Choosing Tubes!, whats the quality one's? |
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Oct 30 2008, 11:09 PM
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I don't know know about the postfix, somehow they tell about the tubes construction. You know, different 12AX7 will sound more "hi-gain", "bluesy", "early breakup" etc and I belive the postfix will guide you there. But I can't say what each postfix means.
Any 12AX7 tube will fit no matter the extention letter. And there are many brands but only so many tube factories, like 4-5 in the world. Try to look for tubes from Slovakia and Serbia (if I remember well about who's better quality) but I'm not 100% sure they are better than Russian. And Russian make tubes to most different brands. About the EL34 tubes make sure you get the EL34 and not the EL34L, it's slightly different and require and complete different bias current. So EL34L isn't plug n play if you plan to skip the biasing. I know it's not clear but I hope it helps a little. Maybe you can find out somehow which country each tube brand spring from. The EL84 tubes that came in my Peavey was Chinese, Ssugang something. The ones I replaced them with were JJ (Slovakia). Soundwise, I can't hear a huge difference. The Chinese ones were a bit softer in tone and the JJ's a grittier breakup. Hard to judge since one of the Chinese EL84's were totally burned after only 2 years. Lower quality? Or I carried my amp around too much? I don't know. QUOTE (Xuestor @ Oct 30 2008, 09:35 PM)  And is it best to buy a matched quartet or 2 matched pairs? Matched quartet. Btw I pulled two of mine in the blade so running on 50W and for the record, am on the same Ohm on both amp and cab (previous discussion). Still way loud but more controllable. -------------------- My bands homepage
All time favourites: B. Streisand - Woman in Love, M. Hopkin - Those were the days, L. Richie - Hello |
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Oct 31 2008, 12:40 AM
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There are a ton of reviews on tubes on the net. I bought Electro-Harmonics 12AX7 (ECC83) tubes, and can tell you to stay away of those, they are bad. JJ tubes are good bang for buck, nice for everything. JJ tubes are made in SLovakia and they have EL34 tube that has a mark E34L. It's basically the same type of tube only the letter L is behind the numer.
There is a lot of difference in tube quality, and since with tube amp most of the sound depends on tubes, hi quality tubes can really make the amp sing. If you have a good quality amp, it is best that you buy the best tubes that you can get. If you have the money, I would suggest Mullard - they are the best of the best. Other great brand is Telefunken. -------------------- - Ivan's Video Chat Lesson Notes HERE
- Check out my GMC Profile and Lessons - (Please subscribe to my) YouTube Official Channel - Let's be connected through ! Facebook! :) |
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Oct 31 2008, 01:14 AM
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I heard the Groove tubes EL34 are the top choice.
How do all rate the Marshall stock tubes? This post has been edited by reallylongnickname: Oct 31 2008, 01:14 AM |
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Oct 31 2008, 02:01 AM
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Marshall put worst tubes as stock in order to cut expenses.
Mullard are IMHO, and in opinion of lots of people the best tubes out there. Richest, fullest tone, and loudest. This post has been edited by Ivan Milenkovic: Oct 31 2008, 02:02 AM -------------------- - Ivan's Video Chat Lesson Notes HERE
- Check out my GMC Profile and Lessons - (Please subscribe to my) YouTube Official Channel - Let's be connected through ! Facebook! :) |
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Oct 31 2008, 05:28 AM
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Yikes! there not cheap.
I did some research and there Is a quest by people in search of these vintage tubes. There are Mullard reissued tubes that have poor review. Some reissued Mullards are made in Russia and other places. People are saying they don't sound quit like Mullards. There is something amiss. The Mullard website based out of Canada, have them listed as made in England. If the tubes are labeled, made in England, is this a safe guide for getting the proper Mullard? Here are the poor reviews for the reissued tubes. http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews...+Power+Amp/10/1 This post has been edited by reallylongnickname: Oct 31 2008, 10:28 AM |
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Oct 31 2008, 10:07 AM
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see previous post.
This post has been edited by reallylongnickname: Oct 31 2008, 10:24 AM |
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Oct 31 2008, 11:02 AM
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My guess it's the safe guide. Just be sure to buy them out of a prospective company, not from eBay or something. Get it in one big tube selling online store, this way you'll be sure that they are original. Big stores can't afford to sell anything bad, or they are gone.
