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View Full Version : Where's you guys buyin tubes at these days?

Sixstringhotshot
10-12-2010, 07:22 PM
I need seven 12AX7's, one 12AT7, two 6L6, and four KT-88. I think I want JJ's or Winged C? Currently running Sovteks. Suggestions and opinions?
Judge Gregg
10-12-2010, 07:24 PM
Eurotubes
jsp
10-12-2010, 07:31 PM
tubedepot.com or dougstubes.com
Pushead
10-12-2010, 07:31 PM
Eurotubes or Doug's Tubes.

I've had good experiences with both.
BLS
10-12-2010, 07:32 PM
Motor City Guitar
jet66
10-12-2010, 07:40 PM
Tube Depot, Doug's, The Tube Store, and the new kid on the block, The Valve Queen (http://valvequeen.com/). She's a regular poster at a few of the other gear pages, great service. Meticulous matching, doesn't charge extra for balanced triodes if you have a specific request, etc.
Moxley
10-12-2010, 07:43 PM
Tube Depot. I'll have to compare prices with other tube stores.
exhibit-sbt
10-12-2010, 07:45 PM
eurotubes
BoogieII
10-12-2010, 07:53 PM
Tube Depot, Doug's, The Tube Store, and the new kid on the block, The Valve Queen (http://valvequeen.com/). She's a regular poster at a few of the other gear pages, great service. Meticulous matching, doesn't charge extra for balanced triodes if you have a specific request, etc.
valve queen is like the hottest place to shop at harmony central lol.
Metlupass2
10-12-2010, 08:40 PM
I've got a 10% of $105 coupon code from Dougs Tubes if you want it. I've ordered from him but he didn't have the JJ's I wanted in stock so I ordered from eurotubes.
wyldweasil
10-12-2010, 08:45 PM
I've got a 10% of $105 coupon code from Dougs Tubes if you want it. I've ordered from him but he didn't have the JJ's I wanted in stock so I ordered from eurotubes.

i was just about to post the same. Doug's is cool, gave me a nice recommendation to get my recto sounding better than it ever did!
Zilla
10-12-2010, 08:50 PM
doug's tubes. only guy who carries a custom set for my Ampeg.
gorsch
10-13-2010, 10:11 AM
I've got a 10% of $105 coupon code from Dougs Tubes if you want it. I've ordered from him but he didn't have the JJ's I wanted in stock so I ordered from eurotubes.

got one too just the other day. Was about to retube my XXX also. Did a survey for the guy and he emailed me a discount on my next order.



Dougstubes all the way.
Sixstringhotshot
10-13-2010, 11:05 AM
doug's tubes. only guy who carries a custom set for my Ampeg.


Nice, I haven't found any sets for the Deliverance but I don't mind buying individuals.

I was not aware of the balanced triode thing for phase inversion, that's good to know (thanks eurotubes!). Do I want the high gain or regular 12ax7's? What about the gold plated ones? So many choices!:confused:
Zilla
10-13-2010, 11:10 AM
I usually buy affordable power tubes.

I spend a little bit more money on a NOS V1 and the rest are usually JJ pre's or EHx.

I never had to retube my old D120 before it was jacked so I am not sure what to recommend you.

Are you wanting to tweak your tone? More gain or headroom? I cant imagine you would want MORE headroom on that dick puncher of an amp.
BigMESA
10-13-2010, 11:13 AM
Doug's
nwright
10-13-2010, 11:31 AM
+1 for Doug's.

Although for preamp tubes, the last 6 or 7 I've bought have been off ebay from a seller named tooti2. 9th gen Shuguang 12AX7's for 4-5 bucks a piece.
Sixstringhotshot
10-13-2010, 11:44 AM
I usually buy affordable power tubes.

I spend a little bit more money on a NOS V1 and the rest are usually JJ pre's or EHx.

I never had to retube my old D120 before it was jacked so I am not sure what to recommend you.

Are you wanting to tweak your tone? More gain or headroom? I cant imagine you would want MORE headroom on that dick puncher of an amp.



