should i go for this raytheon black plate?

[JoshBernstein]

http://ebay.com/itm/161907750762
anyone had experience with this type of tube before?
Should i go for it?

[Phil_S]

Too late, auction ended! Anyway, here's my 2¢ on something like this.

OK, I see he's relisted at a lower price: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Raytheo ... 1907750762

You are probably looking at $10-$15 plus postage for a new 12AX7. Let's figure $5 for postage. If you bought 2 of them at the same time, that would be $25-$35 for the pair.

Here you are paying $22 for one old tube (relist price) that is supposed to be NOS. There is no way to confirm this prior to buying it, so that is the first risk. I am guessing we don't hear much about Raytheon tubes is because they were not a major producer (or survivor), so it's harder to find someone who has experience with the tube and that's probably why no one has replied.

If you feel like you won't/can't get hurt for $22, get one and let us know what you think.

You might try for best offer on this at about $12 and see if there is a counter offer: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-x-12ax7a-Rayt ... 1907750762

Realistically, on eBay, I'd be inclined to try for a lot of at least 2 tubes (to thin out shipping cost per tube) for something like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/12AX7A-2-RCA-US ... SwAKxWXxTB We know these RCA tubes are desirable workhorse tubes.

Or, if you are feeling lucky, you might go for the holy grail, this lot of 3 that will sell for more than the opening bid, but you never can tell: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-2-Great ... SwVL1WCymG It has been said that a nearly used up Mullard still outperforms many new tubes.

[Structo]

A lot of the old Raytheon's, Sylvania were used in organs.
Many of these date back to the 50's.

The long plates on vintage tubes can be problematic due to microphonics and other noise.

By the 1960's the manufacturers changed to short plates.

Many times these long plate tubes won't work well in the preamp but
can be used in a phase inverter.

[gui_tarzan]

This pleases me.

These 12AU7s are all out of an old Conn organ. I think they will work well in a stereo project, especially the clear-tops as I'm told they are sonically superior to "regular" pre-amp tubes in that setting.

[gui_tarzan]

So the reason for posting that picture was two-fold; I picked up this organ for $25 and got this trove of tubes. Even if half of them are bad, which I seriously doubt, it was well worth the purchase and it came with two separate power amps and a pre-amp in it as well.

So the point is for that $25 and about a half hour's work I have all those tubes (black plate, grey plate, clear top), hardware for a couple of amps and a pair of 12" 8 ohm speakers for projects. And I didn't have to mess with xBay.

[Structo]

I'm still running a pair of 50's Sylvania 6V6's from an organ amp.

Most organs weren't played that much (running hours) unless they were in a church.

Enjoy the tubes!

They won't be made again......

[TUBEDUDE]

Got a slew of 12ax7's and a set of sweet GE 6550A's out of an old organ.
I'm getting the soundboard out of an old baby grand Thursday. Here's what a friend did with it.