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

It should not be difficult to convert the finals to the 6146 tubes. There
is an article in Hints and Kinks, I recall, on converting another rig using
sweep tubes to 6146s and it would be helpful.

The conversion should be quite straightforward and I would be willing to bet
that it has been done before and information should be on the internet.

In fact, you could probably use one of the 12 volt type 6146 tubes, which
are even cheaper than the 6146 types.

73, Colin K7FM

George,

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.

You might check with Antique Electronics Supply and RF Parts -- both of
them at one time would match sets of 6JB6s for a fee ($5.00 per tube?).
Also Bruckner Components (http://www.powertubes.com/5Rcvg.htm) may be
able to match a set for you.

Northe
N6KO
Green Valley AZ

afcsman wrote:
Has anyone rebuilt the final amp section with currently available tubes,
such as a pair of 6146's?

There was a guy who did this for the T-4X transmitter. The link below
describes it but I can't get it to load at the moment so I'm not sure the
article is still there..

http://www.qsl.net/k5dkz/t4x6146.html

And, of course, there's the Drake list at:

http://www.zerobeat.net/drakelist/


73 OM,
--
HZ

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..........

http://www.boatanchors.org/6146Drake.htm


"afcsman" wrote in message
. ..
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

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

Thanks, folks, for your discussion and links. I'll first try the
matched tubes listed at Antique Electrical Supply or RF Parts--that
would save me a lot of work and some expense. Of course, with these old
rigs, expense is not the prime consideration...

73, W9NPI
*************************************************
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

Thanks, folks, for your discussion and links. I'll first try the
matched tubes listed at Antique Electrical Supply or RF Parts--that
would save me a lot of work and some expense. Of course, with these old
"classic" rigs, expense is not the prime consideration...

73, W9NPI
*************************************************
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