K3HVG wrote:
afcsman wrote:
I have a Drake TR-3/RV3/AC-3 combo that did well for me in the 1970's.
It was designed for a matched trio of 12JB6 sweep tubes as the final
amplifier.
Obviously, these bottles are hard to find, and a matched trio even
harder. It's to a point where the current finals can't be neutralized.

Has anyone rebuilt the final amp section with currently available
tubes, such as a pair of 6146's? I'm open to try something like that,
since the rig is still in fair shape, had good audio "punch," and
could probably have its selectivity improved by an audio DSP program.

I'd appreciate the benefit of your knowledge and experience.

--afcsman

OM, I might recommend that you perhaps try and use some 17JB6's in your
rig. The idea was suggested to me a number of years ago and was
implemented on a rig in Brazil, owing to obvious logistics problems of
locating the original tube type. They did work, albeit the power was
down somewhat, as I recall. I've seen the 17-volt tubes for anywhere
from $3-$4 each to around $10, each. I bought some as back-up for my
T4XB, in the event 6JB6's become extinct. Just a thought..........

Seems to me that there aren't any breeding pairs of 6JB6's around anymore,
so they are already extinct ;-)

-Chuck