USSR 6N2P as 12AX7

[Marlow]

Soviet-era 6N2P tubes seem to be popping up more and more as alternatives for dwindling 12AX7 stocks. They currently sell for less than $5 NIB. Apparently the USSR military depended on them and there are loads still around.

It requires a socket rewire though. I've heard of moving a wire from pin 9 to pin 5, then cutting the connection between 4 & 5. Another site says to take apart a socket saver and jumper pin 5 to pin 9 internally. Those sound like very different solutions, and I should probably find out the truth out before I try one out and blow something up. Anyone know the real score on how to rewire a 12ax7 socket, or a socket saver, to accept a 6N2P??

 

[zombiwoof]

I don't know, after doing all of that, you might just end up with something that sounds like a common Sovtek 12AX7!.  I've never heard those tubes, but I don't really see the point of going through the bother of re-wiring.

Al

[Marlow]

It's mostly just curiosity and the tinkering urge. Plus they're dirt cheap, and audiophile types seem to think they sound as good as NOS 12AX7s and better than new production 12AX7s, for whatever that's worth  . I might not rewire an actual socket, but sure I'll spend $5 and a couple of hours to see what the fuss is about. Worst case is it costs $5 and a couple of hours, best case is an endless supply of dirt cheap 12AX7 equivalents.

[tom pierce]

http://www.lampizator.eu/UPGRADE/6N2P.pdf
is the data sheet... lots of crazy stuff on google!

[Marlow]

I have the data sheet, but not the electrical engineering degree that should go with it. And googling produces conflicting results, so I thought I would appeal to people with more knowledge in the field.

[billybythelake]

better internal diagram :

http://oldradio.qrz.ru/tubes/russian/short/6n2p.shtml


http://www.tubes.ru/techinfo/HiFiAudio/6n2p.html

b

[Marlow]

I just finished testing out the 6N2P in my SF Champ. The modification to a socket saver is dead easy: once I knew what to do, the conversion took less than five minutes.

The sound is good, but different -- brighter and cleaner than a 12AX7, with flat mids. Very hi-fi. I'd say it is to a JJ 12AX7 what a JJ is to an RCA. This was all at low volume through a fairly bright amp, though.

[billybythelake]

Pre amp tube for steel guitar ? 

Brighter and cleaner sounds good for that or to brighten up a duller amp or sqeeze out a bit more high end with a guitar that doesn't give all you might want at the top end.

Hmmm wonder what it would sound like in a harp amp ?   

Thanks for passing on the info Marlow another one to think about.

b