Crap valves on amps these days...

[smitty_p]

I guess I've been lucky with tubes. I don't know how old the tubes are in my '73 Champ, but they've been there for awhile. It even has a rectifier tube. My Marshall Class 5 does fine, but I'll probably change them, more for tone than necessity.

The original Sovtek tubes in my Vox still work fine. But, I have changed them, too. Again, it was more for tone. I changed the 12AX7 for a Jan Phillips 5751 and I changed the Sovtek EL-84 for an JJ El-84. However, understandably, the EL-84 change was not as significant as the 12AX7 to 5751 swap.

Some of the Sovtek tubes are actually pretty reliable, even if the tone may not be what some like. In fact, even some Electro-Harmonix tubes are made in Russia.

 

[dbb]

Same here. Mines all wood and quite old but in super great shape. And I too still use mine when I don't feel like using paper and pencil. I hate calculators. They make ya lazy in the headbone!!

Now I'm wondering if the slide rule will end
up in the "Shoulda kept that" department.

I still try to do some math by hand just for practice.

No, Tony, I don't think you'll regret selling your slide rule.

 

[Alex_SG]

A slide rule?
Oh my God you are a total dinosaur!
Half the people alive don't even know what that is.
(Don't laugh.I recently sold mine on E-bay for
$150.00. They are collector's items now.)

Scariest part, Tony... I am only 40!
My Dad was a Mechanical Design Engineer. He was trained in the 60s, when slide rules, drawing boards etc were still commonly used, and I quite often used to hang around and watch him when I was a kid. (He used to do a lot of his work from home.) he taught me how a slide rule worked when I was about 10 years old.
I am probably one of the only fellas alive under the age of 50 that can use a slide rule better than I use a calculator!
Here's mine:

 

[weemac]

I've had a good run with Sovtek valves. I know many folks will complain about the tone from them but alot of it has to do with that they are military spec and sound was not really considered in their design (I'm talking about their 6l6gc here)
I did have a pair fail once but I was actually using them out of their spec..
I had a pair in my fender champ 25se that lasted for years until the amp lost its volume (and the tone went mushy) and once replacing them with a fresh pair of standard spec tubes the amp was like new.

My Ashdown Lb30 has ruby tubes in it so I expect it to fail soon, then I'll fit Sovteks...

Eden.

 

[Tobacco Worm]

Eden,

Of all the tubes made today I think that Ruby is about the worst excuse for a tube as they come. I wouldn't use them in an amp made for my worst enemy. I put JJ tubes as a close second for the worst tubes around. They're not worth the price either.

Now I'm with ya 100% on the Sovtek tubes. They are stout and last a good while. A real great 12AX7 they make is the "WA" version. A real "snorter" in the preamp! My favorite tubes are from Electro Harmonix. Russian made and have great clarity and tone. Very well made tubes that are the best buy around too. When I retube amps (no more as I'm all SS now) E-H tubes were the only ones I used and never had anything but fabulous results. :)

 

[smitty_p]

Eden,

Of all the tubes made today I think that Ruby is about the worst excuse for a tube as they come. I wouldn't use them in an amp made for my worst enemy. I put JJ tubes as a close second for the worst tubes around. They're not worth the price either.

Wade,

I'd really like you to elaborate a bit on your impression of the JJ tubes.

Thanks.

 

[Tobacco Worm]

OK. The plates have far less proper coating on them to be stable over all. The filaments are often thin and easily burned and are susceptible to unwanted damage with minor impact that other tubes built from better quality slough off. The QC of final production is not inspiring. Even their popular ECC83S (12AX7) said to be a "select" tube, is sub standard. Again, the only thing worse are Ruby tubes. In short, these tubes are mass produced at a high rate and the elements within are not controlled in selection and you end up with poorly made tubes.

 

[dbb]

Are there any new tube brands you recommend?

 

[Tobacco Worm]

Best bang for the buck and best consistency is Electro Harmonix and Sovtek. Our Russian friends build good quality tubes and seldom has a poor one ever slipped past them. E-H are very good for the price and quite balanced for great tone and clarity. Sovtek has a long reputation for strength and reliability.

Of course this is not a personal opinion, but simply based upon observations and use for the past few decades. :)

 

[dbb]

Best bang for the buck and best consistency is Electro Harmonix and Sovtek.

Thanks...makes me feel better, that what I have mostly, other than OLD old stock tubes scavenged from old organs and such.

