What Brands of Tubes are stock in Fender, Marshall amps?
- Thread starter jmcorey
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More-Gear-Than-Skill
New member
Re: What Brands of Tubes are stock in Fender, Marshall amps?
Which is to say, Sovtek. Groove Tubes are mostly rebranded Sovtek, just nicely selected and matched and graded etc.
Vox use Electro Harmonix, which is to say, err, Sovtek.
Laney i got had TAD, which are re-branded (either sovtek or china) tubes, selected and graded etc.
As you see, most amps are using either russian or chinese valves. Some are going to some effort/cost of using a 3rd party selection/grading company. Respect!
Which is to say, Sovtek. Groove Tubes are mostly rebranded Sovtek, just nicely selected and matched and graded etc.
Vox use Electro Harmonix, which is to say, err, Sovtek.
Laney i got had TAD, which are re-branded (either sovtek or china) tubes, selected and graded etc.
As you see, most amps are using either russian or chinese valves. Some are going to some effort/cost of using a 3rd party selection/grading company. Respect!
Re: What Brands of Tubes are stock in Fender, Marshall amps?
there are only a few factorys producing tubes most of them in old soviet countrys or china. most stock tubes are cheap and reliable sovteks. the only problem is they dont sound great.
groove tubes are rebranded tubes for sure but they pull from all the manufacturers, not just sovtek
there are only a few factorys producing tubes most of them in old soviet countrys or china. most stock tubes are cheap and reliable sovteks. the only problem is they dont sound great.
groove tubes are rebranded tubes for sure but they pull from all the manufacturers, not just sovtek
greedo
New member
Re: What Brands of Tubes are stock in Fender, Marshall amps?
this has always made me wonder about something. I'm assuming that currently manufactured/available tubes from Russia or China are not on par with say, tubes made by Sylvania, GE, RCA, Tung Sol, et al "back in the day"?
if so, how does this affect the "tone" of currently made tube amps, even high-dollar boutique jobs? are these guys basically designing amps and circuitry "around" so-so tubes? are they just having to make do with what's available and make whatever compromises or decisions regarding their circuit designs and ideas?
will the overall tone of tube amps "decrease" in conjunction with the decrease of availability of high-quality vacuum tubes as time goes on?
am I making any sense here?
this has always made me wonder about something. I'm assuming that currently manufactured/available tubes from Russia or China are not on par with say, tubes made by Sylvania, GE, RCA, Tung Sol, et al "back in the day"?
if so, how does this affect the "tone" of currently made tube amps, even high-dollar boutique jobs? are these guys basically designing amps and circuitry "around" so-so tubes? are they just having to make do with what's available and make whatever compromises or decisions regarding their circuit designs and ideas?
will the overall tone of tube amps "decrease" in conjunction with the decrease of availability of high-quality vacuum tubes as time goes on?
am I making any sense here?
More-Gear-Than-Skill
New member
Re: What Brands of Tubes are stock in Fender, Marshall amps?
I think to a certain extent you're correct. Some modern high gain amps sound like arse when blessed with back in the day stuff (NOS). So it can be assumed that the circuits are designed and built around the performance and resulting sound of current stuff. But then again, with high gain, guys accept some eq and other tone-shaping fiddlings/pedals etc.
But for the purists and vintage heads, guitar into amp, it's true to say that the current stuff sounds inferior to NOS.
As for overall dropping of quality of the modern "workaround".. hmm, this could be true. Having said that, there are some remarkably nice bottles being made these days...actually. Especially in the last couple years, so it's getting better.
But it will never reach the standards of old... mainly because military/medical clients are no longer there. Only some rockers and hi-fi cork-sniffers, so who really cares?
My advice: Buy a nice old amp, and buy enough old bottle to keep you happy for the next 50 years? ha...
this has always made me wonder about something. I'm assuming that currently manufactured/available tubes from Russia or China are not on par with say, tubes made by Sylvania, GE, RCA, Tung Sol, et al "back in the day"?
if so, how does this affect the "tone" of currently made tube amps, even high-dollar boutique jobs? are these guys basically designing amps and circuitry "around" so-so tubes? are they just having to make do with what's available and make whatever compromises or decisions regarding their circuit designs and ideas?
will the overall tone of tube amps "decrease" in conjunction with the decrease of availability of high-quality vacuum tubes as time goes on?
am I making any sense here?
