Sano 500R-12 Tubes

[The Dude]

I've got a Sano amp on the bench. It uses a pair of 8417 tubes. Plate voltage (unloaded) is 506 and the amp is cathode biased with a 200 ohm resistor. The tubes are toast. I'm wondering if anyone has experience subbing these with something still manufactured and cheaper. I'd like to give my customer some options. There are pulls available, but they're expensive and I have to wonder about buying something used as to how long they will last or how good they are to start with. What would you guys use?

[Leo_Gnardo]

Been there with the old Sanos - I sub 6L6GC, maybe increase the Rk to 250 ohm, get about 25 watts at clip. Cheap good sounding solution. I don't know what "better sound" they may have gotten with 8417's. In one case a Sano came in with clapped-out old Genelex KT77, same solution. I guess Sano was into experimenting with what were at the time "state of the art" output tubes. Or they got a cheap deal buying a couple boxes full.

[g1]

Same here for subbing with 6L6. And for Bogens with 8417's too.

[Enzo]

You can sub smaller tubes like 6L6 or 6550, but the thing about the 8417 was you could get 100 real watts from a single pair.

But Dude, I have some 8417s in stock, send a PM if you dare. RCAs... nice red boxes...

[The Dude]

FWIW: Talked to the customer today. He wants to go with the original tubes. Enzo, you have been PM'd.

[The Dude]

I got the 8417's in the "nice red boxes" from Enzo (and some other goodies in the box). Amp is up and running again. All is good. It didn't need much else. Some broken handles, tolex rips, and other cosmetic issues. I went through it and checked caps, plate resistors, etc. (stuff that might be bad or out of tolerance). Thanks for the tubes, Enzo!