6k11 tube talk

[lowell]

Hey all,
I'm thinking of building a small single ended champish head w/ vibrato. It'd have 3 triodes and 1 6v6 output. There was a version of the champ that used 3 12ax7 and had vibrato. The 6k11 specs look almost identical to 3 12ax7 triodes. My only concern is of this tubes' availability and if anyone thinks it might not be around long... OR if there's a more suitable tube. My reasoning for a triple triode is to save on 2 tube sockets and space.

spec sheet
NJ7P Tube Database Search

[Enzo]

COnsidering that AES doesn;t have any, The Tube store wants $18, and the tube Depot wants $30 - and I stopped looking then - I don't see how you'd save much. Enough 12AX7s AND sockets should stack up against one of those, and you also need a socket for it too. And since you are concerned that it might not be available, you obviously have replacement on your mind, so if it ever fails, you are out another $18-30-?, instead of the price of a common 12AX7.

If you want to do it for the fun and challenge of compacting the circuit, go for it. But as a practical matter it woldn;t be my personal choice.

I am all for all tube amps, but if you have a circuit that fits in fewer tubes before adding the trem, consider making the trem oscillator with a transistor or two. Comes to mind you could sample off the power tube cathode for some free low voltage DC to run it - no added power supply worries.

[Diablo]

My Ampeg V4 takes a 6K11, and I worried about long term availability of that tube. So, I hunted for a stash of four NOS spares. I think it would be a little kooky to design a new build using that tube - they are getting harder to find and the prices are going up.

[lowell]

Kinda what I figured too. Thanks for the input. I'm also an idiot at 1am. Turns out I need 4 triodes not 3... duh.

I'm a big fan of practicality. I'll go w/ 2 12ax7.

[Suusi M]

Hey all,
I'm thinking of building a small single ended champish head w/ vibrato. It'd have 3 triodes and 1 6v6 output. There was a version of the champ that used 3 12ax7 and had vibrato. The 6k11 specs look almost identical to 3 12ax7 triodes. My only concern is of this tubes' availability and if anyone thinks it might not be around long... OR if there's a more suitable tube. My reasoning for a triple triode is to save on 2 tube sockets and space.

spec sheet
NJ7P Tube Database Search

sorry the 6k11 is 2* 12ax7 and 1 * 12au7