I think to a certain extent you're correct. Some modern high gain amps sound like arse when blessed with back in the day stuff (NOS). So it can be assumed that the circuits are designed and built around the performance and resulting sound of current stuff. But then again, with high gain, guys accept some eq and other tone-shaping fiddlings/pedals etc.
But for the purists and vintage heads, guitar into amp, it's true to say that the current stuff sounds inferior to NOS.
As for overall dropping of quality of the modern "workaround".. hmm, this could be true. Having said that, there are some remarkably nice bottles being made these days...actually. Especially in the last couple years, so it's getting better.
But it will never reach the standards of old... mainly because military/medical clients are no longer there. Only some rockers and hi-fi cork-sniffers, so who really cares?
My advice: Buy a nice old amp, and buy enough old bottle to keep you happy for the next 50 years? ha...
Re: What Brands of Tubes are stock in Fender, Marshall amps?
i think tubes will continue to get better. there is a good money market for them. when the millitary was buying them they were buying loads of tubes cheap that had to meet certain criteria. now we pay good money for tubes but there are less of us but i think it will continue to get better for the next few years
i think tubes will continue to get better. there is a good money market for them. when the millitary was buying them they were buying loads of tubes cheap that had to meet certain criteria. now we pay good money for tubes but there are less of us but i think it will continue to get better for the next few years
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: What Brands of Tubes are stock in Fender, Marshall amps?
I've seen a lot of Svetlanas relabeled by Groove Tube lately in both Fender and Marshall amps. Those are the best ones they've used in years....way better than Sovtek. Sovtek usually has a black base, and Svetlanas always have a dark orange base. Even though GT relabels them, you can still the original labeling in many cases.
As for GOOD current production tubes at normal prices, Svetlana and JJ are pretty much the best choice. Even if you pay more for other brands, they aren't necessarily going to sound better........some might, but you'll pay double for them.
I've seen a lot of Svetlanas relabeled by Groove Tube lately in both Fender and Marshall amps. Those are the best ones they've used in years....way better than Sovtek. Sovtek usually has a black base, and Svetlanas always have a dark orange base. Even though GT relabels them, you can still the original labeling in many cases.
As for GOOD current production tubes at normal prices, Svetlana and JJ are pretty much the best choice. Even if you pay more for other brands, they aren't necessarily going to sound better........some might, but you'll pay double for them.
Re: What Brands of Tubes are stock in Fender, Marshall amps?
What about the Tung-Sol reissues? Made in Russia now. Anyone have experience with these?
What about the Tung-Sol reissues? Made in Russia now. Anyone have experience with these?
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: What Brands of Tubes are stock in Fender, Marshall amps?
I Like the Tung Sol 12AX7s alot...
I Like the Tung Sol 12AX7s alot...
Re: What Brands of Tubes are stock in Fender, Marshall amps?
Whoa! Is that documented anywhere on the web?
Whoa! Is that documented anywhere on the web?
guitarded
New member
Re: What Brands of Tubes are stock in Fender, Marshall amps?
I put a Tung-Sol 12AX7 in my Crate Hybrid Practice amp, and made that amp sound a whole lot better. Dirtier in a good way
I put a Tung-Sol 12AX7 in my Crate Hybrid Practice amp, and made that amp sound a whole lot better. Dirtier in a good way
More-Gear-Than-Skill
New member
Re: What Brands of Tubes are stock in Fender, Marshall amps?
the AC15CC's ship with Tung-Sol RI and they sound great, but the amps usually either eat them and the amp fails, or the valves fail and the amp fails. Either way, the valve gets a bad rep, as does the amp. Mine were fine and still are. I'm not sure who's making them, but i have a hunch it's sovtek? Could be wrong.... But nice valve, fear not....,
the AC15CC's ship with Tung-Sol RI and they sound great, but the amps usually either eat them and the amp fails, or the valves fail and the amp fails. Either way, the valve gets a bad rep, as does the amp. Mine were fine and still are. I'm not sure who's making them, but i have a hunch it's sovtek? Could be wrong.... But nice valve, fear not....,
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