Re: Sovtek tubes suck!!!!!

On 20 Nov, 18:29, Jim <as...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

White Spirit wrote:

With respect to 12AX7s, half of the old GEs, Sylvanias etc. floating
around these days are too microphonic or otherwise noisy to use in a
high gain amp where, for the price paid, I can only justify using then
in V1. Without a reliable supply of old 12AX7s at a sane price,
'polished turds' are the only realistic option. I have a decent
collection of Mullard, Brimar and Telefunken ECC83s but finding
replacements when one fails is only going to become more difficult
with time.

I don't seem to run into as many microphonic tubes as other guys talk
about. Maybe I'm just lucky.

What amps do you use them in? My Marshall JCM 900-SLX and 30th
Anniversary amps are quite sensitive to microphonic valves. Also, I
prefer Brimar valves to Mullards, Telefunkens etc., and Brimars
exhibit more microphony/noise than the others.

I'm DAMNED GLAD that I've put together my own mini-hoard of Mullard,
Telefunken, RCA, GE and Sylvania tubes, though! I was buying used
Mullards off of ebay a few years back, for about 1.5x the cost of the
TURDS. I'll wager you this: I'll get more than 1.5 times the life from
strong used tubes than from new turds, making my quality tubes cheaper
than current production. (I'm not saying you can still buy at this
cost, the prices have gone up, but they are still worth it IMHO.)

I've done the same with Mullards, Brimars and Telefunkens, sometimes
being able to get them for less than current production. I seem to
have had more problem valves than you, though (always Brimar ones).
Still, it's not a long term solution. They're getting harder to find
and people are starting to pay more. The more desirable they are, the
more you'll find used and used up valves appearing on Ebay.

What about output vales? Do you think buying used and untested valves
is worth the risk to your amplifier? I'll continue to buy old preamp
valves when I see a good deal, but I will also continue to use the
current production valves that sound good and continue to be reliable.

On Rich's comments about LEAVING good glass... When he did his thing to
my Super Reverbhttp://www.timeelect.com/sjsr.htm, it came with
(original?) RCA preamp tubes. And it sounds damned good. A less
scrupulous (or dim-witted) tech would've loaded it up with current
production turds, charged me $15 a pop, and pocketed some vintage US
tubes that still have half their life left on them (or if a true dunce,
tossed the quality glass because either "they were old" or because they
only tested at 1075).

I don't doubt his integrity as a tech. I just don't support the
notion that all current production valves are turds.

While that Super Reverb sat on Rich's bench, I collected 6L6GC off of
ebay. My net cost (after culling, with shipping) for used untested and
tested tubes was LESS THAN THE COST OF new TURDS! And I got GE, RCA
black plate, Sylvania, and the Japanese black plate types. Over 75%
tested strong, even when I bought untested lots. I also got several
matched pairs out of the deal.

It's good if you have a valve tester. The only time I see them for
sale, they go on Ebay for over £300... Hence the risk I stated above
when buying used outputs.

I'm not convinced that we will EVER see tubes as good as 60's era US,
British and German. Smart guys will be grabbing them as they find them.

Yes. Until there are none left and the price is truly prohibitive.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Old valves
    ... The Dutch made Mullards worked out the same price as a fake Russian 'reissue', and the British made 'Eico' Mullard only came to twice the price of a fake 'reissue' due to the expense of shipping from the States. ... I use the best current valves I can get for other positions, but since having tried older production valves in V1 I'm intent upon building up a stockpile. ... having one enjoyable afternoon you can buy some NOS tubes that will ...
    (alt.guitar.amps)
  • Re: Old valves
    ... The Dutch made Mullards worked out the same price as a fake Russian 'reissue', and the British made 'Eico' Mullard only came to twice the price of a fake 'reissue' due to the expense of shipping from the States. ... I use the best current valves I can get for other positions, but since having tried older production valves in V1 I'm intent upon building up a stockpile. ... I've bought a couple of tested ones from Watford Valves to play around with - one drive tested for high gain and one cryogenically treatedThey're great for the kind of sound they give but the older valves are in a league of their own. ... having one enjoyable afternoon you can buy some NOS tubes that will ...
    (alt.guitar.amps)
  • Re: Sovtek tubes suck!!!!!
    ... Without a reliable supply of old 12AX7s at a sane price, ... I currently have all Mullards running in that amp, but I probably should put something else in the PI hole. ... Telefunken, RCA, GE and Sylvania tubes, though! ... have had more problem valves than you, ...
    (alt.guitar.amps)
  • Re: Ampli problem
    ... I have a Marshall JTM30 from 4 years, used approx 2 times a week at ... I have seen in the back of the ampli there are 5 tubes: ... Your amp is probably in need of a service. ... Some valves use slightly different designs ...
    (uk.music.guitar)
  • Re: Ampli problem
    ... I have a Marshall JTM30 from 4 years, used approx 2 times a week at ... I have seen in the back of the ampli there are 5 tubes: ... Your amp is probably in need of a service. ... generally buy from one of the valve manufacturers and re-brand the valves ...
    (uk.music.guitar)