

That tube is no longer made, and I don't want to pay NOS prices.

So, what is the most commonly used replacement in these ampegs? I realize I may need to do a little socket rewiring.

I have seen some mention of using a 6U8 tube, and also a 6GH8A.

Any ideas would be appreciated!
P.

Hi,

I found these NOS Sovtek tubes http://tubedepot.com/7199.html for $16.00

I looked, they are not actually available.

[rdjones]

I'm working on an old Ampeg Gemini (G12) for a friend. The phase-inverter tube is shot, it's a 7199 pentode/triode.

That tube is no longer made, and I don't want to pay NOS prices.

So, what is the most commonly used replacement in these ampegs? I realize I may need to do a little socket rewiring.

I have seen some mention of using a 6U8 tube, and also a 6GH8A.

Any ideas would be appreciated!
P.

Without making an analysis of the cost and availability of recent production vs NOS or "good used" ...

Sunn changed from the 7199 that was used in their original designs (Dynaco circuit) to the 6AN8.
6AN8 is also used in a few other guitar amps.

My first instinct might be to convert to the 6AN8 wiring pinout, but like the 7199, 6AN8 is the only common 6 volt tube with it's base pinout.

The 6U8 base pinout is shared with a number of other 6 volt tubes including 6GH8.
http://www.nj7p.org/Common/Tube/SQL/Tub ... p?base=9AE
This will give you some choices for "rolling" if you want to spend time doing that.

The 7199 was designed from the start as a high spec audio tube.
A replacement tube type might not perform quite as well in terms of noise and microphonics but as a driver/inverter this should be a lesser concern.

rd

[selloutrr]

I canthelp but think if you want the amp to sound correct $18-50 for a nos tube is just the cost of owning this amp. You are in it at least that amount if you consider bench time to rewire the socket. Since the tube is specialized and low noise / microphonics the possible replacements are of a lower quality. It's one of those times you just have to pay up and admire the fact it's correct.

[RightLurker]

Antique Electronics Supply (tubesandmore.com) sells plug-in converter that allows you to substitute a 6GH8A for the 7199. They sell the converter for about $20, I think. Just search "7199" on their page and you'll find it.

[cobalt]

I've bought tubes from this guy before.



http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-NOS-Sylvania- ... 3f11ecfdcb

good luck!
weirddave

[crbowman]

I know this is an old thread but just saw it and thought I'd pass this along.
about 20 years ago I asked a local tech this same question. His reply was that he didn't know of a direct plug-in substitute but he gave me a number for a tech that he said "knows more about Ampegs than just about anyone" so I call the guy.
It was Ken Fischer!
So I'm talking to Ken and he says 'what's wrong with using a 7199?'
I tell him the cheapest one I can find is NOS for $45.00.
Ken hit's the roof.
'Fourty five bucks! Are you kidding me!' (with thick Jersey accent)' That's fricken highway robbery! Holy.......fourty five bucks!!!......' voice trails away and I can hear him rummaging around.
'Nah, you gotta use a 7199. I've got one here I'll give you for five bucks. Just send me a money order or something OK?'
Three days later I get a really nice old Sylvaina 7199 pull courtesy of Ken Fischer.
Nicest guy ever.

[skyboltone]

Get a NOS. The tube will last for years.

[tictac]

With plenty of good sounding 6GH8A, 6BL8/6U8 tubes available there's no reason to use 7199's unless you really want to pay more...

H.H. Scott amps briefly used 7199's in their amp but quickly switched to the 6GH8A, 6BL8/6U8 family of tubes and used them in mosts of their tube amps from that point on....

my .02

TT