Vintage tube hype?

[SB Monster]

I can't comment on any nos el34's except the mullards. I only just got some xf2's and IMO they're worth every penny. When you take their longevity over current production they're not really any more expensive before you even consider how much better they sound. I'm getting more bang for my buck whatever way I look at it. I've bought another unused quad since and I'm gonna keep buying for as long as I can afford to. The preamp tubes are more of a subjective thing as far as I have experienced. I prefer the later tungsrams and the early sixties mullards of which I've been lucky enough to pick up a dozen or so very cheap on the 'bay' over the past few months, only one was DOA and the rest were all at least v.good. I've tried the brimars and tungsrams but thought they were a bit too gainy and the other stuff I haven't found to be that much better than good current production. It's NOS or NNOS for me all the way.

Paul

[JD]

Actually from my experience the quality and selection of current production tubes is really not bad. Sure, not like the golden era of tubes, but for alot of guys the cost and gamble of NOS or used vintage is not a good option unless you have something like an original '68 SLP you are going to cut the world's next "Revolver" with.

I've found a handmade guitar, a good set of pickups, the proper amp for the sound your looking for, or the proper speaker is often money better spent. You'll never make a Jackson with EMGs through a SL-X sound like a Bluesbreaker, even with NOS Mullards or Telefunkens.

[KennedyBlvd]

But ... I don't think it sounds $300.00 better than it did before. I just don't think it was worth it.

Maybe you didn't give your amp the "full treatment".

A good tech can give the ol' girl a full checkup, we usually meter all the resistors to make sure that everything is in spec. Either out of spec plate or cathode resistors will make even the best tubes sound fecal.

Checking the cap cans goes without saying. Weak power supply equals weak tone and weak caps equal weak power supply.

Then correct bias is a must. "Correct" bias is often within a correct range of bias, carefully calibrated ears will tell you when you're there, a multimeter will tell you when you're not even close!

If you don't do it all, yeah, NOS tubes are a waste. In fact, incorrect bias will waste your NOS tubes!

Of course Terry Kilgore likes looking for old tube organs in the classifieds, he claimed they're chock full of good 12AX7's, 6V6's and 6L6's. But you gotta be able to pick up an old organ, sounds like a nut-dropping experience to me.

The trick here is to carry a basic tool kit including a large hammer. Depending on the organ, pull the oscillator chassis on anything besides Hammond, pull the preamps and amp on a Hammond. Think twice about trashing a Hammond, if you find an "A", a "B" or a "C" series it's worth more intact. THEN carefully remove the speakers, you'll frequently run into off-brand low wattage alnicos but they're perfectly acceptable for low wattage amp projects, cheap parts are cheap parts. Make sure you save any vintage date coded pots. The trick is to asess salvage value and carefully remove anything useful. THEN reach for your big hammer, otherwise known as a "BFH"! See, it's rude to leave an organ case on some little old lady's lawn, bust it up with your BFH and cart it away.

Organs are MUCH easier to move in chunks! You're gonna bust it up anyway, why put it off?

[Country Boy Shane]

I spent $350.00 on NOS tubes, 3 Mullard pre's and Siemens EL-34's for my 71' 50 watt Marshall. I bought them from a reputable top notch dealer. Very good customer service. Great tubes. My observations: Sounds good, I mean how bad can an unmodified 71' 50 watt Marshall sound? But ... I don't think it sounds $300.00 better than it did before. I just don't think it was worth it. Yea, it's kinda like a really good wine, but most of the time I would rather drink Budweiser. I think I'll stick with new tubes from now on.

- Jim

I'm with you there. I think a lot of people who use NOS tubes just have this weirdo psychological effect that since they have these old tubes the tone is divine, when it's really not all that different. It's almost like a placebo effect where if you believe it's gonna work, it just does with the power of your mind!

[Billy Batz]

I spent $350.00 on NOS tubes, 3 Mullard pre's and Siemens EL-34's for my 71' 50 watt Marshall. I bought them from a reputable top notch dealer. Very good customer service. Great tubes. My observations: Sounds good, I mean how bad can an unmodified 71' 50 watt Marshall sound? But ... I don't think it sounds $300.00 better than it did before. I just don't think it was worth it. Yea, it's kinda like a really good wine, but most of the time I would rather drink Budweiser. I think I'll stick with new tubes from now on.

- Jim

I'm with you there. I think a lot of people who use NOS tubes just have this weirdo psychological effect that since they have these old tubes the tone is divine, when it's really not all that different. It's almost like a placebo effect where if you believe it's gonna work, it just does with the power of your mind!

Im with you there to an extent. I dont think the tone is so different it will change my tone to anyone else but me. Ive heard recording tests millions of times and they never really sound that different. I think an amp with JJs can record 99% the same tone as an amp with Mullards. But Im sure getting them in my amp and playing it would be a different story. So I just have to make sure I can control my impulsive urges to buy NOS. Then I can relax not like these guys.

[Jim SS]

Maybe you didn't give your amp the "full treatment".

Yes, the amp had the "full treatment". Like I said, the NOS tubes sounded very good, but the amp sounded very good with new production tubes. I did try the mullard 12Ax7's in my Super Reverb and did notice quite a bit of difference. Much smoother! I left the Mullards in the SR and went back to my regular tubes in my Marshalls. Both my 71' Marshall's kick ass the way they already are. I will probably contine to use Mullard's in my SR.

- Jim