Like old 7025's instead of 12AX7's.

 

[weemac]

It appears that Sovtek and Electro Harmonix tubes are made in the same factory, and whilst they may be slightly different specs for different flavours it would explain why they are both a safe bet for modern valve amps..

Eden.

 

[smitty_p]

Best bang for the buck and best consistency is Electro Harmonix and Sovtek. Our Russian friends build good quality tubes and seldom has a poor one ever slipped past them. E-H are very good for the price and quite balanced for great tone and clarity. Sovtek has a long reputation for strength and reliability.

Of course this is not a personal opinion, but simply based upon observations and use for the past few decades. :)

Well, Wade, I consider your "observations and use for the past few decades" to be of far more value than much of what else I read on the internet.

Soooo, I went and did a just a little bit of tube rolling in my Vox AC4TV. I put an Electro-Harmonix 12AY7 in the preamp (I had a Jan Phillips 5751 in the preamp, but a Sovtek 12AX7 was the stock preamp) and I put the stock Sovtek EL-84 back in. I did have a JJ EL-84 in the power amp. I did notice the pins on the Sovtek are slightly thicker than the JJ's (should help the tube stay seated better) and the tube itself is just slightly wider and longer.

Anyway, I had the EH 12AY7 and Sovtek EL-84 combination in use some time ago and decided I'd give it another listen. That is a very nice combination. Since the 12AY7 has much less gain than a 12AX7 the amp only ever gets to that nice, pleasing crunchy overdrive/slight distortion. I don't care for this amp when driven to harsh distortion. The clean range is more usable, too.

Anyway, I had forgotten how I liked this combination. Sounds good.

Thanks for the good words, Wade.

 

[bea]

Before we start really complaining about poor quality of modern tubes we should consider their prices in relation to the average incomes. Old tubes may be better than new ones (but only the better ones survived...), but they have been really expensive. If JJs or EHs were allowed to cost $100 per piece (of, say a 6l6 or an EL34) there would be a lot more margin left for quality control (and more overall quality of the construction).

Actually we (don't) get what we (don't) pay for.

 

[Alex_SG]

The only thing that annoyed me with the ruby is that it has had less than 5 hours play time, not been left on to overheat, and not treated roughly... The amp has been treated with kid gloves, not turned up to full volume, not knocked around. All these precautions theoretically should extend the life of the tube. To last less than 5 hours, it was either a crap tube, or they are just built like crap.
I haven't got enough experience with tubes to comment, but Wade has, and I trust Wade and his opinion. If he says they are junk... Then they are junk!

 

[Tobacco Worm]

Actually the folks involved in Star Wars said that they wouldn't even use Ruby tubes for suppositories for R2D2 or C3PO!

Oh, and Alex, thanks for the kind words!:)

 

[weemac]

Actually the folks involved in Star Wars said that they wouldn't even use Ruby tubes for suppositories for R2D2 or C3PO!

Oh, and Alex, thanks for the kind words!:)

Well C3PO might, he's a big Jesse....

Eden.

 

[Alex_SG]

Actually the folks involved in Star Wars said that they wouldn't even use Ruby tubes for suppositories for R2D2 or C3PO!

Oh, and Alex, thanks for the kind words!:)

You're welcome big brother!

 

[dbb]

Since the 12AY7 has much less gain than a 12AX7 the amp only ever gets to that nice, pleasing crunchy overdrive/slight distortion. I don't care for this amp when driven to harsh distortion. The clean range is more usable, too.

Using a 12 AY7, AT7 or AU7 tubes as a sub for a 12AX7 pre-amp tubes in amps that are prone to early break-up is a cool trick, of course depending on the desired results and the amp circuit in question.

I guess it depends on what you want to sound like.

 

[Tobacco Worm]

Well C3PO might, he's a big Jesse....

Eden.

OK, my Australian slang must be far too limited.
Is a "Jesse" kinda like a fella that likes to dance with other fellas?

 

[Tony M]

Best bang for the buck and best consistency is Electro Harmonix and Sovtek. Our Russian friends build good quality tubes and seldom has a poor one ever slipped past them. E-H are very good for the price and quite balanced for great tone and clarity. Sovtek has a long reputation for strength and reliability.

Of course this is not a personal opinion, but simply based upon observations and use for the past few decades. :)

That's because you can't get away with putting crap tubes in the flight computers of Mig 25s.
:)