Replacing SOVTEK tubes...

> > > Replacing SOVTEK tubes...

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http://www.unitedmusicians.info
Contributor Since: Nov 11, 2007

And since I have a tee-tiny little amp with one pre and one power tube...I'd like to get some NOS tubes. (edited to reduce the instances of "cheese" being used as a metaphor for money in the past 24 hours)

I've been browsing at www.kcanostubes.com but I'm not 100 sure they have the tubes I need.

I pulled out a 12ax7A and a 6L6GB.

What do you guys think of this here Telefunken pre?

www.kcanostubes.com/produ...bbed-Plates.htm

I hesitate to even guess at what kind of power tube to get. I'm 100% noob on picking tubes so you guys might have to get me started with recommendation for a solid performer...my friends say Groove tube...but I know you guys have something else in mind.

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I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003

Sep 24, 2009 01:28 pm

Bleh on Groove Tubes. All they are are rebranded Sovtek tubes with slightly higher quality screening. Not that they're bad or anything, but for the added price, all you're paying for is a Sovtek + the hourly wage of whomever has to do the testing/matching.

Honestly, I'd try something more affordabe than NOS first. Try the Czech JJ Tubes, or even the new Tung Sol tubes that are being made in their original factory in Russia. I gather that the Chinese tubes are really the only ones to stay away from as a whole. They seem to have quality assurance and manufacturing issues.

I can't say that with an old amp like yours that a high-dollar preamp tube and a high-dollar power tube are going to make it sparkle. I'd take a listen with some above average tubes like the brands I mentioned. If it doesn't have depth of character with those tubes, then spending one arm and two legs on NOS isn't going to magically make the amp sound like gold. A new speaker is going to make the biggest difference in the amp's sound. New capacitors will help an old amp regain some of its former glory.

New tubes will be a pretty subtle change in the big picture, but good tubes can really provide some good smooth distortion. But a lot of that depends on the amp's design. Some amps won't sound smooth no matter how many hundreds of dollars you spend on tubes.

http://www.unitedmusicians.info
Contributor
Since: Nov 11, 2007

Sep 24, 2009 03:09 pm

Thanks for the heads up. Being a local to the KC area...do you order online or buy local? Where?

Also: I can't find tubes that are specifically 12ax7a, just 12ax7. I am also having trouble finding specifically a 6L6GB vs a 6L6GC or similar. What should I know?

Thanks Tad.

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004

Sep 24, 2009 03:45 pm

Here's a good site for tube data:

www.duncanamps.com/tdsl/tubesearch.php

You can see what tubes are identical, or similar.

For the 12 preamp tube, you can put a 12ax7, 12au7, 12at7 in there in place of 12ax7a. They're close enough and preamp tubes are cathode biased so you have no worry about running the thing out of specs. The 'U' or 'T' or 'X' is the gain number, 12ax7 being ~100, and the other two being less (i think t is like 30, and the u is like 12)

The 6L6 line can be switched out with 6l6g, 6l6ga, b, c without problem. I think you can put a 5881 in there too, as was in the early bassmans.

I've heard some good stuff about the JJ that Bob at Eurotubes has.

www.eurotubes.com

Probably, you could get a 12ax7 and a 6l6 for under 30$ over at eurotubes (JJ tubes).

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004

Sep 24, 2009 03:51 pm

Oh yeah, Mike at KCA is good as well, calling him will set you right, as will calling Bob at Eurotubes.

I as well would avoid the Groove Tubes. They are decent, but not worth the extra money for the bias number and screening. Kind of a scam, if you ask me, but hey, if people want to pay for it, then fine. I'd rather not, and sounds like Tad'd rather not as well.

I was told by a music shop owner that the 'number' on groove tubes meant how much breakup they had. Hogwash, the number is for bias matching: when you replace tubes, put in a new one of the same number, and you won't have to re-bias. I told the dope this fact, but he thought I was simple or something, as he would not be shown up.

So beware of bogus info floating around regarding tubes, etc.

http://www.unitedmusicians.info
Contributor
Since: Nov 11, 2007

Sep 24, 2009 04:13 pm

!!! This is presumably awesome...but I don't understand a lot of it. I'll start researching...matched triodes? balanced triodes for phase inverter use?

