General Music Chat

If any of you tube amp players out there want to buy some premium NOS preamp tube packages from me, now would be a good time.

Normally I'd put this topic in the gear for sale forum, but it's always been a ghost-town down there.

Here's the first 2 packages I'm selling:



V1- RFT ecc83: There is a huge following of people who wouldn't have any other tube in their V1. The thick glass bottles are considered by many in the tube world to be some of the most resistant to microphonics ever made. The tube breaks up early and distorts really smooth. Marshall used to put these in their high end amps decades ago. Great for hard rock, perfect for Metal.

V2- Mullard 7025a/12ax7a: The most revered tube in this package. These are some of the cleanest tubes you'll run across. Mullard tubes have a midrange that kills all others without breaking a sweat. The clarity is astounding. Behind an RFT they allow every note to be extremely articulate. Awesome for leads. Outside of the 10M (which go for $200 a piece) and the CV4004 ($100 a piece), there isn't a better Mullard around.

V3- GE 12ax7a long-plate. My personal favorite V3 tube. Made by GE for Kinsman organs. It's the most underestimated tube on the planet. Anytime GE made their tubes for organ companies, they sent their premium stuff. The Bass tones that come out of these tubes are unGodly killer. With a GE long-plate tube in the V3 position, the musical landscape comes full circle.

Although these are all re-labeled tubes, they are the real-deal Holyfield. It was very common in the old days to outsource and re-label tubes. All of the codes on the tubes indicate where they were made and who made them.

A lot of you here on Bandmix know that I've been experimenting with these tubes for a while now. In fact it all started here. And this is the result of mass experimentation to find a perfect blend of tubes specifically suited for Hard-Rock and Metal players.

Since some of you have had to endure some of my nerdy long-assed posts concerning NOS tubes, I just wanted to give back a little, and make them available to anyone here who might be interested before putting them up on ebay.

If you think your amp sounds good with GT, JJ, or Sovtek 12ax7's.. You might want to re-think that.

Because of the cost of these particular Mullards, I'll be making these packages available for $80. It might seem like a lot, but I promise you, I'm not making very much by selling them for that. Mullard 7025a/12ax7a tubes are hard to come across, and when you do, you'll be lucky to get one for under $50.

These tubes are no joke. Hit me up if you want your amp to sound the best you've ever heard it.

Hey Sredd,
I'm Hunter's Dad,Rocky. I'm wondering about your tubes you have for sale. I bought Hunter a Peavey Ulra 4x10 amp a while back. He really likes the amp at moderate volumes but it really gets noisey when turned halfway up on the gain and ultra gain channels. He really likes the clean at any volume (as do I). I've checked with Eurotubes and they have a package of tubes for around $80 that cut the gain in half but supposedly (according to Harmony Central reviews) "smooth" out the amp. The amp currently has 3 12AX7 preamps and 2 6L6 power tubes. They appear to be the original Ruby tubes. One more Question while I have you here- Do tubes affect the effects ? Just wondering because his Wah pedal sounds like a Wee pedal unless we run it through a solid state preamp (a Vox DC-5 watt) first. Do you have any advice? I would hate to buy tubes and still have the same problems.
Thanks,
Rocky

Hey Sredd,
I'm Hunter's Dad,Rocky. I'm wondering about your tubes you have for sale. I bought Hunter a Peavey Ulra 4x10 amp a while back. He really likes the amp at moderate volumes but it really gets noisey when turned halfway up on the gain and ultra gain channels. He really likes the clean at any volume (as do I). I've checked with Eurotubes and they have a package of tubes for around $80 that cut the gain in half but supposedly (according to Harmony Central reviews) "smooth" out the amp. The amp currently has 3 12AX7 preamps and 2 6L6 power tubes. They appear to be the original Ruby tubes. One more Question while I have you here- Do tubes affect the effects ? Just wondering because his Wah pedal sounds like a Wee pedal unless we run it through a solid state preamp (a Vox DC-5 watt) first. Do you have any advice? I would hate to buy tubes and still have the same problems.
Thanks,
Rocky

Nice to meet you Rocky.

