Who makes Groove Tubes?

[Low_fidelity2100]

Who actually makes the different groove tubes labled tubes? I know they don't actually MAKE any tubes themselves, just relable/test and match other peoples stuff. So who makes the different tubes they use?

According to the Torres Enginering site the groove tubes 6L6S is made by JJ/Tesla. Thats the only one I've been able to find out.(I dunno if thats true or not though)


Anybody know any others?

 

[newking70]

Re: Who makes Groove Tubes?

i think their chinese made....

 

[Low_fidelity2100]

Re: Who makes Groove Tubes?

i think their chinese made....

I know some are, but they're not all made in the same place, or by the same company. I'm tryin to find out, cause I like the sound of certain preamp tubes of they'res but I'de prefer to not pay $20 for something if I can get the same thing (sans the GT logo) for less, ya know?

 

[Ellum]

Re: Who makes Groove Tubes?

Sovtek

 

[Reckless Abandon]

Re: Who makes Groove Tubes?

They are different tubes relabled.

 

[brit84]

Re: Who makes Groove Tubes?

some are made by sovtek, some by svetlana, and some form chinese factories. These factories make them and groove tubes buys then to label and rate before selling them as a quality checked and matched product.

 

[Smilemon]

Re: Who makes Groove Tubes?

some are made by sovtek, some by svetlana, and some form chinese factories. These factories make them and groove tubes buys then to label and rate before selling them as a quality checked and matched product.

+1

 

[Low_fidelity2100]

Re: Who makes Groove Tubes?

some are made by sovtek, some by svetlana, and some form chinese factories. These factories make them and groove tubes buys then to label and rate before selling them as a quality checked and matched product.

Right, I already knew all that. I was actually hopeing for more info than "some are made by so and so". Ya know? specifics...GT-6L6S = JJ/Tesla 6L6GC. GT-12AX7C = Whatever. Etc... Sorta to make this a list. Everyone can share all the info we know. So everyone will know what tube they're ACTUALLY buying when they buy a GT product.

Maybe its just me, but if I buy a GT product, I'de like to actually Know what I'm getting. Also make it easier to go to the source and just buy a tube from Shuguang, JJ/Tesla, Sovtek, Or whoever actually made the tube. Rather than Paying GT more for the same thing, but with they're lable painted on it. (this applys to preamp tubes only, as I think the Power tube matching sorta justifys the additional cost. And I realize they Do more than just paint they're lable on it.)

 

[brit84]

Re: Who makes Groove Tubes?

usually you can tell from the sub name of the tube, for example a 12ax7-c would mean its chinese an el34-R is russian, but which in particular you have to ask GT.

 

[J Moose]

Re: Who makes Groove Tubes?

Hey man,

I talked man to man, face to face with Aspen Pitman last summer about the current state of tubes & tube manufacturing today.

There are currently about a half-dozen factories in the WORLD that make tubes. A couple each in China, Russia, two in Yugoslovia and they are making some (not many) tubes in the USA.

Groove Tubes buys, matches...and rejects tubes from ALL of those plants.

You or I, individually would NEVER be able to buy tubes from those factories unless we wanted to place an order for a whole bunch of 'em. So really, when it's a Boogie vs. a JJ vs. EH vs. GT vs. whuddever it ALL comes down to how the company is grading the tubes and by/with what methods they use during that process.

 

[Smilemon]

Re: Who makes Groove Tubes?

Buy Chineese Preamp Tubes fast men!

" "Sino" factory in Beijing recently stopped making 12AX7, 12AT7, 12AU7, 6GH8, 6AN8 and other small tubes, due to a poor market and tough competition from Sovtek/New Sensor. "

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Who makes Groove Tubes?

Like J said they come from everywhere...

 

[More-Gear-Than-Skill]

Re: Who makes Groove Tubes?

Hmm, that's a tough one... I've avoided re-branded stuff for that very reason. I've been worried that if i love a tube, hunting it down for sure, would be dicey. So i go with JJ branded, and it woul'nt surprise me if that's your magic valve right there. For current production stuff, the JJ's really are my fav.

 

[baritone]

Re: Who makes Groove Tubes?

It's kind of like Fender and Mesa/Boogie tubes. They get tubes from different manufacturers, test them, match them, and jack up the prices a little.

 

[sosomething]

Re: Who makes Groove Tubes?

Honestly I cannot fathom a good reason to pay the premium for GTs when most online tube retailers offer the same or similar service for little or no upcharge at all.

Plus, in those instances, you do know what you're getting and from whom.

eurotubes.com
thetubestore.com
tubedepot.com

All of the above offer lower prices for much the same service as GT does, though I think Bob at Eurotubes deals exclusively with JJ/Tesla.

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: Who makes Groove Tubes?

They are different tubes relabled.

They buy from different companies and re-label, after testing them and applying their own rating (hardness). They toss out the crap and keep the good ones. I happen to swear by GT. Never had a problem with them and always get good tone and life-span out of them.:smokin:

Jeff