Places to buy tubes for guitar amps?

[jo.scott@gmail.com]

I am thinking of retubing a couple of guitar amps and am wondering if
anyone knows of places in Aus that sell tubes? I would like to find
somewhere that has a good range (stuff like JJ, Mullard, Groove Tubes
etc) and that will post them to me if it's too far to go there myself
(I live in Newcastle - so it's no hassle to go to Sydney)...
Thanks
Scott

[Kane \(Ian L\)]

>I am thinking of retubing a couple of guitar amps and am wondering if
> anyone knows of places in Aus that sell tubes? I would like to find
> somewhere that has a good range (stuff like JJ, Mullard, Groove Tubes
> etc) and that will post them to me if it's too far to go there myself
> (I live in Newcastle - so it's no hassle to go to Sydney)...
> Thanks

I've pondered that question too.. (although good luck trying to find
Mullards)..

Probably the best place to get them is not from Oz, but from Lord Valve
(yes, that guy in alt.guitar.amps who has some very outspoken political
views) at http://www.nebsnow.com/LordValve

Yes, the website looks crappy... but if you email him to send you the tube
catalogues you'll see that he offers the best prices i've seen to date. He
burns the tubes in 24-48 hours before matching them. Matches them as closse
if not closer than other places (very important to have matched power tubes,
although in the case of preamp tubes you don't want them matched)...

What type of amp? (just curious)

Hope this Helps, although not in Oz, nevertheless good.

If you are comitted to Oz, ask Dale Sherlock at http://www.sherlockamps.com/

He is the best Amp guy in the country (IMHO)... although he is in Melbourne

regards,
Ian

[Shakir]

I got a 4 pack of matching Ruby el 34's from that place in coogee near rare
guitars - the fixit guy... Cant remember his name but im sure he would mail
em.

[jo.scott@gmail.com]

>Probably the best place to get them is not from Oz, but from Lord
Valve
>(yes, that guy in alt.guitar.amps who has some very outspoken
political
>views) at http://www.nebsnow.com/LordValve

He is kinda outspoken, but he definitely seems to know his stuff when
it comes to tube amps... I might give him a try actually.

>Yes, the website looks crappy... but if you email him to send you the
tube
>catalogues you'll see that he offers the best prices i've seen to
date. He
>burns the tubes in 24-48 hours before matching them. Matches them as
closse
>if not closer than other places (very important to have matched power
tubes,
>although in the case of preamp tubes you don't want them matched)...

I like the idea of pre-burning the tubes. I wonder why more people
don't do this? It makes so much sense!

>What type of amp? (just curious)

Well, there are two actually... I have a Marshall Valvestate, which I
am looking to warm up a bit by putting a nice 12AX7 in the preamp
(currently has a very chilly, nasty - sounding Sovtek POS), and I may
need to retube my Orange sometime in the nearish future (15 watt Class
A amp that gets a LOT of use)... which is going to be kinda expensive.
:)

Cheers,
Scottie

[Kane \(Ian L\)]

> He is kinda outspoken,

understatement of the century :-)

> I like the idea of pre-burning the tubes. I wonder why more people
> don't do this? It makes so much sense!

Time..

> Well, there are two actually... I have a Marshall Valvestate, which I
> am looking to warm up a bit by putting a nice 12AX7 in the preamp
> (currently has a very chilly, nasty - sounding Sovtek POS),

SELL IT!!!

> and I may
> need to retube my Orange sometime in the nearish future (15 watt Class
> A amp that gets a LOT of use)... which is going to be kinda expensive.
> :)

Well a true Class A amp would be cheap to re-valve (re-tube? take your pick)
since it would only have one power valve.. (Assuing you have one of the A30R
varients, that is Class A/B amp, rather than true Class A... much like my
Mesa Boogie... says "Class A" on the back but in reality is is Class A/B...
but this is a good thing since true Class A is about 30% efficient while
Class A/B is about 80% efficient).

But I see what you mean about re-tubing 8 valves in your amp.. 4X 12AX7 and
4XEL84

Ask Lord Valve and others in alt.guitar.amps what he thinks you should get
to retube your amp. (just don't say anything political... )

Tell us how you go.. i'd be curious... as to what valves they recommend...


PS: I can never decide whether to use the word 'valve' or 'tube' .... oh
well... we know what we mean.

[Andy]

<....>

>>Probably the best place to get them is not from Oz, but from Lord
>> Valve

I can second this... LV knows tubes.

>> Yes, the website looks crappy... but if you email him to send you
>> the tube catalogues you'll see that he offers the best prices
>> i've seen to date. He burns the tubes in 24-48 hours before
>> matching them. Matches them as closse if not closer than other
>> places (very important to have matched power tubes, although in
>> the case of preamp tubes you don't want them matched)...


Also very important is to have the amp biased (if required) by a decent
tech after replacing tubes in the power section. I'm not overly
familiar with the Orange range of amps.


jo.scott@gmail.com wrote in
news:1100024118.564147.166080@f14g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com:

> I like the idea of pre-burning the tubes. I wonder why more people
> don't do this? It makes so much sense!


