Anyone ever bought tubes from Captain Bob on E-Bay?

[teleon]

http://stores.ebay.com/Captain-Bobs-...QQftidZ2QQtZkm

[JimiBryant]

no, but a cursory glance over his stuff makes me think "this person
isn't messing about" and I'd certainly give him a try if I needed a
set that he offered.

I would tend to think that the amount of time (and attention to detail)
it would take to set up something like that would rule out being a bozo
or rip-off artist, but that's just my in-a-minute snap judgement.

I've bookmarked his store, so thanks for the heads-up.

[ThermionicScott]

With a feedback score of > 99% over 3600 transactions, it doesn't look like the type of setup to swindle anyone.

- Scott

[xStonr]

I checked out the link. Not bad but I didn't see listed what brand of tube I would be buying ( I looked for a pair of 6L6's). I only saw that it could be from the 50's to present day and made in USA or Russia by various manufacturers.

Check out Dougs Tubes or KCA NOS. Both very honest and dependable dealers.

[JimiBryant]

+1 re: both Eurotubes and KCA

but Cap'n Bob's prices for a whole set of tubes are pretty darned good
and I wouldn't be too fussy were I to give him a try, given the cost.

seems like a good value for the money, much like Eurotubes.

KCA is great as long as one doesn't mind paying a premium price
for an awesome NOS tube that's been thoroughly checked out for any
defects/shorts/etc by being run at normal operating voltages
and not merely scoped on some antique tube tester. Mike has never
steered me wrong and at this point I would trust his judgement were
he to recommend one specific tube over another.

I don't mind paying for a pro such as Mike to sort through dozens or
hundreds of tubes and match them up in pairs & quads while throwing
out the ones that don't come up to spec. that's a lot of time and effort!

[getbent]

I bought some oddball tubes I needed for an old alamo amp... all good, fast, just as expected.

[ibobunot]

Originally Posted by xStonr

Check out Dougs Tubes or KCA NOS. Both very honest and dependable dealers.

+ 1000

[gmann]

I've had much success with KCA tubes. Great product and easy to deal with.

[6942]

++1

KCA tubes
Tube Depot

I've purchased tubes successfully on flea-bay also.....when the price was so low.....it was worth taking a chance? (i.e. 8 RCA 6V6GT tubes for $39).

Steve

[mikespe]

I emailed Bob at Capt. Bob's store on eBay regarding tubes for my Blues Jr. (These tubes). I asked what direction with these tubes change the tone of my Blonde Blues Jr? Will it be clean with a lot of headroom or will the amp break up earlier? The amp is completely stock with no mods or speaker changes.

The reply I got was:

These tubes are Sovtek used in many amps as the stock tubes. Have good reviews but I can't tell the direction for your amp as 1. Amps vary, 2. I don't have your ears. They come with a money back guarantee if you don't like the sound.

Now I thought you could give a general idea of the tone certain tubes will give an amp. It's not TOTALLY blind is it? I mean you'll know what tubes give more cleans and what tubes give more break-up correct?

[zook]

Originally Posted by mikespe

I emailed Bob at Capt. Bob's store on eBay regarding tubes for my Blues Jr. (These tubes). I asked what direction with these tubes change the tone of my Blonde Blues Jr? Will it be clean with a lot of headroom or will the amp break up earlier? The amp is completely stock with no mods or speaker changes.

The reply I got was:



Now I thought you could give a general idea of the tone certain tubes will give an amp. It's not TOTALLY blind is it? I mean you'll know what tubes give more cleans and what tubes give more break-up correct?

I think the response was accurate and polite. I don't hear what you hear or want to hear. The offer to send them back if they aren't what you want is the best solution.

Wiinnie

[mikespe]

Originally Posted by zook

I think the response was accurate and polite. I don't hear what you hear or want to hear. The offer to send them back if they aren't what you want is the best solution.

Wiinnie

You're missing my point...Whenever someone on this or any forum ask what tubes will give more clean headroom or break-up early on a particular amp people reply with name and model numbers of tubes. "This particular tube sounds like....." or "these tubes in the preamp will..." fill in the blanks. Certain tubes are prone to certain tones according to what I have read in MANY forums...If they are not they why switch tubes? They are all the same, right? They're not the same and that's the question I asked the guy.

I never said he was rude or it wasn't what I wanted to hear...and to offer to send them back is an excellent solution. But if I can find out if a tube gives more or less breakup BEFORE buying then it saves EVERYONE involved time. No his ears aren't mine and mine aren't his...but a GENERAL idea is possible.

[Billm]

I've probably put more EL84s into Blues Juniors than anybody besides Fender, and I agree with Captain Bob. The effect on tone and breakup is minimal, especially since they're the same brand as the stock tube.

Most of the change in tone, which most people hear as improvement, is simply because you replaced old tubes with fresh ones. Yes, there are subtle differences, but they disappear entirely when the drummer and the bassist kick in. I've also noticed that Blues Junior owners (and other master volume amp owners) automatically adjust the volume/gain vs. master volume balance to their preference, dialing in as much or as little distortion as they like, canceling out everything but the increased brightness in fresh tubes.

The only tubes that I've ever heard that sounded markedly better than any other EL84s were $200/pair Mullards, and even their tone would be lost in a band situation.

[graphs]

the difference is people here are offering opinions. do your research and then buy what you think is going to get closest to what you're after. there's going to be a lot of trial and error. ask anybody who switches out tubes on the regular.

