LucSulla Posted March 16, 2022 Posted March 16, 2022 14 hours ago, crunchee said: Like I said before, the sky still hasn't fallen yet...in spite of US tube production ending in the late '80's, or RFT apparently no longer making tubes because of German reunification, or the original Czech Teslas no longer being made, or 'Winged C' tubes no longer being produced. In some cases, new tubes have been made using manufacturing equipment from former manufacturers (such as JJ using Tesla tooling, supposedly). Seems like these 'Chicken Little' moments tend to pop up every few years for whatever reason. The writing on the wall regards new tube production for guitar amps was showing up 30 years ago if not earlier, so if you're only concerned about it now, then you're kinda late to that game. About 20~25 years ago, I was on a Blackface Fender amp buying binge, but not for the expensive 'popular' models, but instead for the less-in-demand amps that were often found for less than $400 each at the time in excellent used condition, and a relative bargain as compared to the pricier ones; these were mainly Champs, Vibro-Champs, and Bassman heads. I eventually sold them off as the luster kinda wore off of playing 'vintage' amps...but not before I swapped out the original US (and sometimes Euro)-made 12AX7s/7025s/ECC83s with Chinese 12AX7 tubes. Even though the original tubes were 'used' tubes with an unknown number of hours on them, I've yet to have one of those tubes crap out on me in an amp; besides, I got ownership of them when I originally bought the amps, and who's to say the next owner of these amps wouldn't have done the same thing if I didn't? Or worse, throw the original tubes in the trash and replace them with all new tubes? I used to have a couple of Deluxe Reverbs (an original '65 and a '75) also (I got a handful of good original 12AX7s and a few 7025s out of those, too)...they were good amps, but they wouldn't distort much unless the volume was turned up considerably. A secondary reason why I got rid of those amps, is that the voltages on the 6V6s in a DR are pretty high, supposedly exceeding the specs for a US-made 6V6; and may have been a contributor to it not distorting much without cranking it. In any case, they're hard on 6V6s when used often and cranked, so that was a consideration too. Gotta know your gear! Which brings me to Russian and Chinese tubes...in the early '90's, they were starting to show up for sale in the US as 'alternatives' to discontinued US and Euro tubes, but they were almost always considered by 'musos' to be 'inferior' to US/Euro NOS, and basically a choice of last resort. The '6V6' tubes that Sovtek was selling at that time (I don't know if it's changed since or not) were apparently a sturdier 6L6-type, as anything else that was 'lighter duty' wouldn't last long in an amp such as a DR. Funny how things have changed since then. Or haven't. Just my two cents. I think the difference is that, in the past, there were other factories out there. If I remember correctly, the issue was more that The Communist Valves (which is now 100% my next band name) were supposedly crap. No more high-quality, western tubes, just Russian/Sino crap. That did turn out to be pretty stupid. I've watched a blue billion NOS vs Production shootouts, and I never hear much difference. The RCA 12AX7s I use are more responsive to the guitar volume, but they aren't all that different tonewise. Maybe they'll still be burning 20 years from now, which would be cool. To me, the main appeal of NOS tubes is how long they supposedly last, not the tone. Regardless, I think it's a bit different in that there are no factories out there which have been cut off from the market to bring into the fold. The sky probably isn't falling at the moment, but I think the writing is on the wall. I didn't know that the Shuguang factory was pivoting out of tubes, or at least cutting back on that segment of their production, before the supposed fire. Interesting article from last year. https://guitar.com/news/gear-news/panic-on-availability-of-vacuum-tubes-mike-matthews-future-valve-amps/
LucSulla Posted March 16, 2022 Posted March 16, 2022 Interesting page on who makes what and where: http://crasno.ca/articles/vacuumtubemans.htm Interestingly, a lot of boutique places do KT88s (that will run you anywhere from $800-$1600 for a quad).