-------------------- - Ivan's Video Chat Lesson Notes HERE
- Check out my GMC Profile and Lessons - (Please subscribe to my) YouTube Official Channel - Let's be connected through ! Facebook! :) |
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Nov 2 2008, 12:26 PM
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QUOTE (reallylongnickname @ Oct 30 2008, 07:14 PM) I heard the Groove tubes EL34 are the top choice. How do all rate the Marshall stock tubes? If everyone knew what Groove Tubes were they would never buy them. Groove Tubes are relabeled tubes from another manufacturer that are sold for three to five times the amount of the original tube price. Why pay that kind of mark up for the same tube? Groove Tubes is NOT a tube manufacturer. DON"T WASTE YOUR MONEY!!! Go to http://www.thetubestore.com or call them. They can walk you through the hand full of global tube manufacturers (maybe a dozen worldwide) and get you set up with the right tubes for the sound and tone you are looking for. They are a Canadian company and really know their stuff. They can save you a lot of time and money. I buy all of my tubes from them. Hope this helps, Mike -------------------- Classical And Electric Guitar Instructor
M.M. Guitar Performance Visit The Guitar Academy of Western North Carolina Send Me An Email |
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Nov 3 2008, 01:19 AM
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Hi,
Check out this link. Everything you ever wanted to know about tubes and much more. http://www.eurotubes.com tommyboy This post has been edited by tommyboy: Nov 3 2008, 01:24 AM -------------------- Rock Hard or Not at ALL!!
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Nov 11 2008, 01:28 AM
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I've been doing some research and a company is gonna bring into production vacuum tubes from the original plant in Blackburn England that made the original Mullard tubes. Company is called MicroTech. The tubes are not out on the market yet. The release date keeps getting pushed ahead. I anxious to hear the reviews.
Here is quote from their web site: "Welcome to the start of a new technology in thermionic valves Here at Blackburn MicroTech Solutions we are using our 40 years of emission technology knowhow to bring the first complete new development of the thermionic valve since its initial production back in the 1930’s. In September 2008 Blackburn Microtech Solutions will launch these techtubes. " http://www.techtubevalves.com/index.php This post has been edited by reallylongnickname: Nov 11 2008, 01:18 AM |
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Nov 11 2008, 04:01 AM
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QUOTE (reallylongnickname @ Nov 10 2008, 06:28 PM) I've been doing some research and a company is gonna bring into production vacuum tubes from the original plant in Blackburn England that made the original Mullard tubes. Company is called MicroTech. The tubes are not out on the market yet. The release date keeps getting pushed ahead. I anxious to hear the reviews. Here is quote from their web site: "Welcome to the start of a new technology in thermionic valves Here at Blackburn MicroTech Solutions we are using our 40 years of emission technology knowhow to bring the first complete new development of the thermionic valve since its initial production back in the 1930’s. In September 2008 Blackburn Microtech Solutions will launch these techtubes. " http://www.techtubevalves.com/index.php That's interesting, I wonder what the price will be? -------------------- Rock Hard or Not at ALL!!
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Nov 11 2008, 04:20 AM
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QUOTE (MikeRidenour @ Nov 2 2008, 06:26 AM) If everyone knew what Groove Tubes were they would never buy them. Groove Tubes are relabeled tubes from another manufacturer that are sold for three to five times the amount of the original tube price. Why pay that kind of mark up for the same tube? Groove Tubes is NOT a tube manufacturer. DON"T WASTE YOUR MONEY!!! Go to http://www.thetubestore.com or call them. They can walk you through the hand full of global tube manufacturers (maybe a dozen worldwide) and get you set up with the right tubes for the sound and tone you are looking for. They are a Canadian company and really know their stuff. They can save you a lot of time and money. I buy all of my tubes from them. Hope this helps, Mike I nominate you for the most useful post of the day award. QUOTE (tommyboy @ Nov 2 2008, 07:19 PM) Hi, Check out this link. Everything you ever wanted to know about tubes and much more. http://www.eurotubes.com tommyboy I nominate you for a tie for most useful post of the day award. I once asked a guy from North Dakota what he did during the summer. His response was "I played a round of golf". |
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But love to fish also!!!|
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Nov 19 2008, 08:23 PM
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That's pretty cool, I guess these tubes will be excellent
-------------------- - Ivan's Video Chat Lesson Notes HERE
- Check out my GMC Profile and Lessons - (Please subscribe to my) YouTube Official Channel - Let's be connected through ! Facebook! :) |
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