[mikespe]

Originally Posted by Billm

I've probably put more EL84s into Blues Juniors than anybody besides Fender, and I agree with Captain Bob. The effect on tone and breakup is minimal, especially since they're the same brand as the stock tube.

Most of the change in tone, which most people hear as improvement, is simply because you replaced old tubes with fresh ones. Yes, there are subtle differences, but they disappear entirely when the drummer and the bassist kick in. I've also noticed that Blues Junior owners (and other master volume amp owners) automatically adjust the volume/gain vs. master volume balance to their preference, dialing in as much or as little distortion as they like, canceling out everything but the increased brightness in fresh tubes.

The only tubes that I've ever heard that sounded markedly better than any other EL84s were $200/pair Mullards, and even their tone would be lost in a band situation.

Bill, I appreciate the info but I have read MANY of your posts on the FDP forum describing a tubes tone:

Trickydave, that 12AY7 will do a better job of mellowing the tone in V1 than in V2. V2 only uses one stage of the tube.

The Sovtek 5751 has a nice roundness that's very easy on the ear. Some might say it lacks brightness, but there's plenty on hand; it's just not strident. So three of them add up to a very pleasant sound and a little less gain across the board, similar to the flavor of using a 12AY7 in V1.

I know that the last person who tried to equate plate structure to tone got thoroughly razzed, but in my experience, the long-plate tubes generally do sound warmer. The Sovtek 5751 and 12AX7LPS use the same plate structure, different from the usual Sovtek/Groove Tubes 12AX7. The GT 12AX7M also uses a longer plate structure, as do the new Mullard-branded and Tung-Sol tubes. Some say the longer structure is more sensitive to filament rattle than the short, boxy construction of the standard JJ and Sovtek 12AX7s.

Granted...different tubes but maybe now you'll see what I am talking about. There are MANY more posts like tis all over the internet. I just want to get some idea on what to expect BEFORE I pay money to switch tubes.

[Deadduck]

I think what everyone is trying to say is that these are stock Sovtek tubes. The same ones that Fender puts in the amp at the factory. They probably won't change your tone very much if you have stock tubes in there now.

Billm's posts were about different TYPES of tubes, such as a 12at7 or 5751 (which are lower gain) vs a 12ax7 (higher gain). There are some differences by manufacturer within a given type of tube, but these differences are subtle, and very subjective. One man's "full sounding" can be another man's "muddy". So it would be difficult to say whether you'll like a tube or not until you try it.

Personally, I wouldn't waste my time and money on the sovtek tubes unless you just like the sound of the stock tubes and want to get the same tone again. And there's nothing wrong with that.

My favorites are JJ EL-84's, Tung-Sol Reissue 12ax7's and 6v6's, NOS Jan-GE or Phillips 5751's. JJ 12ax7's are ok too, but they are darker sounding to my ear, which can be a good thing in a very bright amp.

But I like these tubes because I have bought some and used them and learned what I liked and didn't like. Also, my amps are a DRRI and an Orange Tiny Terror, which are both different from a Blues Jr.

Here's a link from KCA about classic Fender amps. It doesn't apply completely to the Blues Jr., but you might get some ideas from it. Warning, most of the NOS tubes are EXPENSIVE, but he also recommends some current production tubes.
http://kcanostubes.com/content/newsl...sp?ArticleID=5

Some websites offer "graded" tubes, which are supposed to be separated by gain level. Bob at Eurotubes may do this.

Hope this helps,

Keith

[mikespe]

Originally Posted by Deadduck

I think what everyone is trying to say is that these are stock Sovtek tubes. The same ones that Fender puts in the amp at the factory. They probably won't change your tone very much if you have stock tubes in there now.

Billm's posts were about different TYPES of tubes, such as a 12at7 or 5751 (which are lower gain) vs a 12ax7 (higher gain). There are some differences by manufacturer within a given type of tube, but these differences are subtle, and very subjective. One man's "full sounding" can be another man's "muddy". So it would be difficult to say whether you'll like a tube or not until you try it.

Personally, I wouldn't waste my time and money on the sovtek tubes unless you just like the sound of the stock tubes and want to get the same tone again. And there's nothing wrong with that.

My favorites are JJ EL-84's, Tung-Sol Reissue 12ax7's and 6v6's, NOS Jan-GE or Phillips 5751's. JJ 12ax7's are ok too, but they are darker sounding to my ear, which can be a good thing in a very bright amp.

But I like these tubes because I have bought some and used them and learned what I liked and didn't like. Also, my amps are a DRRI and an Orange Tiny Terror, which are both different from a Blues Jr.

Here's a link from KCA about classic Fender amps. It doesn't apply completely to the Blues Jr., but you might get some ideas from it. Warning, most of the NOS tubes are EXPENSIVE, but he also recommends some current production tubes.
http://kcanostubes.com/content/newsl...sp?ArticleID=5

Some websites offer "graded" tubes, which are supposed to be separated by gain level. Bob at Eurotubes may do this.

Hope this helps,

Keith

Thanks Keith...that helps a lot. But then it is VERY confusing as to why people say this tube sounds this way and that tube sounds this way when someone asks about tubes? Your answer made a lot of sense and should be copy and pasted whenever someone asks about tube tone. Because EVERYWHERE on guitar forums people tell newbs like myself that you will get this tone or that tone if you use this tube or that tube. Google search it...YES graph...I have been researching this topic since before I got my Blues Jr...Keith's answer tells people not to necessarily expect the same tone someone else got with the same tube/amp combo.