Tube sockets?

[CaseyJones]

I primarily salvage sockets from mil-spec gear and use those, vintage Cinch or Eby sockets beat any new production hands down.

My latest antique radio show score was a 1958 oscilloscope, real "rocket science" stuff... it was built to calibrate ICBMs and tube avionics, it is truly over the top and nearly bomb proof. All the electrolytics are dried up and who cares? because I'm here for THE PARTS. Most of the sockets are minis and they're all Cinch bakelite with silver plated contacts. Worth the time to de-solder. Some of the shield bases are attached with the machine screws that mount the sockets to the frame, very cool. Even more cool is that about half of the sockets have a little "Christmas Tree" bakelite terminal strip sprouting from the middle, one could literally wire an entire amp without any components anywhere but on the sockets. I haven't seen those sockets except in one position out of many on old HP frequency counters. Cool find!

Oh yeah, I also have a pulse generator build by the same manufacturer and again, it's built like a tank. It has Cinch ceramic octals. I'm keepin' quiet about the manufacturer, if you want to buy your parts at AES or Angela suit yourself. I like high quality salvage and this is it.

While the quality of imported sockets has risen to almost acceptable I had a bad experience with cheap imported sockets years ago, I won't use 'em. Considering the time involved in wiring an amp I can't imagine why anyone would try to save money by using some of the new sockets.

[Mickey_C]

Micalex with the tube sheild bases on noval preamp tubes, ceramic on noval power tubes and rectifiers, and micalex on the octals.

Occasionally I get the solder wicking problem too, maybe every 3 or 4 amps I get a pin that's plugged. Total PITA. I ditched my Hakko system and now have a weller wd1 and desoldering station too... so they fix up easy enough now.

I suspect the wicking's because I heat the socket too long.

[Alexo]

Anybody else have their tubes crack after being put into a new socket? I've had this happen on a couple amps with a couple different sockets, I lost some real gems this way. It can take an hour or over night but you'll hear a little tinkle and the next thing you know you'll see the barium has turned white from oxidation, f'n sucks. No more budget sockets! I need to get that printed and framed above my computer where I order my parts...

[Richie]

Anybody else have their tubes crack after being put into a new socket? I've had this happen on a couple amps with a couple different sockets, I lost some real gems this way. It can take an hour or over night but you'll hear a little tinkle and the next thing you know you'll see the barium has turned white from oxidation, f'n sucks. No more budget sockets! I need to get that printed and framed above my computer where I order my parts...

I've seen a few reports of this happening to, and fixed a couple amps that had this. it seems its more the sockets with the shield base. This base is not big enough for some tubes,and almost have to force the tube into the socket,and if it dosen't line up good, the tube is in a bind from the shield base. When the tube heats and cools it can crack from the stress.
This would also seem to happen to the fatter size preamp tubes. Some preamp tubes are a bit fatter than others. So that will also be one thing to look for. I really like the sockets,but if your going to use the fatter tubes, i'd suggest finding some NOS sockets,with a bit bigger shield base.

[girevik42]

I just had this happen yesterday on a Mesa/Boogie Mk IIB. The PI tube was an Eh 12AX7. It cracked and the amp obviously has vintage sockets. I believe they are Cinch sockets.

So as the old saying goes "Size matters"!!!!!~

[skyboltone]

Ahhhh. So who sells Beltons?

[paulster]

I tend to get them through Metroamp as George has 8pin, 9pin and 9pin with shield in his store.

They're available elsewhere but I can't normally be bothered to look any further.

[malt]

Ahhhh. So who sells Beltons?

http://www.s2amps.com/tubes.html#sockets