I tried a Mullard and some other fancy NOS $20 tube in V1 and didn't like it as much. The amp came from VHT with Electroharmonix preamp tubes and Sovtek power tubes. I am running a JJ in V1 and stock EH in the rest of the pre. I could use a little less icepick tendency, but the NOS tubes were too dull. I think if I swap the remaining EH's for JJ's it'll take just enough of the edge off. More gain could be cool, but I get most of my gain from boosting the input. I run my gain 1 knob 75% and gain 2 at 25% or less because the distortion from gain 2 is kinda shrill and solid-statey. I think I might dig a high-gain tube in V1, at least.

I've never had anything but Sovteks for power tubes. Enlighten me?
nwright
10-13-2010, 12:19 PM
I think the icepick tendency falls onto the EH tubes. I've always thought they sounded like that on any amp I've had with them.

I still think the chinese 12ax7's (9th gen) are still the best all around for the best price.
eetfuk14
10-13-2010, 12:27 PM
Eurotubes fo sho, super helpful and I'm a fan of the JJ's
metalhobo
10-13-2010, 12:47 PM
I've never had anything but Sovteks for power tubes. Enlighten me?

SF seems to have a hard-on for those Sovtek KT88s.
gorsch
10-13-2010, 02:55 PM
I still think the chinese 12ax7's (9th gen) are still the best all around for the best price.

agreed. Have sounded great in my 5150II and XXX. I also liked using a Penta Labs 12ax7 here and there for a warmer tone. Took out the fizz in the 5150II and mellowed out the XXX a bit. Altho the next retube is going to be totally different. Just going by Dougs suggestions this time.

And JJ's can be bought from Dougs too. Dont have to go "Eurotubes" for that.
KH Guitar Freak
10-13-2010, 06:31 PM
6L6 wise, get them Winged Cs. For 12AX7s, I quite like them EHs... :hat
LordCliffton
10-13-2010, 06:38 PM
I bought my tubes on eBay... $45 for a matched quad Sovtek 6L6WXT+ shipped, that was a year or so ago.. they've went up about $5 since then...

CLICK HERE (http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Sovtek-6L6WXT-Matched-Quad-6L6GC-6L6-6L6EH-/150504134350?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item230abed6ce#ht_500wt_932)

I wish I knew more about tubes tho too & the only reason I got these was cuz that's what was supposed to be stock in my amp,,, I DO want some fresh pre amp tubes tho as I think something is going slightly microphonic.. That said I've read great things satisfaction-wise about "SHUGUANG" preamp tubes...
Metlupass2
10-13-2010, 08:53 PM
I just bought the high gain JJ tube package from Eurotubes for my 6505+. I would have used Doug but he didn't have any of the JJ's in stock.
Guitarslingerans
10-14-2010, 05:31 AM
Either Doug's or Valvequeen. Laura is the shit, nice chic, very reliable. Doug is the same, just been in the game a real long time, he's never done me wrong. :)

-Ans
nwright
10-14-2010, 05:36 AM
That said I've read great things satisfaction-wise about "SHUGUANG" preamp tubes...

The Shuguang tubes are the Chinese tubes I wrote about earlier in the thread. I think the most recent (but it's a been a while now) are the 9th generation tubes. I know last time I looked Doug's still sold 8th generation as well, but I think they were NOS at that time. Shuguang is the factory that makes the tubes. Buying from Doug's and certain other places, these come unbranded and sell cheaper. Groove Tubes and other tube brands just take these unbranded tubes and slap their logo on them and sell them for a higher price. Last I knew, the Groove Tubes 12AX7C was a Shuguang made tube.
Spoonylove
10-14-2010, 05:39 AM
I ordered a set of tubes from Doug, and he shifted my order around when I told him what amp they were going in. He recommended me a better set and sent me those after I agreed. That was pretty awesome. One of the tubes was broken on arrival so I took a pic of it and the box (it was pretty fucked up) and he sent me new one next day air or whatever. It got gere freaking fast :lol Good dude in my book.