Biz Prof Posted March 16, 2022 Posted March 16, 2022 2 hours ago, LucSulla said: The Communist Valves (which is now 100% my next band name) I flirted with the notion of naming my band "Communist Buffet". As in a member of the Kremlin handing you a metal dinner plate with merely a slice of bread and a potato and saying, "This is ALL you can eat!"
stobro Posted March 17, 2022 Posted March 17, 2022 In America, you can always find a party. In Russia, party always finds you. Here you have American Express Card: 'Don't Leave Home Without It.' In Russia, we have Russian Express Card: 'Don't Leave Home.' In Russia, we don't eat that part of the dog. -Yakov Smirnoff (Ukrainian!)
Steve Haynie Posted March 17, 2022 Posted March 17, 2022 I wonder how things are going at Yakov's theater in Branson. I was there in 2003 and had a lot of fun.
chromium Posted March 17, 2022 Posted March 17, 2022 Putin assures you that, despite the trade embargo, your tubes will express the music that the world was meant to hear!
diablo175 Posted March 17, 2022 Posted March 17, 2022 It's moments like this that I'm even more gratified I went the amp modeling route. Tubes? What's tubes?
Biz Prof Posted March 17, 2022 Posted March 17, 2022 14 minutes ago, diablo175 said: It's moments like this that I'm even more gratified I went the amp modeling route. Tubes? What's tubes? If you played with anything less than face melting distortion, you'd care about tubes. 😉
diablo175 Posted March 17, 2022 Posted March 17, 2022 11 hours ago, Biz Prof said: If you played with anything less than face melting distortion, you'd care about tubes. 😉 Is there any other viable option? Apparently, you haven't listened to some of the recordings I've shared on here.
Steve Haynie Posted March 17, 2022 Posted March 17, 2022 Revv Amps does a weekly live video that can be fun. The company's founder spoke about the current tube shortage last night.
Travis Posted March 17, 2022 Posted March 17, 2022 Pete Thorn also posted a video on the topic. I haven’t committed the almost 2 hours to watch the video yet, but Pete usually puts out some high quality stuff. It’s on my list to listen to this weekend.
Biz Prof Posted March 17, 2022 Posted March 17, 2022 4 hours ago, diablo175 said: Is there any other viable option? Apparently, you haven't listened to some of the recordings I've shared on here. We knew you had it in you!
HamerDave Posted March 17, 2022 Posted March 17, 2022 First, I'm a tube amp and pedal board player. That said, I dipped my toe into Helix world back when "two weeks to flatten the curve" was only in its 3rd or 4th month. I got an HX Stomp and started learning about amp models and cabinet IRs. I am consistently amazed at how "real" they sound and feel. I've replaced almost all of the pedals on my board with that unit though I still run it into my Mesa Boogie amp for gigs. Anyway, a HelixLT later and I'm not concerned about tubes ever going away. If the do there's good alternatives. Personally, I don't think they'll ever disappear.
Hbom Posted March 17, 2022 Posted March 17, 2022 Recent addition to Electro Harmonix site Attention All EHX Tube Customers The export restriction on Russian tubes has been resolved for now. We are accepting new orders, processing backorders, and hoping to resume shipping in April. Priority will be given to the oldest orders. Considering various economic pressures, we must raise our wholesale prices. This price increase will apply to all back- and new orders. Also, there will likely be a further price increase for tubes shipped from our NYC headquarters once the government implements heightened tariffs against Russian goods, akin to the 35% rate Canada is now imposing. Other territories, including EU, UK, and Japan, are expected to follow suit. For all non-US customers facing such heightened tariffs and with combined Russian tube orders of $3K or more: Consider having our Russian warehouse directly ship such combined orders to the nearest international airport in your country. That will avoid our having to pass along the cost of the heightened US import tariff. Otherwise, you will, in effect, incur a double tariff on shipments imported first to NYC and then to a country with heightened tariffs. You can cancel any backorder, but we do not recommend this; there is a tremendous shortage of tubes. Strongly committed to quality manufacturing, Tung-Sol tubes have always been known for their reliability and great tone. Today's new production Tung-Sol tubes are constructed with the same commitment to quality and reliability. Tung-Sol tubes reflect the best in vintage Tung-Sol construction with unsurpassed tone and reliability. See matched version: https://shop.ehx.com/item/5881%20TUNGSOL%20PL Tube Specs: http://shop.ehx.com/catalog/tubes-specs/5881%20TS.pdf https://shop.ehx.com/russian-tubes/
veatch Posted March 17, 2022 Posted March 17, 2022 19 hours ago, Biz Prof said: If you played with anything less than face melting distortion, you'd care about tubes. 😉 8 hours ago, diablo175 said: Is there any other viable option? Apparently, you haven't listened to some of the recordings I've shared on here. ...and then we get to 1:30 where the face melting begins... : ) Great playing in that tune. 4:00 to 4:20 is downright epic!
