EL34 Power tube retainers other than those cheapos everyone sells

  • Thread starter Thread starter SpiderWars
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SpiderWars

SpiderWars

Well-known member
I don't like the cheap spring type retainers that everyone sells and would prefer to avoid bear traps just because they scratch the base which voids warranty with some vendors. I like the old china hats. This is for a 4xEL34 Hiwatt clone. Check out these Ampeg SVT clamps. They obv wouldn't fit EL34s but those tubes look pretty snug once clamped in.

Anybody know a source for any other options?

 
SpiderWars said:
I don't like the cheap spring type retainers that everyone sells and would prefer to avoid bear traps just because they scratch the base which voids warranty with some vendors. I like the old china hats. This is for a 4xEL34 Hiwatt clone. Check out these Ampeg SVT clamps. They obv wouldn't fit EL34s but those tubes look pretty snug once clamped in.

Anybody know a source for any other options?

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Are "bear traps" the ones with the springs on the sides ?
 
SpiderWars said:
No the bear traps just grab the base and leave gouges/scratches with the teeth of the trap.
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Damn, I hate those..

I use these here:

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PLX said:
There's the ones with the little mesh top hat ?

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YES! China hats, where'd you find those. Although now that I look closely they look kind of flimsy too. Are they really holding anything in?
 
SpiderWars said:
YES! China hats, where'd you find those. Although now that I look closely they look kind of flimsy too. Are they really holding anything in?
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They're sold under names like "Vintage Style Mesh Tube Retainer".

I think TheTubeStore.com, maybe ?


You could go all "steampunk" on them bitches..

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glpg80 said:
I use these for my 6550s and have never had a problem. I made sure the springs were well attached before I mounted them and all is well.
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Yeah, I have them on 6CA7s in my JCM800.

Them things ain't going nowhere.
 
You could look for ones from a 70's/80's Marshall those are thicker then the brand new production ones.
 
Holy shit, those steampunk ones look like the coolest thing I've ever seen in my life. $$$
Those Ampeg ones look really cool, way less of a pain in the ass then the bear trap ones, though I like the way the trap ones actually work well, and they're cheap. I wouldn't mind retrofitting some of the Ampeg ones on.
Holy shit, 6 6550s and towers for trannies :love:
 
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