6386 tube

soupking · 15th March 2007

Are there a variety of this compressor tube?

That is to say, is this a brand model number or unit of some kind? Back then everything manufactured was GE or RCA it seems.

gainreduction · 16th March 2007

The 6386 tube is famous for beeing used in the Fairchild 670. It's getting rare and thereby expensive.

I have no idea which manufacturers have made this tube and if there exists suitable replacements.

You still come across products using it, like the Pendulum 6386 compressor and the early single channel Manley compressors (that later became the Vari-Mu).

Silvertone · 16th March 2007

Greg from Pendulum came across a few hundred and that's why he started making his 6386 vari-mu compressor. He was doing this for about a year before I introduced him to Fletcher at one AES show (maybe around '96). They had booths next to each other but weren't really talking yet. So I was talking to Greg when Fletcher came over and I told him about Gregs 'Fairchild' (if you will), first thing he says is "oh yeah, well it's not even close if it doesn't have 6386's". The rest is history and now Fletcher pimps Pendulum.

The guy who nailed the last big batch that I know of is Anthony DiMaria and he is using those to do his 16K Fairchild remake. Anthony wont let a single one out of his hands. But his Fairchild remake is something to hear.

Good story, my brother works for Cornell, one day he discovers a building they are about to rehab on campus. The top floor is full of NOS tubes, racks and racks with thousands of them in GE, RCA, Mullard & Sylvania boxes. I tell my brother go back there and offer them ten cents on the dollar for them. He hems and haws and goes back a week later. Too late, they through them all in the dumpster. Trash. And they were gone. Ouch!!!

soupking · 16th March 2007

Are 6386 especially sensitive tubes as well?

There's words about them burning out in the Fairchild a lot.

Is that the Fairchild, or the tube ?

Fletcher · 16th March 2007

The thing about the 6386 is the way the grid is wired... it is very asymmetrical which makes for a very smooth remote shutoff tube. However, these things get tired after a while, especially when you run a lot of electricy through them... which the Fairchild does, which is why they should be changed every 8-10,000 hours [which in a real "working" studio is about once a year].

Matt Syson · 16th March 2007

Hi
I believe that this tube was designed for a specific purpose and was not 'second sourced' so making it a rare beast. Manley have some details about it and a T bar adaptor to use a pair of single tubes if I remember correctly.
Matt S

soupking · 17th March 2007

Cool, thanks guys!

magooamps · 24th December 2008

http://www.jj-electronic.com/pdf/6386LGP.pdf

Steffmo · 25th December 2008

Wow....thats some interesting news....

emrr · 25th December 2008

I'm hearing initial reports of roughly $85 apiece with minimum order of 30. I'm sure someone else can correct that with more specific information.

15th March 2007	#1
soupking Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 3,337 Thread Starter	6386 tube Are there a variety of this compressor tube? That is to say, is this a brand model number or unit of some kind? Back then everything manufactured was GE or RCA it seems.

16th March 2007	#2
gainreduction Lives for gear Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 2,377	The 6386 tube is famous for beeing used in the Fairchild 670. It's getting rare and thereby expensive. I have no idea which manufacturers have made this tube and if there exists suitable replacements. You still come across products using it, like the Pendulum 6386 compressor and the early single channel Manley compressors (that later became the Vari-Mu). __________________ http://www.fixitinthemix.se http://www.detonamusic.com

16th March 2007	#3
Silvertone Lives for gear Join Date: May 2005 Location: Saratoga Springs, NY Posts: 2,127 1 Review written	Greg from Pendulum came across a few hundred and that's why he started making his 6386 vari-mu compressor. He was doing this for about a year before I introduced him to Fletcher at one AES show (maybe around '96). They had booths next to each other but weren't really talking yet. So I was talking to Greg when Fletcher came over and I told him about Gregs 'Fairchild' (if you will), first thing he says is "oh yeah, well it's not even close if it doesn't have 6386's". The rest is history and now Fletcher pimps Pendulum. The guy who nailed the last big batch that I know of is Anthony DiMaria and he is using those to do his 16K Fairchild remake. Anthony wont let a single one out of his hands. But his Fairchild remake is something to hear. Good story, my brother works for Cornell, one day he discovers a building they are about to rehab on campus. The top floor is full of NOS tubes, racks and racks with thousands of them in GE, RCA, Mullard & Sylvania boxes. I tell my brother go back there and offer them ten cents on the dollar for them. He hems and haws and goes back a week later. Too late, they through them all in the dumpster. Trash. And they were gone. Ouch!!! __________________ Larry DeVivo Silvertone Mastering, Inc. 518-581-8141 www.silvertonemastering.com To see some of our work please click on any of the visual trailer montages located at... http://robertetoll.com/ (all music and sound effects were mastered by Silvertone Mastering).

16th March 2007	#5
Fletcher member no 666 Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 9,464	The thing about the 6386 is the way the grid is wired... it is very asymmetrical which makes for a very smooth remote shutoff tube. However, these things get tired after a while, especially when you run a lot of electricy through them... which the Fairchild does, which is why they should be changed every 8-10,000 hours [which in a real "working" studio is about once a year]. __________________ CN Fletcher Professional Affiliations: R/E/P Professional Recording Engineer and Producer forums - serious hobbyists welcome TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik SoundPure.com mwagener wrote on Sat, 11 September 2004 14:33 We are selling emotions, there are no emotions in a grid Roscoe Ambel once said: Pro-Tools is to audio what fluorescent is to light

16th March 2007	#6
Matt Syson Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: UK Posts: 4,564	Hi I believe that this tube was designed for a specific purpose and was not 'second sourced' so making it a rare beast. Manley have some details about it and a T bar adaptor to use a pair of single tubes if I remember correctly. Matt S __________________ Matt S www.mseaudio.co.uk

17th March 2007	#7
soupking Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 3,337 Thread Starter	Cool, thanks guys!

24th December 2008	#8
magooamps Gear interested Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 21	http://www.jj-electronic.com/pdf/6386LGP.pdf

25th December 2008	#9
Steffmo Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: West Haven, CT Posts: 3,012	Wow....thats some interesting news....

25th December 2008	#10
emrr Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: nc Posts: 963	I'm hearing initial reports of roughly $85 apiece with minimum order of 30. I'm sure someone else can correct that with more specific information. __________________ Best, Doug Williams ElectroMagnetic Radiation Recorders Tape Op issue 73

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