First off Rocky let me say this. It's nice to see a dad supporting such a good talent as Hunter. His songwriting skills, vocals, and guitar playing are very impressive. I certainly hope you will always support his art-form and be proud of him every step of the way. Without having a band behind him, it's tough to do what he does. But I do think he has what it takes to be successful in music.

Just had to throw that out there and give my props to both of you.

That being said.. Bob at Eurotubes is a professional in his field. It is true that he can tame an amplifier with his modern tube packages. But what is the package he's proposing to do it with?

If it consists of JJ's, Tung Sols, Pentas, Sovteks, etc..etc.. Then Eurotubes are just doing their job sales-wise. I've never talked to anyone at Eurotubes or Doug ( Doug's tubes) about NOS packages. But just the suggestions alone for their packages make me shy away from it because Ive tried some of what they're suggesting, and they just don't measure up to NOS by a long-shot.. I'll give you an example Rocky.

Click this link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :IT&ih=018

This was my listing to sell what Guitar Center sells as being premium tubes. Not the Peaveys, and not the National, but the Groove Tubes. I had 4-Groove Tubes that were BARELY used, and could only get just over $1 a piece for the whole lot. Look at the prices for new Groove Tubes on Musician's Friend, and read the sales pitches. The ebay tube community is no joke. If you wanna know how good tubes are, the buyers set the price.

Public perception is a grey area when it comes to this kind of thing. An average everyday kid sometimes will say " I just bought some new GT's and I LOVE them XOXOXO!!!" But ask a real professional engineer, and they'll tell you to just get rid of them..

I can't say anything bad about Bob or Doug for giving people the advice they give with their modern tube packages. They deal with a high volume of buyers who are just looking to get something spectacular for the smallest price they're wiling to pay. For someone who doesn't know the difference between NOS and Modern, they sell them all day long. All power to them, they have to make a living. There's nothing dishonest in what they're selling in a business sense. The tubes will work. And anytime you're dealing with what people like to hear as far as sound goes, is subjective. But I've never met not 1 person who has bought NOS and gone back to modern tubes.

I'm not doing this for the money.. Feel free to ask Eurotubes if they think my package is worth what I'm asking.. One of 2 things will happen. Either they'll be honest and tell you it's a good deal, or they'll tell you that I'm full of s**t in hopes of making their own sale.

But ask anyone who really knows and is unbiased to their situation, and they'll overwhelmingly recommend that you try what I have to offer.

believe it or not Rocky. I used to have an Ultra 120 head. It was an older model, but it still had 4-preamp tubes, and those tubes were in that ebay listing. If Hunter has Peavey Super 7's in his amp, he should ditch them ASAP. They're the old Chinese made crap. It could be that one of them is dead and that's why he's having his wah problem. Usually in a tube amp, one of the preamp tubes is driving the effects loop. And in hearing what you're describing in the distortion, it follows suit to the idea that one or more of the preamp tubes has run it's course.

It's probably time to replace all of the tubes, and in light of everything, I would recommend getting some JJ, or Sed =C= 6l6's from either Bob or Doug.

I hope I've answered your questions Rocky. Feel free to ask any more in the future ok. I promise you man.. These tubes kill all.

Peace.

So I just have to ask. I've not even looked into the back of my Carvin Legacy Nomad in a while. Will the tubes you have work in my amp ?
Will I need someone who is not an eletroidjit do it or reset bias?
I need spares anyways. What do you thing Shred?

Well Sans.. One thing I forgot to mention is this. Both you and Hunter have combo amps. In a combo amp of your size, I'd probably substitute the GE for something with shorter plates. As a general rule, you wouldn't want to put a long-plate tube in a combo amp. There have been some who have said they've done it and gotten away with it. But in general it's said that the vibration of a combo is a little too much for a long-plate. But I used to have a Peavey Ultra 120 head and that thing weighed a TON. It was made with all 3/4 - 1" material. I can only imagine what Hunter's amp weighs. It's got to be 100lbs at least!! So I wouldn't worry about vibration to much in his amp.

Remember that buzz you were getting a while back? Try rattling a long-plate tube.

So in reality, for you, I'd recommend another 7025 tube for your V3. Which I do have. And the cost isn't any different than the GE. And I'd think about maybe even using a 5751 for your V5 phase inverter.

Now in your case alone Sans, you have 5-preamp tubes in your amp. A package for you would either have to be bigger, or you'd just be changing V1-V3 and leaving the other 2 alone.

