New tubes vs/ Old tubes

[scantron81]

The time has finally come to start re-tubing my amps. All I've ever played is old amps with old tubes. I don't know what new tubes sound like. I went to the store to buy some new 6l6's and the guy told me I'm better off tracking down NOS tubes. He said nothing he could sell me would make me happy. Are there any new tubes on the market that hold a candle to old tubes? I'm not a diehard vintage tube guy but if that's what it takes then I'll become one.

I need replacement:

6L6's
7868's
12au7
12at7
12ax7

[woodman]

you'll find staunch advocates of both. others are cool with the JJs and so forth. personally, i like to search out NOS tubes at a reasonable price when possible. are they worth it? to me, yes.

[marshman]

12AT7 and 12AU7 should pose little difficulty--they're still pretty reasonable in cost terms on the NOS market, at least compared to...

NOS 12AX7s, which can run close to $100 from highly reputable dealers.

6L6GC are a Catch-22. They are probably the most common audio tube from the golden age (here in the US, anyway), but also very, very popular, so demand drives prices up.

The 7868s are a real bear. They aren't in terribly great supply, so the few folks out there that need 'em hafta pony up real good fer 'em.

The thought process that defines my shopping tendencies are this: "NOS tubes sound superior in every way, but that don't really matter once the drummer sits down." So, if you're primarily recording, NOS tubes could be utilized to their fullest effect. If you're gigging, it's not likely anyone will know the difference. If I find a great deal, I might jump on it, but I've got enough JJs to get me through the gig, I'll survive.

Good luck and Happy Hunting

[scantron81]

I hear nothing but ire for Groove Tube, Sovtek, and Electro Harmonix. How reliable are JJ's? How about Ruby Tubes? Tungsols? Genalex? these new Svetlanas and Mullards?

Here are the amps I have:

'68 Fender Bassman head

'65 Deluxe Reverb (reissue, but considering swapping out for NOS tubes as I'm least happy with this amp)

60's Bogen Ch-35 head - this is where the 7868's come in. WHy are they no longer made? Didn't Ampeg use them?

[BluezyBruce]

I picked up a amp with a set of JJ's in it and have been playing them for over two years now.

You can get Groove tubes, I would recomend 6L6 with the S on the end. Even Ruby tubes with the S. The S are from the same place as the JJ's are from the Check factory and are a little more money, but I think they are a better tube.

Mesa tube are Ok in my book also, not quite as round or full sounding as JJ's to me. I have heard good things about the new Tung Sol tubes. There are so many out there.

[scantron81]

So, how long do JJ's last?

[Groovey Records]

till the middle of your solo the night the A&R guy from the record company shows up after two years of inviting him (or Her)

[Thin69]

I put a matched set of (4) Electro Harmonix 6L6's in my old Twin Reverb and am very satisfied with the sound.

Don't forget to buy power tubes in matched sets and it is always wise to re-bias fixed bias amps.

[BluezyBruce]

I have been using JJ's in my amp for over a year at three hour minimum per week. My amp is not biased hot at all just where it should be, 35ma I believe. I don't drive em hard either. But the tubes have been used for longer than that just not as steady. I do use a drive pedal at times. I can't realy say how long they will last but I do like the sound of them, nice and full.

Good luck,

Bruce

[Travis in BMore]

I can say that in a critical listening environment (my living room!), most NOS tubes sound superior to thier contemporary counterparts. There are exceptions to this, but the modern day tubes I find better than old stock don't involve guitar amps (845's 300B's, etc). The other exception is when using modern day amps, some of them have been voiced using readily available, current manufacture tubes- neither case is relavant to you. However, a set of new Russian tubes are usually pretty cheap, and get the job done. I save my NOS tubes for special occasions, because not only do they "not make 'em like they used to", they (in some cases) don't make them period!

[BrownsBrick]

I have tried both JJ 6l6's and Tung Sol 6L6GC's in a BF Twin Reverb and I was a big fan of the JJ's and not so much the Tung Sol's, which sounded kind of muddy to my ears. I really love the JJ 6v6's as well and think they sound better in my deluxe than the black plate rca's i have too (which sound better in my princeton).

As far as new 12ax7's are concerned i'd go with the Tung Sol's. You can find decent NOS 12ax7's for real cheap, especially if theyre labeled something unfamiliar like baldwin labeled zeniths. Just picked up 3 for 20 dollars, internally matched and sound excellent.

Keep looking! Just remember that when it comes to NOS best to sniff out a deal than pay a rediculous sum of money when some new productions are great choices for the price as well.