pesocaster Posted March 17, 2022 Posted March 17, 2022 I have 2 small Tube amps (Ampeg Jet and Fender Hot Rod DLX) .....I quit gigging with anything tube years ago..... I practice and gig with the Boss Katana Artist II ..... I can get my sound out of these just fine.... before then I gigged my 20 year old Line6 Flextone II amps and Pod Pro...... not one single issue with any of these in 20+ years. Tube amps sound great and wonderful to record with..... But I'll never gig with them again.
Disturber Posted March 18, 2022 Posted March 18, 2022 11 hours ago, pesocaster said: I have 2 small Tube amps (Ampeg Jet and Fender Hot Rod DLX) .....I quit gigging with anything tube years ago..... I practice and gig with the Boss Katana Artist II ..... I can get my sound out of these just fine.... before then I gigged my 20 year old Line6 Flextone II amps and Pod Pro...... not one single issue with any of these in 20+ years. Tube amps sound great and wonderful to record with..... But I'll never gig with them again. I would never gig with anything but a tube amp. I usually bring a Marshall. Full rigg 2 4x12 cabs and a top, or one 4x12 and a top. For clubs I can bring a 3x12 plus a top or a Marshall combo. We did a gig in 2019 where I had to use the house backline. They had a Fender Hotrod Deluxe. Sounded great too. Guitar + tube amp, that is where all the fun is.
crunchee Posted March 18, 2022 Posted March 18, 2022 On 3/14/2022 at 7:06 PM, veatch said: Sooooo... (can't believe I'm asking this) What solid state amp emulates the feel of a tube amp best? Not a modeler or digital, just a straight up transistor amp. Thinking it is time to save the tube amps just for gigs and use a solid state to practice and rehearse. But (important) I still want to use the same pedals in front and have it behave similarly... Asking too much? I second with Veach on this...I'm ready to go looking for a good, recent, well-tested and -proven classic-sounding transistor/solid-state amp as well. Roland still makes some amps from the 'Blues Cube' series, plus there's always the Boss Katana series to check out, and I've heard good things about those...unless somebody else hasn't. I don't like anythng that needs 'programming' or messing with 'parameters' or computer program downloads, or fancy LED displays, or a 'planned obsolescence' timetable, or more choices than a Mesa Boogie showroom; all I need is some old-fashioned knobs and a couple of switches on a simple, straightforward amp that an electric guitar sounds good through, that's gonna serve me well for a couple of decades. Hell, I don't even like messing with my 'SmartPhone', it makes me think sometimes that it's gonna send me down a rabbit hole without warning, so that I'm gonna need tech support to get out of. So, any other recommendations?
