Being a tube amp nut, I tend to scoop up old stock tubes as well as seeking out the best of current production.
When it comes to NOS or old stock used tubes, I'm not someone who can afford to blow big money, so I have to raid good tubes from amps I buy and sell, as well as raiding them from any source I can.
When it comes to new tubes, I just look at what people report in threads, prices on tube websites, and my own findings based on what I buy.
What I've found is that 50's tubes like Mullard, Telefunken, RCA, Mazda, Sylvania, Seimens.....yeah, all great stuff.
I've also had new tubes perform just as well, like Tungsol, Svetlana =C=, TAD, Ruby, Shuguang Chinese, JJ, Sovtek LPS etc. There's good stuff available today too.
I often read threads by older players who swear by old tubes, as well as threads about new tubes, particularly when an amp aficionado or builder is swearing by them.
In my own shootouts, I tend to choose about 5 tubes I think will work great, and swap them in/out. It becomes immediately evident which tube will stay in that position. And that can be anything from old to new. I have an entire box full of every kind of tube I've accumulated over the years, and let my ears dictate everything when swapping.
So tube fans......which NOS and new tubes have put a big smile on your face?
When it comes to NOS or old stock used tubes, I'm not someone who can afford to blow big money, so I have to raid good tubes from amps I buy and sell, as well as raiding them from any source I can.
When it comes to new tubes, I just look at what people report in threads, prices on tube websites, and my own findings based on what I buy.
What I've found is that 50's tubes like Mullard, Telefunken, RCA, Mazda, Sylvania, Seimens.....yeah, all great stuff.
I've also had new tubes perform just as well, like Tungsol, Svetlana =C=, TAD, Ruby, Shuguang Chinese, JJ, Sovtek LPS etc. There's good stuff available today too.
I often read threads by older players who swear by old tubes, as well as threads about new tubes, particularly when an amp aficionado or builder is swearing by them.
In my own shootouts, I tend to choose about 5 tubes I think will work great, and swap them in/out. It becomes immediately evident which tube will stay in that position. And that can be anything from old to new. I have an entire box full of every kind of tube I've accumulated over the years, and let my ears dictate everything when swapping.
So tube fans......which NOS and new tubes have put a big smile on your face?
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