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Got my metal base GZ34's today, the ones with the funny manufacturing codes, as in Toshiba Japan.Lot # Stamped on the metal ring.
tv2
57CThey look REAL NEW!
Hole in the center of the guide pin is drilled, not molded.
pins look more "pointed" at the tips than any of my other Amperex/Mullard GZ34'sThe have two "D" Getters that are attached directly at the top mica.
They do have one seam across the top of the glass, and yes, it does go all the way down the sides of the tube. Also a very light dimple on the top but not in the center, like a Svetlana EL34, but fainter and on one side of the seam that is cutting across the top of the tube.
They have a shinny metal strip or brace spot welded to at the top of each plate that the top mica seems to be resting on.
Anyone have an email address I can send some fairly detailed pictures too?
Also, anyone is free to remind me that I should stop looking at them and PUT THEM IN MY AMP AND SEE HOW THEY SOUND!
But, of course, we all know the real issue is are they real metal based Phillips Miniwatt GZ34, and is there even really such an animal…
Follow Ups:
I do not know what your guys are talking about?Does any METAL BASE GZ34 exist which is not produced by Philips in Holland, and with anything other than the "5" number in the begining of the 2nd line of the code on the metal base ?
Can anyone enlight me?
Tim
Tim,
Neither do we. I have been going to therapy, taking Prosac, Rogain and Viagra. Considering Bose speakers and a bipolar amp. My life is
falling apart because of this thread. I gotta go find some traffic to play in. Voices in my head are screaming about Toshiba made metal base tubes and are beginning to control me. This is bigger than Enron and Worldcom combined. It's huge and soon will be on Dateline, 20/20
and 60 Minutes. Look for the special on PBS soon. Dementia can be comforting.Les, The metal base Mess. If they sound good, who cares?
OK, I think I got the answer.It is not Toshiba but a Panasonic i.e. Matsushita metal base 5AR4.
According to the picture on page 48 of the book "Aduio Tubes of the Past and Present" by Hisashi Ohtsuka, Matsushita did produced an early version of 5AR4 with metal base. With the Philips metal base GZ34 side-by-side in the picture, the Matsushita one does look very similar in appearance.
But I guess this tube is so rare that if it is available. it is probably 2-3 times more expensive compare to any Philips metal base GZ34/5AR4 for Japanese tuhe collectors, regardless of how it sounds.
So if any of you got this tube, you don't know how lucky you are.
But this only applies to metal base ones. If you got the later non metal base version, hard luck.
Tim
Does the Matushita GZ34/5AR4 have the "Cross Seam" on the top of the glass, as does the plastic base Matushita?By the by, I have found both the Masushita GZ34 as well as EL34, to be quite fine tubes. Same basic constrution as a Mullard for about 1/2 the $$. Sound nearly as good as well.
Ty,I've used some early Mullards, which had metal base. They could have been re-labeled Philips made rectifiers. I don't remember the manufacturer's code.
Mullard never even produced any metal base EL34 or GZ34.They are all re-branded from Philips Holland.
Tim
nt
I assume these you received from Micronetics.There are a few possibilities, but first - PUT THEM IN YOUR AMP! I am using right now a pair of Miniwatt branded ones with the '5' factory code. They sound awesome. But there is no difference sonically from 'x' factory code ones of same construction or 'B' coded ones of same construction.
If the '5' represents Toshiba manufacture, my compliments to the Japanese.
But there are other possibilities.
What seems more likely to me is that the bottles are made in Holland - actally Blackburn Mullard is more likely - but the assembly of the bases - or even the actual metal bases - were made in Japan.
Or - the codes are not being read right or are deceptive, possibly the '5' being coded so that the tubes could be exported to Japan.
Philips Holland date codes, contrary to popular belief, do NOT always read Factory-Year-Month, they can sometimes read Month-Year-Factory, or can even read Batch-Month-Year-Factory. It's even possible that there is NO factory code on these.
But here are the facts that I have. I have four pairs right here that all have the "5" starting the second line. Two are Amperex Made In Holland branded, two Miniwatt Made In Holland. All four pairs have different Year-Month codes, one pair is actually a rS1 code - the first GZ34 version with welded plates, 1955.
