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I have an amp I built in 2011 to the AA1164 circuit, with the exception of a Deluxe Reverb output transformer and a 40uF capacitor at the first filter stage. The JJ GZ34 rectifier I put in there when I built it has recently started making a mechanical rattle/ringing sound constantly, and there is a small amount of the same noise through the speaker (presumably because the vibration is modulating the B+ somehow). So I'm looking for a new rectifier, and I keep reading that NOS rectifiers typically have better reliability than the current JJ or Sovtek production. I have a 2A rectifier winding on my PT, so that limits my choice somewhat.
NOS GZ34s are not an option for me due to their price, but one of the UK valve suppliers has tested NOS 5V4GA at a decent price, either GE or Raytheon (or RCA for a little more). I gather that a 5V4 usually works well in a Princeton Reverb, but I'm not sure about my 40uF first filter cap. The RCA datasheet 5V4 suggests 10uF as a "typical" value but does not list a maximum capacitance. Does anyone anticipate that a 40uF filter cap could be a problem with a 5v4? I could always go with another JJ GZ34, but it would be nice to find something longer lasting.
NOS GZ34s are not an option for me due to their price, but one of the UK valve suppliers has tested NOS 5V4GA at a decent price, either GE or Raytheon (or RCA for a little more). I gather that a 5V4 usually works well in a Princeton Reverb, but I'm not sure about my 40uF first filter cap. The RCA datasheet 5V4 suggests 10uF as a "typical" value but does not list a maximum capacitance. Does anyone anticipate that a 40uF filter cap could be a problem with a 5v4? I could always go with another JJ GZ34, but it would be nice to find something longer lasting.
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