Tung-Sol update?

[hawkeyeinexile]

hey, LV, glad to find you again. what's the latest on new Tung-Sols? there was a question about the future of the plant, etc. any news or specific tube recommendations appreciated

:cool:

[Lord Valve]

hey, LV, glad to find you again. what's the latest on new Tung-Sols? there was a question about the future of the plant, etc. any news or specific tube recommendations appreciated

:cool:

The current-production Tung-Sol line is built in the Reflektor plant, which
is the object of a takeover bid by the Russian Mob. So far, Mike Matthews
appears to be holding his own. There was also a contamination problem
with a couple of batches of the 12AX7s, which is being sorted out.
The Tung-Sol 5881 is KILLER - it's a *real* 5881, just like the original
American Tung-Sol was. I love the damn things. Ditto for the 6V6.
Give the KT-66 a pass - it's their Svetlana 6L6 stuffed into a KT-88 bottle.
I have no idea why they're even offering it. The new EF-806 (premium
EF86) seems to be good so far - not many available, not much data,
zero customer feedback. (I gave away a few - still waiting for field
reports.) We'll see. The Tung-Sol 6550 is *easily* the best current-
production 6550, and for my money it kicks the crap out of NOS GEs,
too. I have some in my Leslies - 'nuff said.

Remember - FAHQ if you don't like it. ;-)

Lord Valve
Expert

[hawkeyeinexile]

thanks, Willie, you just reminded me i'm looking for a pair of good 5881s for my Heritage Colonial (for its JTM-45 and tweed Bassman setups). guess i'll start with the Tung-Sols

:cool:

[PinkStrat]

Hi LV,

Well, I got the package of goodies today and all I can say is "Wow!"....these new Tungsol preamp tubes kick serious booty. EASILY the BEST new tube going to my ears and they kick the snot out of the GT Mullard tubes (which failed). I have equally high hopes for the Mullard EL-34s which will be tested by tomorrow afternoon. I've heard these at higher voltage (in the MP) than my Komet 60 so I will let you know how these "medium current" ones sound with the Celestion Blues and the Les Paul. BTW I tried the TungSols so far in my Classic 30 with my white '57 Strat and it kicked ass in there too--whatta TONE! Big fat and RICH but with a lotta soul to the tone.

Thanks again LV,

Dean:D

[PinkStrat]

The new Mullard EL-34s were installed in my Komet 60 head this afternoon and what I noticed at first was real BIG, WARM tones that I haven't had the pleasure of hearing since we did the retubing of Bjorn's MP amp during the NAMM show. I think that these are well balanced and will sound this way for a while. Absent was the overly bright top end from the SED Svetlanas that were in the amp previously (also purchased from Lord Valve himself). I think Mike Matthews is on to something here."Balanced" is a great adjective to use to describe the Mullards! I will post here next how they last...as usual a very close match up by LV. Lord Valve doesn't kid around! Thanks Willie!

Best regards,
Dean

[Leftee]

This is great news in the new tube market! Glad to read this. It's painfully obvious that there is a finite number of NOS and otherwise good old tubes to be had. When they're gone, they're gone.

[PinkStrat]

Here we are two weeks down the line and my Komet 60 sounds stunning with the Mullard EL-34s...much more robust than the SEDs.

Dean

[Lord Valve]

Here we are two weeks down the line and my Komet 60 sounds stunning with the Mullard EL-34s...much more robust than the SEDs.

Dean

SEDs are having quality control issues these days. They start off
fine, but they turn into rattletraps in a couple of months, especially
if used on the road. They work fine in audiophool stuff, though.

LV

[fyler]

i can't get over how great the TS reissue 6550's are. i sure hope the factory stays open.

[glaswerks]

Willie, I am wondering what kind of reject rate you are seeing with the Tung-Sols?

I have been evaluating a couple I got from a customer and must say that I really like the tone and clarity of these tubes. They will probably become my standard for V1 and V2.

Gary

[swankmotee]

Has anybody noticed their Tungsol 12AX7's starting to hum after a few hours of playtime? Mine sure do and it's really annoying and a bummer because they really do sound great. I hope they will get that problem taken care of because it's embarrassing to have engineers scowling at me when I know my amps are perfectly fine and quiet before changing them out. Feedback?

[Lord Valve]

Willie, I am wondering what kind of reject rate you are seeing with the Tung-Sols?

I have been evaluating a couple I got from a customer and must say that I really like the tone and clarity of these tubes. They will probably become my standard for V1 and V2.