If you're interested, I'll certainly come up with something for you. The RFT and Mullard would be fine, but after that, we'd need to equate smaller plate tubes into the mix than the GE.

You don't need to worry about biasing preamp tubes. You just plug in and go. It's as easy as changing a light-bulb.

I do need to buy tubes. Either just get some more GT's from Carvin, or if you can set me up with a better package for my amp. I can keep the ones I have as back ups. Could do that ok with just changing the V1-V3
Yes?

Yes..

I'll get back to you with some alternatives for your V3 ok.

Do you still want the RFT and Mullard? If you want to go cheaper, I can substitute either one, and you'd still have a killer sound.

But if you want the chronic, it's all good too my friend. Just let me know dude. I told you I've got your back man.

I love my amp. But I'd also love to get a little more crunchy metal tone out of her without having to go back to pedals. I work almost exclusivly with the tone and volume controls on my Paul now. And it's working well for me and the band. Hook me up with the good tubes. Get back to me like you said when youve got it worked out. And we'll make the deal.

Ok sans.. I do have a killer V3 tube for you.

Actually, I've been having a discussion about this tube on the Mesa forum. When I bought it, it was labeled as a Mullard 7025 (the labeling was worn off by my own carelessness). But wouldn't you know it. It's an RCA 12ax7a in disguise.

There are 2 very knowledgeable tube pros over on that forum that called this RCA the best RCA you can put in your amp. And I happen to wholeheartedly agree as well.

So here you go Sanshouheil.. Three of the best tubes you'll ever hear coming your way. Trust me man.. You will be shocked by what you hear. I promise you it'll be the best $80 you ever spent on your gear.



Should I go ahead and make the listing on ebay?

Hey Hunter. I just wanted to ask. Have you guys ever taken a look in the organ to see what 12ax7's are in it?

I shot you a direct mesg to your bandmix site Shred. I'm of to work for the man. latter.

Ok Sanshouheil!!!

The deal is on.. That was actually pretty fast!

Your tubes are being sent today..You should get them somewhere around Thursday or Friday..

What we need to do next is determine where your V1-V3 are located in your amp. And I'll give you some tips on changing your tubes later.

First thing to do is make sure you have your surgical gloves handy.

Oh man.. The arsenal coming your way is SICK!!

AWSOME
I ALWAYS have surgical gloves around the house & in my emergency kit.
I've got no idea where to start in making an ID of V?. But I have confidence we can work it out. Yea, I cant wait. (rubbing hands together with psycotic look on face) I told theboys I was checking some tubes. Our Bassest got the same evil grin.

AWSOME
I ALWAYS have surgical gloves around the house & in my emergency kit.
I've got no idea where to start in making an ID of V?. But I have confidence we can work it out.

It hasn't been an easy thing to find a picture of your preamp layout so far. I'm still looking.

In the meantime, look over these videos to get an Idea of how to change the preamp tubes and Power tubes. In some amps (like mine) you have to remove a couple of Power tubes to get to the preamp tubes. So I'll give you the tutorials on both.

Preamp tubes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoeXHIEbyx0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww8rOXnYHsE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oq8ITOSb990


Power tubes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqPvQFQ69ak

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-QePIj5MSw

You'll see when he changes his power tubes, he uses a towel to keep the oils of his fingers from getting on the tubes. That's where I use surgical gloves instead. It's easier, and you can use one hand to support the top of the tube and keep it from hitting the top of the amp when you pull it out.

I'll keep looking for a schematic man. we've got time to figure it out.

Yea, I cant wait. (rubbing hands together with psycotic look on face) I told theboys I was checking some tubes. Our Bassest got the same evil grin.

Not just some tubes George... The best tubes.

The Mullard I just sent you is one of the most rare Mullards you'll ever see. Try to find another one for sale anywhere on the internet. It's easier to find a needle in a haystack. I would like to think it's a testament as to how great it sounds.

When you finally get these things locked and loaded, you should be thoroughly shocked by what you hear..

I've go tthe addresses added to my favorites so I can check em out when I've not been enjoying a cold one. I will check em out good tomorrow as well as get into my amp. Maybe I can get some info on my amp off the Carvin site as well.