crunchee Posted March 22, 2022 Posted March 22, 2022 8 hours ago, Travis said: 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… Sounds like a great business model for pricing oneself out of business. If that don't kill the 'Golden Goose', then I don't know what will.
mudshark Posted March 22, 2022 Posted March 22, 2022 I pretty much quit tubes about 5 years ago. I have small two tube amps left, both point-to-point: a wonderful Deluxe clone a fellow in Kansas built, and a '50s Silvertone Model 1392. I have several old solid state Peavey amps that I really like a lot, my favorite being an old '70s Peavey Backstage 30 which has an amazing tweedlike tone. My Quilter 101 and Tech 21 Trademark 60 are also stellar amps. I have nothing against tube amps, but I shudder to think of what it would cost now to retube my old Silverface Twin. edit to add: still got my old Pignose 7-100
stobro Posted March 22, 2022 Posted March 22, 2022 So what I'm hearing is that some of these old tubes might be worth hanging on to?
Gino Posted March 22, 2022 Posted March 22, 2022 Folks, don't worry... There's JJ in Slovakia which is, as mentioned above, EU/NATO-territory. And I bet the Chinese will manufacture anything as long as there is a market for it. So, don't fret 😁
Dave Scepter Posted March 22, 2022 Posted March 22, 2022 10 hours ago, Travis said: 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… Hey Travis, where did you buy these tubes from... I need to put this company on a "never to do business with list" GREEDY little shits!
Jimbilly Posted March 22, 2022 Posted March 22, 2022 there's worse hobbies than tube hunting (organs mostly). Some of my 12ax7s.
crunchee Posted March 22, 2022 Posted March 22, 2022 53 minutes ago, Dave Scepter said: Hey Travis, where did you buy these tubes from... I need to put this company on a "never to do business with list" GREEDY little shits! Back in the day, they used to call that 'profiteering'. Maybe they still do: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/profiteering https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/profiteering
duncans Posted March 22, 2022 Posted March 22, 2022 Supply and demand. Everyone is panic buying especially the touring acts. It isn’t unlike what we’ve ( target shooters) have been going thru for the past few years.
Travis Posted March 22, 2022 Posted March 22, 2022 2 hours ago, Dave Scepter said: Hey Travis, where did you buy these tubes from... I need to put this company on a "never to do business with list" GREEDY little shits! I got the tubes from Viva tubes. I checked around on around 6-8 different stores and they had the best price two weeks ago. They shipped same day, a friday, and I got them on the following Tuesday. At that point I would’ve recommended their service to anyone. Yesterday they were the only ones still selling the exact Sovtek el84’s that I bought. The tube store has shut down their website due to being overwhelmed with orders and tube depot lists the Sovteks as “unavailable”
Biz Prof Posted March 22, 2022 Posted March 22, 2022 I don't condone panic buying, especially for non-essential products, which--unless you're a touring professional--includes vacuum tubes for guitar amps. If youze guys can just be a bit patient, things will calm down (at least from all tube sources not named Russia). Those Psvane cats seem to be eager to increase their market share, so that's a good thing.
donner Posted March 22, 2022 Posted March 22, 2022 16 hours ago, Travis said: 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… I'd suppose you sell them back. Or wait another 17 days and then have a look again. Would be some easily made dough, wouldn't it?
Jimbilly Posted March 22, 2022 Posted March 22, 2022 or just get a couple of these and be done (anyone else geeky enough to recognize this?)
RobB Posted March 22, 2022 Posted March 22, 2022 On 3/15/2022 at 1:51 AM, Disturber said: Edit: found it. It's the Roland NuTube technology. Anyone tried it? Does it feel and respond like ordinary tubes? https://korgnutube.com/en/ These are only for pre-amps, rather than in the power-amp section, right? I think that’s right. Vox has a few OD pedals and combos with Nutube tech. The combos have SS power sections. I swore I saw an limited edition Ibanez TS9 last year, as well.
RobB Posted March 22, 2022 Posted March 22, 2022 8 hours ago, Jimbilly said: Oooooh, look at Daddy Warbucks with his BugleBoys! Fan-SAY!