Thanks!

http://www.unitedmusicians.info
Contributor
Since: Nov 11, 2007

Sep 24, 2009 04:22 pm

One last thing before I hit the "buy" button. I pulled out the pre and power tube shown in this picture...but do you think there's a tube under that metal cylinder? I'm betting it's an electrolytic cap...but just to be certain..


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v171/kisho/IMGA0009.jpg


I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003

Sep 24, 2009 04:39 pm

I'd bet it's a capacitor under that metal cylinder.

Definitely strike up an email conversation with Bob at Eurotubes about your amp, the types of tubes you're looking to replace it with, your style of playing, and what you're hoping to accomplish by replacing your tubes. He'll give you the lowdown no doubt. He really helped me out when I went to retube my amp.

As far as buying tubes in the KC area, I don't know what to tell you. I haven't been to many of the big-box guitar stores in town, but I did see a few tubes at GC in Indepenance, and at Bentley Guitar Studios in Parkville. But your best bet is to find an online retailer with a good return policy and experiment.

http://www.unitedmusicians.info
Contributor
Since: Nov 11, 2007

Sep 24, 2009 05:38 pm

I emailed Bob...maybe he'll know what the heck my amp is...

http://www.unitedmusicians.info
Contributor
Since: Nov 11, 2007

Sep 24, 2009 07:52 pm

Still no word on what the amp is...but I was recommended ECC83S pre amp and a 6L6GC power tube. We'll see...


@Tad: My Squier 51 electric is in need of repair...do you have any local recommendations?

The Czar of BS
Member
Since: Dec 31, 2007

Sep 24, 2009 10:05 pm

Just a heads up.

A ECC83S is just a 12AX7 with a spiral element.

And the metal cylinder is the capacitor. Don't try to remove it. As it could be soldered in.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Sep 24, 2009 10:34 pm

On the 12ax7 I highly recommend the Tung Sol. I switched to that in the pre on the Valve Jr and it is so much more. Like butter instead of margarine.

And Rob is dead on the ECC83S. I wasn't impressed with it at all. It was too hard to get a good push with out it going over the edge far too fast.

The only way your going to know what is under the metal cap is to slide the chassis out and have a look. If you don't see a tube socket then it is a cap. If you see a socket and the cap looks as if it is a clip in unit then there might be a tube under it. But I highly doubt is is a tube seeing as that is more then likely a 5 to 15 watt amp and would not have a mulitple stage pre in it.

http://www.unitedmusicians.info
Contributor
Since: Nov 11, 2007

Sep 25, 2009 01:04 pm

Cool thx guys. I may go ahead and order a Tung Sol to swap to taste...

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Sep 26, 2009 12:38 am

Ya, I've been a Sovtek fan for years and tried the Tung Sol and was sold before it even fully warmed up.

And just to clear up the history of Tung Sol. They were and are and American company and the tube factory was originally in Newark New Jersey. They were the inventor's of the headlamp for automobiles and also developed the famed 6550 power beam tube that is still in use in many Hi Fi systems today.

They were eventually sold to The New Sensor's Corp which owns Sovtek and another tube company and are now made in the Russian plant alongside the Sovtek tubes. But they are still a different tube then Sovtek and worth the bit of extra cash outlay.

http://www.unitedmusicians.info
Contributor
Since: Nov 11, 2007

Sep 26, 2009 06:47 pm

Haha yeah I caught that bit of history when I was researching tubes in depth for the first time. I don't know if it was you or someone on another forum, but I remember the thread getting a little hot over someone assuming "Tung Sol" was a Chinese manufacturer bc the name sounds kind of Chinese...

I've annihilated yesterday's paycheck...but next week I'll be in the market for a pre-amp or one of those mod"able" mics that you say can sound like a u87. Again, thanks so much for letting me know tubes are not ideal in pre-amps...that saves me a lot of trouble

Uh oh...I've cross-threaded, please spare me from the ban-hammer. hah

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Sep 26, 2009 10:50 pm

Ya, I've gotta dig out the mag that had those mic's in it. Then scan the articles to find it.

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