Reason for tube converter

[cl1238]

There seems to be a lot of tube converter for sale on the net and quite expensive.
eg 12AU7/12AX7 to 6SN7/6SL7 converter and vice versa.
Is there any reason anyone want to convert a 6SN7/6SL7 amp design to use 12AU7/12AX7 or vice versa?

 

[JonSnell Electronic]

Probably for interest in the thought that the more money a system costs, the better it must be.
I understand replacing valves for aesthetic and financial reasons but if the amplifier is designed with ECC83 why use a 6SN7?

 

[ericj]

Guitarists engage in tube rolling on the level of "well it has the same socket, lets see what happens". so perhaps this allows them to go one further?

6n2p to 12ax7/ecc83 socket adapters make some sense and i have seen those for sale. I've also seen some for power tubes that are very similar except for the base. 6973 to 6v6 for example.

Most people can't conceive of moving some wires around or replacing a socket in an amplifier. But many of them have done tube changes, so an adapter socket is something they can get their heads around.

 

[Enzo]

Easy as it is to move a few wires on a socket, the adaptor route allows one to change back and forth at will, without having to rewire each time. I agree with ericj, in guitar amp land, it isn't about sameness and fidelity, it is all about nuance and difference. And often pushed outside the linear operation of the tube. So if a 6SNy distorts in a different manner than a 12AX7 audibly, then it is of interest.

I can think of times a 12AX7/6EU7 adaptor would have been handy.

 

[cl1238]

Thanks for the enlightenment.

 

[mcandmar]

A 6SN7 is a better valve than the 12AU7 for a start, hence many people would prefer to use them. I have made converters before when i wanted to use valves with a different base, i.e. put a compactron into an octal socket amplifier, or an octal into a noval etc.