Recommend me some Good/cheap Tubes

Low_fidelity2100

Low_fidelity2100

New member
ok, so Its time to replace my power tubes apperently. And Also want/need to pickup a Few spare Pre-tubes also. So I want Everyones Recommendations. Heres the thing though, I AM SO POOR YOU CAN ALMOST SMELL THE WELFARE! so yeah Money is tight, so I need recomendations For Good Tubes at the Lowest possible price.
And If Anyone has any Idea what it'll cost to get my amp Biased, please tell me.

Heres what I need...
2 x 6L6GC
2 x 7025 (Possibly More, but I NEED at least Two)

A couple questions..Would Buying a Matched Quad Be a way Of avoiding rebiasing Next time around? would it be like Haveing two Matched Pairs, So they'de be pretty much the same? Or Am I misunderstanding this?
Also Should I try A few different Pre-Tubes? Like 12AX7 Substitutes, like a 12AU7, 12AT7, 12AY7? Or would this create some sort of problem? If it wouldn't create a problem, what kinda effect would it have on tone? I kinda wanna experiment.

and Lastly How Nessicarry is Biasing? I've heard alotta different opinions on it from many different people. Alot of older musicians I know seem to think its pointless, being as No one biased they're amps back in the 60's-70's and they (claim) never had problems. While others say its totally nessicarry, and That not doing it would Mess up an output transformer.

thanks in advance guys.
 
Re: Recommend me some Good/cheap Tubes

Low_fidelity2100 said:
Heres what I need...
2 x 6L6GC
2 x 7025 (Possibly More, but I NEED at least Two)
Click to expand...


I highly recommend the TAD (Tube Amp Doctor) 6L6. I built a Blackface DR/PR clone, using a 40W tranny set, from David Allen. The TAD 6L6s sound so good in that amp, that it's hard to believe they aren't NOS GE. They are that good. Strong bottom, complex mids and a sweet top end. Drive them and it's blackface heaven :) You can get them for $40 or less for a matched pair. Great price for a killer tube. David Allen has used these for a couple years now with his amps, and says they are very reliable. If you really want to scrape the bottom of the barrel, EH makes a 6L6 for around $25/pr. At that price..I wouldn't have terribly high expectations, but you never know.

I've always liked the short-bottle 6L6WGC-STR in blackfaces, but there's a TAD 6L6GC-STR available too. Can't vouch for that one. What are you putting these tubes in?
Biasing is not always essential, but it will maximize tube life and give you the best tone possible. For the price of having a tech do it, why not pick up an inexpensive multimeter and learn to do it yourself? Plenty of resources online to help you along. It's not difficult, and you'll save yerself some $$.

As for preamp tubes, Sovtek makes a 12AX7WA/7025 that goes for around 10 bucks. I'm not a big fan of Sovtek, but I haven't tried this one. EH preamp tubes are cheap and good. JJs are worth a look too.
 
Re: Recommend me some Good/cheap Tubes

Tweed said:
I highly recommend the TAD (Tube Amp Doctor) 6L6. I built a Blackface DR/PR clone, using a 40W tranny set, from David Allen. The TAD 6L6s sound so good in that amp, that it's hard to believe they aren't NOS GE. They are that good. Strong bottom, complex mids and a sweet top end. Drive them and it's blackface heaven :) You can get them for $40 or less for a matched pair. Great price for a killer tube. David Allen has used these for a couple years now with his amps, and says they are very reliable. If you really want to scrape the bottom of the barrel, EH makes a 6L6 for around $25/pr. At that price..I wouldn't have terribly high expectations, but you never know.

I've always liked the short-bottle 6L6WGC-STR in blackfaces, but there's a TAD 6L6GC-STR available too. Can't vouch for that one. What are you putting these tubes in?
Biasing is not always essential, but it will maximize tube life and give you the best tone possible. For the price of having a tech do it, why not pick up an inexpensive multimeter and learn to do it yourself? Plenty of resources online to help you along. It's not difficult, and you'll save yerself some $$.

As for preamp tubes, Sovtek makes a 12AX7WA/7025 that goes for around 10 bucks. I'm not a big fan of Sovtek, but I haven't tried this one. EH preamp tubes are cheap and good. JJs are worth a look too.
Click to expand...

Those Tads are more than I was hopein ta spend. But I'll check em out, an see if I can find em cheaper somehow (never know till ya try).
As far as doing the biasing myself, I dunno how I feel about that. Like I got a meter, and I've read lots of those DIY biasing things online. But I'm still a bit worried I'de screw sumthing up, And I wouldn't wanna risk Destroying my amp, being as I haven't money to have it repaired, or replaced.
I'm also a tad worried That I'de just end up electricuteing myself. I sumhow manage to electricute myself more than anyone I know. In really unlikely ways. So I think me messing around with something that could potentially kill me, is a bad idea. Haha.
 
Re: Recommend me some Good/cheap Tubes

Electro Harmonix preamp tubes last a looong time and sound very smooth and musical. They aren't likely to go microphonic on you too quick.

I guess the same can be said of JJ power tubes, hehe.

That's just my opinion though.
 
Re: Recommend me some Good/cheap Tubes

ModestCargo said:
Electro Harmonix preamp tubes last a looong time and sound very smooth and musical. They aren't likely to go microphonic on you too quick.

I guess the same can be said of JJ power tubes, hehe.

That's just my opinion though.
Click to expand...

kool, just wondering. Thanks.
 
Re: Recommend me some Good/cheap Tubes

marvar said:
You will get what you pay for- cheap tubes, cheap sound.
Click to expand...

Maybe, Maybenot.

I gotta stay cheap either way. I gots very limited funds, being as I'm a single dad, And semi-unemployeed right now.
 
Re: Recommend me some Good/cheap Tubes

Low_fidelity2100 said:
Maybe, Maybenot.

I gotta stay cheap either way. I gots very limited funds, being as I'm a single dad, And semi-unemployeed right now.
Click to expand...
GOD BLESS YOU!! for being a single dad!:arms:
If my amps used 6l6 I would send you a set, but unfortunately all my amps use EL-34/ I would be willing to give you some use 12Ax7s if you want- older ones taken out of one of my Marshalls.
 
Last edited:
Re: Recommend me some Good/cheap Tubes

BTW- what kind of amp are we talking about? it may not need bias- or could be a very easy one to do.
 
Re: Recommend me some Good/cheap Tubes

marvar said:
GOD BLESS YOU!! for being a single dad!:arms:
If my amps used 6l6 I would send you a set, but unfortunately all my amps use EL-34/ I would be willing to give you some use 12Ax7s if you want- older ones taken out of one of my Marshalls.
Click to expand...

That would be Really kool of ya if ya want ta give me some 12AX7's, would be a major help. So thanks! (although if you've changed your mind or anything, I'll understand.)

And my amp is an old 83' fender Concert. Its one of the rivera era fenders. I haven't been able to find much info on it online, except basic info (dimensions, and just really basic specs) which I found on Ampwares.com in they're fender amp field guide.
 
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