Allan Songer

I have some 1950's vintage Brimar 5U4G--they look to be rebadged GEC U52 to me, but maybe just made under license? NICE tubes! I also have some Brimar 12AX7 and 12AU7 kicking around--they're pretty sweet as well. I have some Brimar 12BH7 as well, but they're not so hot when compared with RCA blackplates.

Are you KDDING? One half of one little drop on the end of an artist's brush and the bristles stay damp enough to last 3-4 applications--enough for one complete listening session. I go through about 2 bottles of stylus cleaner per YEAR!!! You are over-doing it!!! You don't need to drown the stylus!

I have four audio systems that get daily use. Three of the four CDs players I own are "tube CD players." In my main system is the BAT VK-D5, the finest CD player I have ever heard--period. In my office system at work is a Conrad-Johnson 2b, a very warm, musical and sweet sounding player--really great for jazz--bought this used off of Audiogon for $799, a really good deal! In my kitchen system is the original AH! Tjoeb '99--great player for the money ($250 new in 1999). And finally, in my wife's office system is a new Cambridge Audio 640C-- Ihaven't listened to it mujch, but my wife LOVES it. I tend to like "warm" sounding players (the original Rega Planet was the first CD player like this I ever heard--unfortunately mine died a few months ago) and this has led me to tube models.

Dean--I never said the Crites tweeters were too loud. I just found them piercing and shrill, which made them jump out at me.

This is the chrome T-35. The Klipsch version has a Klipsch sticker instead of the red EV logo. I think this is the best sounding version of the T-35 (I have owned speakers with both the later small alnico magnet and the even later square magnet). Of course this is only my opinion and I listen to jazz . . .

I tried the Crites tweeters in my Corwalls for a few days. I went back to the old, chrome T-35s, as the Crites tweeters were way too "forward" sounding for me--they sounded shrill. But they might be PERFECT for you!!! It's all a matter of taste, you know . . . .

http://onmilwaukee.com/music/articles/babyfacejazz.html?10805 And he played there with JOHN GILMORE? I guess you can put one of THOSE club dates on my "top five" list!!!

Dexter Gordon 'Loose Walk'

No. You can't interchange them in any amp I know . . . The 5U4 is a much older design--it dates from the the 1930's and is a SLAM!--full on RIGHT NOW rectifier, which the 5AR4 offers a much gentler start--at least that's what all the books and data says.

No. Nothing will wear a record our FASTER than tracking at TOO LIGHT a weight for the cartrdige. 3-4 grams tracking weight will wear a record out no faster than 1.75 grams--all other things being equal.

Gary--I think he wants a table/arm/cartridge that is forgiving in terms of surface noise and clicks/pops but still sounds great. In my experience the most forgiving of all set-ups have VERY heavy arms and cartridges that track at more than 2.5 grams. That means, you should be looking at FR, SME 3009/3012 and Ortofon arms with Ortofon SPU, FR, Ikeda type cartidges. And that also means you should also be looking at old, rim-drive tables like the Garrard 301/401, Thorens TD-124, etc. You might not get the last nth of detail with a set-up like this, but it will be MUSICAL and forgiving. I will always have a table of this flavor in my main system.

Why would you want to use a 5AR4 in an MC30? GREAT 5u4 tubes are DIRT CHEAP and you will find no sonic iprovements with the 5AR4. Plus, if you want to get all exotic and EXPENSIVE, you can always use the GEC U52 or the WE 274B without making any mods to your MC-30s. Or, if you think you really nead the "soft start" you can sub in the WE 242A. But get out your wallet! In fact, I am having Craig built my new stereo amp to run with 5U4 rectifiers.

They look 100% real to me. But is $55/ea really a bargain?

Sort of like you claiming I was full of crap and mocking me on this public forum when I praised old, rim-drive turntables and then finding out later that I was RIGHT. My reccomendations were based on EXPERIENCE and your mocking and derisive comments were born of total ignorance. But you came around and I am really, REALLY happy for you!!!! How's that Lenco?

Yeah--this looks like something desinged to be run through a line stage preamp. Maybe it would work--it DOES have an itty bitty volume control knob on it! But I wouldn't get my heart set on it SOUNDING worth a damn! But you could always give it a try and then look for a line stage preamp to go with it.

Probably CBR or decorator models "dressed up by loving hands at home." Which means you can most likely reverse the "damage."