Time is probably the main factor.


>> What type of amp? (just curious)


> Well, there are two actually... I have a Marshall Valvestate,
> which I am looking to warm up a bit by putting a nice 12AX7 in the
> preamp (currently has a very chilly, nasty - sounding Sovtek POS),


Had to cut in here...you mightn't find a great deal of difference
replacing the pre-amp tube in the Valve State - Sovtek don't make the
*best* tubes, but they certainly aren't the worst. The chilly, nasty
sound you describe is more likely coming from the Solid-State power
section of the amp.


> and I may need to retube my Orange sometime in the nearish future
> (15 watt Class A amp that gets a LOT of use)... which is going to
> be kinda expensive.
>:)

Sounds like you might be better off selling the Valvestate and sinking
your money into the Orange - you'll get more tone for your $$$. What's
the valve configuration of the Orange? A 15-watter Class-A shouldn't
be too heavy on the hip pocket, even if you decide to go for the NOS
stuff.


Cheers,
Andy

[Kane \(Ian L\)]

> Well a true Class A amp would be cheap to re-valve (re-tube? take your
> pick)
> since it would only have one power valve.. (Assuing you have one of the
> A30R

sorry... didn't read that you are using a 15Watt amp, rather than 30W as I
assumed

[jo.scott@gmail.com]

>> Well, there are two actually... I have a Marshall Valvestate, which
I
>> am looking to warm up a bit by putting a nice 12AX7 in the preamp
>> (currently has a very chilly, nasty - sounding Sovtek POS),

>SELL IT!!!

Nah, I couldn't get rid of it... the OD2 channel on it is fantastic for
the heavy stuff. It'd just be that much more useful if I could get a
better clean sound out of it :)

>Well a true Class A amp would be cheap to re-valve (re-tube? take your
pick)
>since it would only have one power valve.. (Assuing you have one of
the A30R
>varients, that is Class A/B amp, rather than true Class A... much like
my
>Mesa Boogie... says "Class A" on the back but in reality is is Class
A/B...
>but this is a good thing since true Class A is about 30% efficient
while
>Class A/B is about 80% efficient).

Pure Class A here... the valves in it are EL84 x 2, ECC 83 x 2 and GZ34
rectifier valve. It is the sweetest sounding amp I have ever been
priveleged enough to play through... doesn't really do the full on
thrash distortion though (which I have kind of a soft spot for), which
is why I'm hanging on to the Valvestate... until I can afford a nice
JCM900 and quad (and that could be awhile)...

Luckily there is a least one pretty highly regarded amp guy in
Newcastle... so I'll be getting him to do it.

Cheers,
Scottie

[Kane \(Ian L\)]

>>SELL IT!!!
>
> Nah, I couldn't get rid of it... the OD2 channel on it is fantastic for
> the heavy stuff. It'd just be that much more useful if I could get a
> better clean sound out of it :)

Well use a V-Twin or something for the sound!

anyway.. your ears.


> Pure Class A here... the valves in it are EL84 x 2, ECC 83 x 2 and GZ34

ECC83's are more commonly known as 12AX7's

secondly, if it were PURE Class A it should really be a 24Watt amp (since
the plate dissipation on an EL84 is 12Watts)

There are many common misconceptions about class A amplification in the
guitar realm.
A lot of people think the Vox AC-30 is a Class A amp, where in fact it is a
Class AB amp (albeit running very hot)

That said... weather an amp is Class A or Class AB, you'd have to have some
pretty damm finely tuned ears to hear the difference (unless it is a really
poorly designed class AB)... and if you're playing your rock loud.. forget
about being able to hear the difference!

> rectifier valve. It is the sweetest sounding amp I have ever been
> priveleged enough to play through... doesn't really do the full on
> thrash distortion though (which I have kind of a soft spot for), which
> is why I'm hanging on to the Valvestate... until I can afford a nice
> JCM900 and quad (and that could be awhile)...

I'd personally go the JCM800, but then I'm not into thrash stuff..... (which
doesn't really explain why I've got a Boogie... then again... I only run my
Boogie on the clean channel... )

[Kane \(Ian L\)]

> secondly, if it were PURE Class A it should really be a 24Watt amp (since
> the plate dissipation on an EL84 is 12Watts)

actually... i'm going to hold back off that until (which is not saying that
I ever will) look at the circutry and see how it is running..

If I was really dedicated i'd wack it into Circuitmaker (or PSpice) and
analyse it that way... but thats way too much work.

So yes... it 'could' be Class A...

