I'm going to retube my Mesa Boogie 2 90 that I just bought and I don't want to break the bank. The thing has 8 tubes and it can get expensive. I'm going to mix 6L6 and EL34s (you can do this per Mesa in the class A sockets) and am thinking of going with all Ruby Tubes. I know that, like Groove Tubes, they are not a producer themselves but a reseller and I'm okay with that. I'm wondering if anyone has had any good/bad/any experience with them. Thanks!
Opinions On Ruby Tubes
- Thread starter Jeff5
- Start date
Reckless Abandon
New member
Opinions On Ruby Tubes
I had my jcm 800 modded by Voodoo. They also retubed it. Ruby seemed good to me.
I had my jcm 800 modded by Voodoo. They also retubed it. Ruby seemed good to me.
FuseG4
Our Neighbor Totoro
Re: Opinions On Ruby Tubes
Ruby have and still do use mostly chinese tubes for 6l6 ald el34, AFAIK
When I had the DSL 50, I wanted winged C EL34s but some people recommended shuguang el34b aka Ruby EL34B-STR.
Versus the stock marshall branded el34s the chinese tubes had a more high gain scooped midrange feel. If I had had more money at the time I think i would have liked to have tried something different to keep the more marshall-y midrange I got from whatever the marshall stock tubes were
edit: the point is chinese tubes might sound a little different. but it might not matter if you're not always driving the amp into power tube saturation
Ruby have and still do use mostly chinese tubes for 6l6 ald el34, AFAIK
When I had the DSL 50, I wanted winged C EL34s but some people recommended shuguang el34b aka Ruby EL34B-STR.
Versus the stock marshall branded el34s the chinese tubes had a more high gain scooped midrange feel. If I had had more money at the time I think i would have liked to have tried something different to keep the more marshall-y midrange I got from whatever the marshall stock tubes were
edit: the point is chinese tubes might sound a little different. but it might not matter if you're not always driving the amp into power tube saturation
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Andrew Lamprecht
Minion of One
Re: Opinions On Ruby Tubes
Used the 6L6s in an older Fender amp I had. Sounded fine, nothing amazing but they were ok. Lasted a long time and were more reliable then some other brands I have used.
Used the 6L6s in an older Fender amp I had. Sounded fine, nothing amazing but they were ok. Lasted a long time and were more reliable then some other brands I have used.
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: Opinions On Ruby Tubes
Ruby are pretty good. Their EL34's are VERY clean/tight sounding. I like using them when recording clean parts.
Ruby are pretty good. Their EL34's are VERY clean/tight sounding. I like using them when recording clean parts.
glassman
Electron Herder
Re: Opinions On Ruby Tubes
I've been a Ruby dealer since 1995. Ruby's aren't just Chinese tubes; they have pretty much sell all of the common tubes available today including JJ, Sovtek, EH and others. There are some of the common ones that aren't available through Ruby...these are tubes that have proven to be problematic and were dropped from the line. Ruby is a matching system and a very good one at that; as a tech, I can select a PC range to suit a particular amp and/or a players style. The 6 month warranty is pretty hard to beat though I have only used it a few times and all were the result of handling damage.
For your Boogie, you want 6L6s that have a PC rating of 32 and EL34s that have a rating of 35 or 36.
I've been a Ruby dealer since 1995. Ruby's aren't just Chinese tubes; they have pretty much sell all of the common tubes available today including JJ, Sovtek, EH and others. There are some of the common ones that aren't available through Ruby...these are tubes that have proven to be problematic and were dropped from the line. Ruby is a matching system and a very good one at that; as a tech, I can select a PC range to suit a particular amp and/or a players style. The 6 month warranty is pretty hard to beat though I have only used it a few times and all were the result of handling damage.
For your Boogie, you want 6L6s that have a PC rating of 32 and EL34s that have a rating of 35 or 36.
L
Little Pigbacon
Guest
Re: Opinions On Ruby Tubes
Groove Tubes has a rating system intended to describe their breakup characteristics. You can read about it here: http://www.groovetubes.com/
Groove Tubes has a rating system intended to describe their breakup characteristics. You can read about it here: http://www.groovetubes.com/
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Opinions On Ruby Tubes
They are a matching service, nothing more. So they are as good as whatever they actually are below the "Ruby" stamp.
I've had sets that worked well, and sets that didn't. Same with any brand of tube.
They wouldn't be my first choice, but I have nothing against them.
They are a matching service, nothing more. So they are as good as whatever they actually are below the "Ruby" stamp.
I've had sets that worked well, and sets that didn't. Same with any brand of tube.
They wouldn't be my first choice, but I have nothing against them.