donner Posted March 19, 2022 Posted March 19, 2022 On 3/18/2022 at 12:58 PM, crunchee said: I second with Veach on this...I'm ready to go looking for a good, recent, well-tested and -proven classic-sounding transistor/solid-state amp as well. Roland still makes some amps from the 'Blues Cube' series, plus there's always the Boss Katana series to check out, and I've heard good things about those...unless somebody else hasn't. I don't like anythng that needs 'programming' or messing with 'parameters' or computer program downloads, or fancy LED displays, or a 'planned obsolescence' timetable, or more choices than a Mesa Boogie showroom; all I need is some old-fashioned knobs and a couple of switches on a simple, straightforward amp that an electric guitar sounds good through, that's gonna serve me well for a couple of decades. Hell, I don't even like messing with my 'SmartPhone', it makes me think sometimes that it's gonna send me down a rabbit hole without warning, so that I'm gonna need tech support to get out of. So, any other recommendations? @veatch & @crunchee: Lance Keltner tried that for a couple of times. The Retrochannel RR1 is versatile and sound damn “real“ (I have one) They're quite cheap, meanwhile, if you can find one. The Smart Belles SR 71 seem to be heading the same way. Both amps are looking like grown up amps, though.
crunchee Posted March 21, 2022 Posted March 21, 2022 On 3/19/2022 at 3:11 PM, donner said: @veatch & @crunchee: Lance Keltner tried that for a couple of times. The Retrochannel RR1 is versatile and sound damn “real“ (I have one) They're quite cheap, meanwhile, if you can find one. The Smart Belles SR 71 seem to be heading the same way. Both amps are looking like grown up amps, though. Still trying to locate a Retrochannel for cheap over here in the US. From what I can find out about the Smart Belles, they've got a grown-up price, too. . If I was gonna spend that kind of money, I'd buy some less expensive used handwired tube amps and stock up on tubes.
crunchee Posted March 21, 2022 Posted March 21, 2022 On 3/16/2022 at 8:51 AM, dhuber said: The last time I ordered 12AX7's five to ten years ago I paid $9.99. With inflation I could see $19.99. However this is insane. Edit: I should have taken a screen shot. They were listed at $89 and they've now dropped them back to $49. https://www.ebay.com/itm/133027648143?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3De7096484fc0d4a2bae5be14b44e9375e%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D294864758393%26itm%3D133027648143%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380057%26brand%3DJJ+Electronic&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A6ad7dc23-a52f-11ec-8700-16a0739d28a8|parentrq%3A92fa73b817f0ad333af55b64ffffd392|iid%3A1 They're back up to $79.99 as of today. For ONE lousy 12AX7. I made the mistake of surfing the 'web over the weekend; on Reverb, on Ebay, did a Google search...went looking everywhere I could think of to see how much these questionable 'members of society' were trying to sell tubes for, the operative word being trying. They sure don't do anything to improve what little faith I have in people in general. If/when things get back to normal, I hope these clowns choke on their tubes. In the meantime, I think I'll go cruising the pawnshops in my spare time for a decent used solid state amp.
JGale Posted March 21, 2022 Posted March 21, 2022 There are options... https://reverb.com/marketplace?product_type=effects-and-pedals&query=Tech 21 PSA-1.1 Sansamp Rackmount Amp Simulator I sold off my Trademark 60 for a PSA-1 rack mount, a G-major effects unit and a 50W Frenzel power amp. Maximum flexibility short of a digital solution.
LucSulla Posted March 22, 2022 Posted March 22, 2022 I didn't exactly hoard, but I do actually gig five different amps. I bought with that in mind. Put a hurting on the old wallet, but at least I bought them all at normal prices before everything went up a bit this week. For instance, those TAD KT66 were $170 last week and $200 this week before shipping. Looks like most stuff at TAD is 15-20 percent more were I to have ordered this week vs. last.
Travis Posted March 22, 2022 Posted March 22, 2022 Just checked the site I bought a quad of sovtek el84’s from for $67 on 3/4/22. 17 days later they’re listing my exact same order for $467 before shipping… Jesus…
Steve Haynie Posted March 22, 2022 Posted March 22, 2022 Just wait. It is all situational. One day you will be able to get any tube you want in trade for a roll of toilet paper.
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