Any of these should do the trick: http://cgi.ebay.com/MARANTZ-MJ-320-AM-FM-TUNER-LOOKS-GREAT-L-K_W0QQitemZ280081796989QQihZ018QQcategoryZ3282QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem http://cgi.ebay.com/SANSUI-TU-5900-AM-FM-TUNER-TU5900-L-K-VINTAGE_W0QQitemZ160083226663QQihZ006QQcategoryZ3282QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem http://cgi.ebay.com/Sansui-TU-717-AM-FM-Stereo-Tuner-Classical-Audiophile_W0QQitemZ270088129660QQihZ017QQcategoryZ3282QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem http://cgi.ebay.com/Sansui-TU-717-AM-FM-Classic-Audiophile-Tuner-No-Reserve_W0QQitemZ320079032524QQihZ011QQcategoryZ73382QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem http://cgi.ebay.com/Kenwood-AM-FM-Stereo-Tuner-KT-6http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Sansui-AM-FM-Tuner-TU-5500_W0QQitemZ110088760317QQihZ001QQcategoryZ73382QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem500_W0QQitemZ250083663755QQihZ015QQcategoryZ3282QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem http://cgi.ebay.com/Sony-ES-AM-FM-Tuner-Model-ST-S550ES_W0QQitemZ330087750435QQihZ014QQcategoryZ3282QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem http://cgi.ebay.com/Excellent-Pioneer-TX-6200-AM-FM-Stereo-Tuner_W0QQitemZ190081863680QQihZ009QQcategoryZ3282QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Yamaha-CT-810-AM-FM-Stereo-Tuner-Owners-Man_W0QQitemZ150090819879QQihZ005QQcategoryZ3282QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem http://cgi.ebay.com/Yamaha-CT-800-CT-800-AM-FM-Stereo-Tuner_W0QQitemZ300077440678QQihZ020QQcategoryZ3282QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem http://cgi.ebay.com/YAMAHA-NATURAL-SOUND-CT-800-AM-FM-STEREO-TUNER-NICE_W0QQitemZ170078979539QQihZ007QQcategoryZ3282QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I bought mine in around 1988--it was 2-3 years old. Smokey? I don't know what you mean . . .

I have two Conrad-Johnson preamps--a PV-5 and a PV-10B. The PV-5 has been "on loan" to a pal of mine since he went through a NASTY divorce 6-7 years ago. The PV-10B I just picked about 10 days ago for $700 in MINT condition--it was built in 2002--one of the last ones. Here are two on ebay that would fit the bill, The 10 is a line stange only, the the PV-5 is full function and I can HEARTILY reccomend this unit: http://cgi.ebay.com/Conrad-Johnson-PV-5-Tube-Preamplifier_W0QQitemZ140083530065QQihZ004QQcategoryZ14974QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem http://cgi.ebay.com/Conrad-Johnson-PV-10AL-Stereo-Tube-Preamp-Rare-Black_W0QQitemZ120085483928QQihZ002QQcategoryZ67807QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem There is also a PV-8, but I have had no experience with this model: http://cgi.ebay.com/Conrad-Johnson-PV8-Tube-Pre-amp-Preamp-Preamplifier-NR_W0QQitemZ130076760942QQihZ003QQcategoryZ67807QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

1. Chicago, 1923. King Oliver Jazz band with the new kid, Louis Armstrong. 2. Savoy Ballroom, New York City, Jan 16, 1938. Hot new band from Kansas City led by Count Basie in a battle of the bands with Chick Webb's Savoy Ballroom Orchestra. Basie blows them away and Lester Young blows EVERYONE'S mind. 3. New York City, 52nd Street, 1945. Hot new quintet led by Charlie Parker and DIzzy Gillespie starts to play some gigs. 4. The Five Spot, New York 1957. Thelonious Monk quintet with John Coltrane. "Nuff said. 5. The Half Note, New York City circa 1963, the classic John Coltrane quartet.

No. Strayhorn was a collborator, an AMAZING arranger and wrote some INCREDIBLE tunes ( "Chelsea Bridge," "Day Dream," "Johnny Come Lately," "Rain-check" Blood Count," "Clementine," "Take the A Train" and "Lotus Blossom" to name a few) and was a lifelong friend, but even WITHOUT Strayhorn, Ellington would STILL be the great American composer/bandleader of the 20th C. Strayhorn was in NO way "the quiet geniuis behind Duke Ellington's success" -- I think it trivializes both Ellington's AND Strayhorn's massive conributions to say this. . .

This one is a no-fuss table. And the price is close: http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgtabl&1173676912

We've had our Kamado for over 25 years--it was a gift from my father-in-law who has had once since the late 1960's. THE BEST!!!!

The Best Curtis Fuller Record: http://www.amazon.com/Bluesette-Curtis-Fuller/dp/B000AHQF52/sr=1-5/qid=1170789214/ref=sr_1_5/105-8284522-0843602?ie=UTF8&s=music

Hey! LS3/5A monitors are GREAT speakers! I have owned 3 pairs over the years (if you count the original Linn Kans which used the same KEF drivers). I am a HUGE fan of tiny little British 2-ways--KEF, Stirling, Linn, Spendor, Harbeth, Rogers, Chartwell, etc. More "right" sounding music comes out of those tiny little 7" x 12" boxes than you could ever imagine. Dean should get the Jubilees AND a pair of LS3/5As for the bedroom system!!