[Shakir]

sell the valvestate and buy some new tubes for the orange! LOL

>>What type of amp? (just curious)
>
> Well, there are two actually... I have a Marshall Valvestate, which I
> am looking to warm up a bit by putting a nice 12AX7 in the preamp
> (currently has a very chilly, nasty - sounding Sovtek POS), and I may
> need to retube my Orange sometime in the nearish future (15 watt Class
> A amp that gets a LOT of use)... which is going to be kinda expensive.
> :)
>
> Cheers,
> Scottie
>

[Shakir]

hahah Kane you beat me to it!
hehehe

"Kane (Ian L)" <ianlat@bigHELLOpond.net.au> wrote in message
news:DOakd.30529$K7.24545@news-server.bigpond.net.au...

>> Well, there are two actually... I have a Marshall Valvestate, which I
>> am looking to warm up a bit by putting a nice 12AX7 in the preamp
>> (currently has a very chilly, nasty - sounding Sovtek POS),
>
> SELL IT!!!
>

[Shakir]

Had a listen to our guitarist playing thru some new "badcat" class A's
15watt class A was loud enough to play a big stage!

SOOO expensive though!

He ended up buying that awesome Badcat distortion pedal (the really wide
silver one that is about $800!!!) it has a tube in it too...
Sounds great thru Marshall jcm

Lots of great info at http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/
I'm sure you all know this site... You can find yourself in the user reviews
for hours!

GREAT resource for finding out what tubes/pickups/guitar combos will do
together...

I'm a drummer but I also have a Laney GH100s + matching 4x12 slant quad
which has only one channel (DIRT!) :)
Playing an eppi Gibson les paul goldtop with custom bridge pickup...
Put the new ruby el34's in it and warmed the bias.... It melts marshal's!

Shakir

[Kane \(Ian L\)]

> hahah Kane you beat me to it!

Sorry I didn't make it to your gig. After work on Friday I felt like crap
and didn't end up going out.

Anyway, post away when you have other gigs coming up (in melb)

[Shakir]

Will do.

I don't think we have any til' Sat Dec 4th in the Gershwin at the espy.

cya
-=S=-



"Kane (Ian L)" <ianlat@bigHELLOpond.net.au> wrote in message
news:7Wxkd.31698$K7.10277@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>> hahah Kane you beat me to it!
>
> Sorry I didn't make it to your gig. After work on Friday I felt like crap
> and didn't end up going out.
>
> Anyway, post away when you have other gigs coming up (in melb)
>
>
>

[Kane \(Ian L\)]

> I don't think we have any til' Sat Dec 4th in the Gershwin at the espy.

would you guys be on after, say 11.30pm?

[Shakir]

Just looking at the espy gig page...

Teargas (12), The DeadThings (10.30), Honey Dip (9.30) & Charing Cross
(8.30)

nope sorry dude :(



"Kane (Ian L)" <ianlat@bigHELLOpond.net.au> wrote in message
news:y9ykd.31717$K7.6190@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>> I don't think we have any til' Sat Dec 4th in the Gershwin at the espy.
>
> would you guys be on after, say 11.30pm?
>
>

[Kane \(Ian L\)]

> Just looking at the espy gig page...
>
> Teargas (12), The DeadThings (10.30), Honey Dip (9.30) & Charing Cross
> (8.30)
>
> nope sorry dude :(

Chances are I'd be working till 11pm... although I might get put on a day
shift....

anyway I'll keep it in mind.

Cheers..

[lopa]

Few months ego I bought couple of Mullards from www.analogpro.com local dealer for only $15. Mullards are great.






I am thinking of retubing a couple of guitar amps and am wondering if
anyone knows of places in Aus that sell tubes? I would like to find
somewhere that has a good range (stuff like JJ, Mullard, Groove Tubes
etc) and that will post them to me if it's too far to go there myself
(I live in Newcastle - so it's no hassle to go to Sydney)...
Thanks
Scott

[Ext User(Andy)]

lopa wrote:

> jo.scott@gmail.com Wrote:
>
>>I am thinking of retubing a couple of guitar amps and am wondering if
>>anyone knows of places in Aus that sell tubes? I would like to find
>>somewhere that has a good range (stuff like JJ, Mullard, Groove Tubes
>>etc) and that will post them to me if it's too far to go there myself
>>(I live in Newcastle - so it's no hassle to go to Sydney)...
>>Thanks
>>Scott
>
> Few months ego I bought couple of Mullards from www.analogpro.com
> local dealer for only $15. Mullards are great.

http://evatco.com.au/
http://www.retrovox.com.au/

Are two good places to start. Both do mail-order.

I recently purchased some of the new production Tung-Sol 12ax7's from
Evatco.com.au and got great service. Ordered by phone on Saturday and
the tubes arrived at the post office (was cash on delivery) on the
Wednesday. Shipping was about $10.

Stay away from the Groove Tubes shit, they're the same tubes as everyone
else is selling, but they cost more (they don't *make* tubes, they just
put their stamp on them).

I highly recommend the (new) Tung-Sol 12ax7 as a preamp tube. They
transformed my old Vibrosonic Reverb (early 70's with some of the
original preamp tubes) from a great amp to a friggin' *fantastic*
sounding amp.

Good luck,

Andy.