Musician Forum - Band Discussion Board - BandMix

Currently, I'm using Ruby tubes, and they're just "okay". I was thinking about replacing them with some Mesa tubes. They're pretty expensive for a set of two though. Does anybody have any other suggestions?

Unfortunately you can't try out tubes, so streaming video is about the only source, but bad audio can be deceptive.

Kruliosis wrote:Currently, I'm using Ruby tubes, and they're just "okay". I was thinking about replacing them with some Mesa tubes. They're pretty expensive for a set of two though. Does anybody have any other suggestions?

Unfortunately you can't try out tubes, so streaming video is about the only source, but bad audio can be deceptive.

Buy Russian tubes, comrade. They never stopped making 'em.

Sovtek.

Shred6 is the real person to pipe up about this. He used to be a tube ho.

I use ruby tubes in my Lee Jackson head, and I like em fine - but it doesnt use 6L6's. Uses low voltage.
The clean channel with the preamp kicks the crap out of the dirty channel.

Thanks guys!

I heard Russian tubes were good, same thing for Euro tubes.

Maybe I'm just being picky about glorified vacuum tubes, or I should get my amp modded.

What amp are you putting them in?

What kind of sound do you want?

I just went through this.

I use a Fender Twin Reverb modded with (2) 10" Ramrods.
I installed 4 JJ's 6l6's + electro harmonix 12at7's and 12ax7's. WOW, big difference than shitty old Sovtek 5881's crap.

If you like BIG, CLEAN sounds from the fender era, stay away from the Sovtek crap.

"Shred is the resident tube ho" and as soon as he sees this post, he'll set you straight..

I only use Tung-Sol Tubes in my Soldano, Twin and Hiwatt!

Someone send Shred a message if you have that ability.
Let him know his services are needed.

(I forgot all about Tung-Sol)

If you have the cash, go with Svetlana Winged C. Best I ever used. If not, JJ's should do just fine.

Ooh that's a mouthful, Svetlana tubes are somewhere near 100 and change for a quad.

I am sure they are good, but 100$ good?

That guitar isn't going to play itself and neither will those tubes.. lol

Yea, I know. It all depends on how you look at things. I'm one of those people who says "well, it's only about $30 more. If the tubes are gonna last a few years with normal use, then it doesn't seem like so much."

But If I just didn't have the money, I'd go with JJ's. The last Mesas I bought were GT, and they were awful. JJ's are pretty consistent like the Svetlanas. All others seem to be hit or miss. For example, I actually have some Sovtek 5881's that sound really good. I use them in my DeVille. It all depends on which batch you end up with when it comes to Sovtek and Tung Sol. Even the first GT that came with my old Mesa amp were pretty good. It's a crap-shoot.

You know how I am with preamp tubes. I'll spend a freaking fortune on those. And it's totally worth it. There's been a few preamp tubes that I spent $100 a piece. Those turned out to be overkill. I wouldn't spend over $60 for one anymore.

Shredd's right about Sovtek. I've been screwed by bad ones 3 times over in my Ampeg VL1001. I've also still to re-tube it as of yet because I don't trust any of the companies with tubes anymore. Some are great...and the rest are garbage. Still using the stock tubes in my Peavey 6505+. Just wish that the lead channel didn't absolutely require a Decimator...

Out of curiosity, how do you know when to replace tubes? It may just be a shitty amplifier to begin with.

Mike, I have the same amp Metal D does, and it's a good amp, not a Recto, but still better than most for the price. heh, for a Recto, I could just spend the money on getting my car fixed.

Capt. I think the tubes I have right now run at $30 a pop. So with tax, it's about the same as the tubes Shredd recommended. The Mesa tubes I was looking at cost about $60 for a pair.

Shredd, I definitely look into those Svetlana tubes. I've heard your music, and it's obvious that you go for clarity, which is what I'm looking for. I've heard of those before. Thanks for the tip!

Sean, another good recommendation! I forgot about Tung-Sol. I'll have to look into those too.

Thanks for all the advice guys! I think I have about three tubes on my list so far. Should be plenty enough to choose from there. But, if anybody else knows of any other gems, please post it.

JJ's are about 70$ for a matched quad.

At this point, the only ones I wouldn't buy are Sovtek 5881's.

(I have 2, 1 with a broken key but both still viable I'd get rid of for a song and a dance if anyone needs them)

I like cheap, because I break everything.. (awwwww wtf man)

Everybody buys Sovtek, and many complain later on.

Now I did hear that JJ's were really neato.

I need to really think good and well about the possibility of selling my amp to get a Marshall JCM800. Some say they're overrated, but the vintage Marshall sound never disappoints