Echo-Foxtrot Build

[Gordo]

Build Rating

5.00 star(s)

This one is by the book. Sushi Box enclosure with alcohol inks for the finish and waterslide decals. I attempted to use craft paints to clean up the inside of the enclosure but got bored and left it as is. EF86's are such cool looking tubes, this one is from TAD.

 

[JamieJ]

I like it @Gordo

 

[vigilante398]

Looks great! How do you like the sound? I've always enjoyed the EF86 tone.

 

[GizzWizzKing]

I keep seeing these and every time I get more and more envious. The black eye, Echo Foxtrot, and Space Heater builds are giving me serious GAS.

 

[steviejr92]

Wow just wow this is absolutely killer! I love the weathered look! Awesome build dude!

 

[Gordo]

Thanks. I like this one but haven't had a chance to try it as a front end boost or push it with a boost. I don't have much experience with EF86's but I'd describe it as "big and warm" at the risk of using too many cliches. The tone control sits in a nice sweet spot to take the edge off and on mine it's hitting unity at about 11 to noon and is capable of getting fairly loud by about 3 o'clock. It stays clean over the whole range. It's surprisingly quiet (I'd heard complaints about EF's being prone to microphonics). I'd think this would make a great front end or post process for anyone that wants to warm up a modeller.

 

[steviejr92]

Thanks. I like this one but haven't had a chance to try it as a front end boost or push it with a boost. I don't have much experience with EF86's but I'd describe it as "big and warm" at the risk of using too many cliches. The tone control sits in a nice sweet spot to take the edge off and on mine it's hitting unity at about 11 to noon and is capable of getting fairly loud by about 3 o'clock. It stays clean over the whole range. It's surprisingly quiet (I'd heard complaints about EF's being prone to microphonics). I'd think this would make a great front end or post process for anyone that wants to warm up a modeller.

Dude you just made me want to go buy a board and build it! You know what crazy i actually have it with all the parts and i forgot i did! Now i know what im going to be building soon! Im sooo excited that you like it! I was worried about the mircophonics being a problem with this tube and since i didnt get one of those rings i thought i was going to be dealing with noise. Thats awesome that its quiet!

 

[vigilante398]

Dude you just made me want to go buy a board and build it! You know what crazy i actually have it with all the parts and i forgot i did! Now i know what im going to be building soon! Im sooo excited that you like it! I was worried about the mircophonics being a problem with this tube and since i didnt get one of those rings i thought i was going to be dealing with noise. Thats awesome that its quiet!

Yeah the tubes can be hit and miss. I actually have a bunch (30 or so) of EF86 on hand that I've been meaning to go through and test for microphonics and get rid of the really bad ones. I think it's fair to say that all EF86 are microphonic, maybe 50% or so are reasonable enough that in most applications you won't notice, 30% are bad enough to be noticeable, and 20% are so bad they're unusable.

These are numbers I pulled out of nowhere and are not measured statistics, but you get the idea. In my anecdotal experience JJ/Tesla have been consistently low microphonic, TAD have been hit or miss, and winged C (Svetlana) have been hit, miss, or really bad miss.

 

[steviejr92]

Yeah the tubes can be hit and miss. I actually have a bunch (30 or so) of EF86 on hand that I've been meaning to go through and test for microphonics and get rid of the really bad ones. I think it's fair to say that all EF86 are microphonic, maybe 50% or so are reasonable enough that in most applications you won't notice, 30% are bad enough to be noticeable, and 20% are so bad they're unusable.

These are numbers I pulled out of nowhere and are not measured statistics, but you get the idea. In my anecdotal experience JJ/Tesla have been consistently low microphonic, TAD have been hit or miss, and winged C (Svetlana) have been hit, miss, or really bad miss.

I bought 2 tubes cause i have an "excessive" disorder when it comes to components....maybe ill swap them out if i can hear noise and see if the other is better in that regard. Thanks for sharing definitely keeping this in mind when its ready to test!

 

[MichaelW]

Yeah the tubes can be hit and miss. I actually have a bunch (30 or so) of EF86 on hand that I've been meaning to go through and test for microphonics and get rid of the really bad ones. I think it's fair to say that all EF86 are microphonic, maybe 50% or so are reasonable enough that in most applications you won't notice, 30% are bad enough to be noticeable, and 20% are so bad they're unusable.

These are numbers I pulled out of nowhere and are not measured statistics, but you get the idea. In my anecdotal experience JJ/Tesla have been consistently low microphonic, TAD have been hit or miss, and winged C (Svetlana) have been hit, miss, or really bad miss.

I used a TAD in mine as well. I'm usually a JJ guy, can't remember why I went with TAD this time but there was probably a good reason... ..Great looking build! I love mine for certain applications for sure!