Disturber Posted March 23, 2022 Posted March 23, 2022 9 hours ago, RobB said: I think that’s right. Vox has a few OD pedals and combos with Nutube tech. The combos have SS power sections. I swore I saw an limited edition Ibanez TS9 last year, as well. Found it. Here they talk about this technology and explains the Nutube. But it seems these "tubes" only exist as preamp tubes right now. What about power tubes, Korg? Now that could be a new ball game I guess. I just read some about the pedal. It seems the tube is not high powered. That is the problem with most tube pedals using a 12ax7, they are not fed enough power and therefore is more of a gimmick. The BK Butler Tube Driver had higher currents if I remember correctly. I had an Ibanez PUE 5 but I don't know how much current that was sent to the tube. It would be interesting to find out more about the NuTube technology. Would it be possible to build a 100 Watt Marshall Super Lead clone with this technology, if they would develop NuTube power tubes?
Greg G Posted March 23, 2022 Posted March 23, 2022 I guess I’ll survive Tube-mageddon. I have 4 tube amps, 20 watts or less. The Swart & Vibro Champ are reasonable to retube if you don’t include the GZ34 rectifier in the Swart. One of my 2 Top Hats is also GZ34 rectified. Want sticker shock, look at NOS GZ34’s. I have one in my stash. Doubt I’ll buy another at today’s prices. But how often do you really need to replace a rectifier? I’m retiring in a couple of years and don’t anticipate buying any more gear. We’ll see if I make a liar out of myself but I think I’m set. I’m just a hack anyway and not too hard on tubes. I imagine I have enough tubes for life, at least for my amps. I started buying them years ago and they were cheaper. Coincidentally last week I ordered a nice pair of tubes from audiotubes.com. Brent hasn’t raised his prices. He shipped them today apologizing for the delay but he explained there was an increase in orders due to the panic buying. I’ve seen the various “Death of Tube Amps” videos, etc. and I watched a portion of Pete Thorn’s video. I’m with Pete, who says he’s the eternal optimist. Hoping there are will be tubes available for all who need them.
crunchee Posted March 23, 2022 Posted March 23, 2022 I remember shopping for a spare 5AR4/GZ34, when I had my original '65 DR about 25 years ago, and I was getting sticker shock even back then, when NOS Mullard-made RCA 5AR4s were selling for $100 or more. Of course, back then, you could get a NOS US-made 5Y3 all day long for less than $5. The thing I could never figure out is why players wanted to use 5AR4/GZ34s, besides the fact that they were the standard tube rectifier for a lot of desirable amps. Usuallly, players seem to want rectifier tubes for 'sag' and playing 'feel'; but every time I did my research, I kept finding out that, out of all of the common rectifier tube types, 5AR4/GZ34s had the least sag and were the 'tightest'/'hardest'-sounding tube rectifier as a rule; and I never could find anyone who would dispute that. Go figure. I don't have an amp that uses a 5AR4/GZ34 rectifier anymore and haven't had one for years; and I'm sure not shopping around for one now. Edited to add: if your amp uses tube rectifiers (especially a 5AR4/GZ34 or a 5U4) and you're not too particular, you can always get one of those plug-in solid-state 'rectifiers'; which is basically a diode or diodes inside a tube base, and they're much cheaper than a tube equivalent might be (no affiliation): https://www.thomannmusic.com/tad_solid_state_rectifier.htm
django49 Posted March 23, 2022 Posted March 23, 2022 I got on a kick a few years ago to stock up on tubes for many different amps. Now I don't even know how many I have on the shelf. But WTH, probably done better than some of my real "investments". 😉 Meanwhile, higher prices may be dragging other makers in off the sidelines...... https://www.westernelectric.com/expand
Dutchman Posted March 24, 2022 Posted March 24, 2022 On 3/22/2022 at 3:37 PM, Jimbilly said: or just get a couple of these and be done (anyone else geeky enough to recognize this?) It looks like a rebadged Mullard.
Jimbilly Posted March 24, 2022 Posted March 24, 2022 It's the 10m 'master series' Mullard, rated for 10,000 hours, which is a lot.
django49 Posted March 24, 2022 Posted March 24, 2022 More to the point on future tube supply.... https://guitar.com/features/interviews/exclusive-western-electric-confirms-plans-tube-georgia-factory-crisis/ Panic buying seldom works out well.......
pesocaster Posted March 24, 2022 Posted March 24, 2022 If anyone has seen this yet....... Looks like we will be buying American Tubes in the future: https://www.westernelectric.com/blog/expand
BoogieMKIIA Posted March 24, 2022 Posted March 24, 2022 Good news about Western Electric. I used to work in the cathode ray tube and dispenser cathode industry. Very similar to guitar tubes. As long as they have good materials/parts and get the fixturing, should be no problem for WE. Price remains to be seen.
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