NOS Tubes Exploarations

[Gunny47]

So I baught some blackplate RCAs, a 12AX7 and an EL84 for my Gibson GA5 inplace of a Groove Tubes 12AX7 and a JJ EL84. I put them in about three weeks ago, Im pretty sure theyre broken in, I definitely put a lot of hours in them, but so far I am not impressed. They have less headroom which is typical of NOS tubes and slightly more hum (not microphonic, just slightly more hum). Because they have less headroom, its almost impossible to dial in the thick clean tone I had. The amp distorts earlier, but remains thin because there is not as much volume. Overdrive sounds better though, has a fatter tone with more midrange, but is much brighter than the JJs when they were new. I sort of wanted to warm up my amp if anything instead of brighten it. Ill post more if I see that they are breaking in more. But at least now I know that NOS tubes arent the best thing ever.

 

[Kommerzbassist]

Re: NOS Tubes Exploarations

I mean I'm not a pro on that topic, but I think the whole NOS stuff is quite overrated anyway because new tube quality is quite much better today than in the 80s ...

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: NOS Tubes Exploarations

NOS tubes ar not for everybody and they are not for every amp and/or situation...if you don't like them simply put the old tubes back in and be happy.

FWIW, tubes today are made with different things in mind...Blackplate RCA preamp tubes from the 60's were not made with a thick/crunchy lead tone in mind at all...current JJ preamp tubes (JJ's for example) are.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: NOS Tubes Exploarations

My attitude on tubes has morphed over the years. I used to think I *had* to have NOS. Now, I"m fearful of them. I figure if it takes $200 worth of tubes to make one of my amps sound good, I'm screwed and so is the guy buying the amp. Often on a personal amp if I have a NOS preamp tube laying around I might pop it in to hear the differences. But there are some very good new tubes out there that warrant a try.

12AX7 -- tung sol, tad, shushang, JJ ECC803S,

EF86 -- winged C

5881 -- tung sol

6L6 -- TAD, 2 flavors

KT66 -- Groove tu bes HP version

EL34 -- mullard

EL84 -- JJ

5U4 -- TAD

5AR4 -- JJ


There are some tubes where I am forced to go NOS ... trying find a good 5Y3 rectifier out there that isn't just a relabeled higher voltage one. Impossible. The piece o'crap russian 5Y3 is not a 5Y3. So, I go with a JAN NOS I get from lord valve. (great tube guy btw)

I'm also on the hunt for a good new production quality 12AT7. I just ordered a shushang (sp?) chinese version to see if its any good. They are kicking out some good tubes in that plant over the last few years. I"ve tried the JJ, but I've not been that impressed with them.

Oh well, the search goes on. Lots of choices in new tubes.

 

[Curly]

Re: NOS Tubes Exploarations

I don't think you can generalize and say that NOS aren't that great.

IMO, it's preferable to discuss tubes on an individual basis. The analogy I've used before is that tubes are kinda like dishes at Mexican restaurants -- one place has the best enchiladas, another has the best carne asada.

I tend to save NOS tubes for my vintage amps, and use current production for my newer amps.

I would also point out that you can't really say that an NOS tube has less headroom than a newer tube unless the amp has the bias set the same in both cases.

Scott has a point about using newer tubes. There are amp makers who design around newer production tubes for this reason. NOS tube supplies are just too low to rely on for consistency.

 

[marvar]

Re: NOS Tubes Exploarations

IMO, NOS tubes sound best in vintage, lower gain type amps, or if you are going for that vintage type tone, The newer tubes out there seem to work great for the more modern, higher gain, multi channel amps/tones. But remember, that most NOS tubes can push more current than newer tubes. This is cool for tone stack drivers, and Phase Inverter positions, it may not change the tone, just give more control and push, something which may be hard to really hear.

 

[kevlar3000]

Re: NOS Tubes Exploarations

I have a bunch of both, it really depends on the amp. My mind is always open, having 16 heads to dork with has given me plenty of options to tinker with. No set rules for me, I just swap em around til they sound good.

 

[Kommerzbassist]

Re: NOS Tubes Exploarations

NOS tubes ar not for everybody and they are not for every amp and/or situation...if you don't like them simply put the old tubes back in and be happy.

Yes of course, I didn't want to say that you're bad if you are buying them :beerchug:
Just that imo with the quality of todays production tubes (well, the quality of the good ones that is), it's not too necessary to buy NOS stuff anymore compared to the situation in the 80s.

FWIW, tubes today are made with different things in mind...Blackplate RCA preamp tubes from the 60's were not made with a thick/crunchy lead tone in mind at all...current JJ preamp tubes (JJ's for example) are.

As I see it, today you have two different mindsets:
#1 the one you stated
#2 the copy-a-vintage style... those who try to get the sound of popular vintage tubes (which some seem to be quite good at)