But NONE of these did I buy from Micronetics, in fact, I bought each pair from a different source, all are in the original boxes - one German military tagged, two in Amperex Hicksville older style boxes, another in Philips boxes. It is extremely unlikely that so many were produced branded "Made In Holland" if they were not - particularly from such a wide variety of sources - dates - and factories. Obviously, these '5' coded tubes were sold to affiliates in the US, Germany, Holland - at least.
But what is more proof that they are Holland made is my early rS1 pair. While they too have the '5' code, I find it beyond belief that they are welded plate construction identical to Mullards of the time in every respect - right down to the micas. The 1956 and 1957 stapled plate versions I have are also identical to 'x' or'B' coded ones of the same dates. So if we are to believe that they were actually made in Japan, we must also believe that the Toshiba factory mirrored exactly the construction and materials of te Blackburn and Holland factories - and at the exact same time, simultaneously. That is virtually impossible.
So, no matter what the reasons for the mysterious date codes, I am convinced these are either Blackburn or Sittard made tubes in every material respect. Even if you don't believe that, Micronetics has no culbability, as I have bought 8 "5" coded GZ34's from other sources - and I don't believe in widespead conspiracy theories regarding tubes that spread over many years.
Finally, whatever, the tubes sound great!!
They are the real deal even if the 'date code' is politically incorrect. Who would fake a tube and use codes like these? They cost little more than a plain NOS GZ34, sound so good and last so long. They are cheap in the long run. There is a used metal Mullard on e-bay, the bids are at $80, go figure.There are 2 Valvo GZ34's with the same internals as the metals for
$133, But it Now. What are you, somebody-anybody, waitng for? I have all I need, or I'd get 'em. It's a no brainer.
You're absolutely right. Who cares about the codes when they sound so good for a reasonable price?I see the tube you refer to on Ebay. It's a welded plate rS1 version, identical to the Bugle Boy branded ones I have - and again, the '5' factory code, but now branded Mullard! It must be a very widespread conspiracy to fake these!
Let's give up on the date code mystery. These are obviously the real deal. Great tubes.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1366819674Check these out. They certainly appear to be rebadged Mullards, later scalloped plates. But, now they have that Telefunken Magic!
I believe that TFK never made 5AR4s in their plants. My very limited knowledge is that TFK relabelled Mullard made 5AR4s.
Eli D.
You and Ty are right, Telefunken NEVER made a GZ34, although Ebay buyers continually vote with excessive dollars that they did.The set of 4 on Ebay right now, in very nice boxes, are quite obviously late 60's/early 70's Mullard made, the etched date codes are visible in one on the pictures.
They could be Valvo, too.
Nicolas
I do not think Valvo ever produced any GZ34 either. At least I have not seen or heard of such thing.There are, of couse, many GZ34 labelled as "Valvo" and come in Valvo box.
Tim
Most Valvo GZ34's were made by Mullard and rebadged, just like the Tele's above. But, the Valvos on e-bay, see link in my earlier post, have the same internals as the metal based Miniwatt tube. That Mr. Philips sure sowed a lot of wild oats! Philips=Mullard=Amperex. Make tubes here label them there, confuse the hell out of us 40+ years later.I have EZ81's badged Telefunken and Valvo, but they are Mullards.
Yes, these are the one from Micronetics. Didn't mention that before as I did not want anyone to think I was trashing an honest tube seller.They are in my amps and do indeed sound great!
The internals are very much like the Amperex BB that were in my amps before, same plate structure, top D getter, etc. By the way, the Manufacturing code on these Amperex BB's are:
f33
L2A and L2B"L" being the code for Mazda, Bruxells, Belgium.
Which is fime by me as the "Mullard type" ADZAM ECC35's that are currently drivers for the WE 300B's are coded with a "C" indicating they were made at the Handon Works, Alberton, Australia.
Go figure.
Anyway, I think these are the real deal, and even though $100 is a lot for a tube, these may be the exception that make the rule. Real NEW NOS metal base GZ34's. You could pay nearly that ammount for used ones. Kevin "Woody" Deal gets $80 for new plastic base ones.Much like the current production WE 300B, which can be had by the way for less than $600 a matched pair(without cherry wook box) from Penta Labs, there are some tubes that are worth the investment if they last as long as reputed.
The "Classics" might just be worth the price. BTW Robert, how much are WE 350B's going for these days? Seen a lot of NOS NIB ones out there???
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