Gary

Last batch of 200 I rejected about 19%, mostly for noise.
There were some contaminated ones awhile back - that batch
ran nearly 60% rejects. I've got several thousand (of the
ones which passed my QC) in the field so far; I've gotten
maybe 20 back. It's a fine tube. So far, *everything* with
the Tung-Sol badge on it kicks ass. I just got samples of the
new brown-base 6SL7 and they rock. (Of course, samples
are *always* good. ;-) I had a couple of the EF806 (gold
pins; remember - if you use tubes with gold pins, I personally
guarantee that the sky *will* stay ****in' blue) that I sent out;
one dude said they rocked and I never heard from the other one,
so I don't know how good they are - yet. I didn't have an amp
in the shop that used them at the time, so I couldn't listen for
myself. BTW, the Tung-Sol KT66 - ain't. It's a set of the Reflektor
Svetlana 6L6 guts in a KT-88 bottle. Doesn't look like a KT66,
doesn't sound like one, either. I don't know WTF Mike was thinking
on that one. It does, however, have a gold-plated screen grid;
coupled with the larger bottle, it should be good for more dissipation
than a regular 6L6, but I can't really see any reason to stock them.
I'd like to see a premium 6L6 and a kickass 6SN7 under this badge.
They're getting fairly serious about making good shit with this label.
My hat is off to Mike.

Lord Valve
Expert


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"It ain't braggin', if ya can do it." - Dizzy Dean

[Lord Valve]

Has anybody noticed their Tungsol 12AX7's starting to hum after a few hours of playtime? Mine sure do and it's really annoying and a bummer because they really do sound great. I hope they will get that problem taken care of because it's embarrassing to have engineers scowling at me when I know my amps are perfectly fine and quiet before changing them out. Feedback?


What's the date code on them? You'll see some numbers
right underneath where it says "MADE IN RUSSIA." "06 03,"
for instance (my current batch) means they were built in
March of 2006. There was a contaminated batch bearing the
date code "05 12" which had a high reject rate. Of course, if
you got yours from me, I'll be glad to replace them. Field failures
on tubes which have passed my QC are rare - but, unfortunately,
not unheard of. (In other words, I ain't no fortune teller - I don't
know what's going to happen in the future, I only know what shape
they're in when they leave my testbench.) Hum usually means the
tube has developed heater-cathode leakage. This problem could
be completely eliminated if amp manufacturers went to DC heaters;
this is a fairly inexpensive way to make sure that things like H-K
leakage, filament lead dress and signal lead routing (to name a
few) won't cause problems. I'm not making excuses for the tubes -
if they're bad, they're bad, and the folks who make 'em need
feedback from dudes (like you and me) in the field so they can
make 'em better next time - but making amps with DC heaters
sure would solve a lot of annoying problems.

Lord Valve
Expert


VISIT MY WEBSITE: http://www.nebsnow.com/LordValve
I specialize in top quality HAND SELECTED NOS and
current-production vacuum tubes for guitar and
bass amps. Good prices, fast service.
Authorized dealer for QSC amps, Sovtek/Electro-Harmonix,
Behringer, Hammond-Suzuki, Leslie, Rolls, many more!


- Partial Client List -
* Derek Trucks (Allman Brothers Band/Derek Trucks Band) *
* Meatloaf * Catherine Wheel * Yo La Tengo * Let's Go Bowling *
* Kofi Burbridge (DTB) * Tod Smallie (DTB) * Susan Tedeschi *
* Roy Pritts (former head, Audio Engineering Society) *
* Rob Hyckys (guitarist for Commander Cody) * Waky Amps *
* Jamie McLean (guitarist for the Dirty Dozen Brass Band) *
* Coco Montoya * Clint Black * Bill McKay * John Denver * Dick Dale *
* Fleetwood Mac * Tyrin Benoit * Eugene Fodor * Dale Bruning *
* Komet Amplification * Dr. Z * Maven Peal * Blockhead Amps *
* Jim Kelley * Balls Amplification * Roccaforte Amplifiers *
* Gerhart Amplification * Aiken Amplification * Germino Amplification *
* Many More *


NBS Electronics, 230 South Broadway, Denver, CO 80209-1510
Phone orders/tech support after 1:30 PM Denver time at 303-778-1156


- Our 24th Year -


VISA - MASTERCARD - PAYPAL - DISCOVER


"It ain't braggin', if ya can do it." - Dizzy Dean

[swankmotee]

Yep, mine were 05 10 and probably the same lot! Also of note is that I have a Svet AX7 from 05 12 in V1 of the noisiest amp! I'll definitely check with you first on future purchases next time because my local store just buys em in bulk and you know what that means! I really do LOVE em though because they bring back all the extra gain that I loved about the 80's chinese tubes and give back all the bass frequencies that I haven't heard, well since the old vintage stuff! Not having as good luck with the Mullard EL34's though because a couple flashed on me right before Tonefest and I had to revert back to my old,tired original Mullards which I've had since 75'. Those rickety old things just took a huge dump all over the re-pro and didn't even flinch a bit with 550 volts on the plates! I guess some things are just plain better built and we'll have to wait and see how much better they get with the 34's! Thanx for your all your info and honest apprasials because us working stiffs REALLY appreciate it!!! Keep it coming!!!!!!!

[?ing my education]

Thanks for all of the info Lord Valve. I am a very novice player and don't know a lot about tubes but the info you are putting out here is great.

I have a Fender Blues Jr. Amp (tweed). I bought it used and I am pretty sure it still has the original tubes. I think they are a pair of EL-84 Groove Tube output tubes and three 12AX7 preamp tubes.

If I were to replace these, what would you suggest?

Thanks for any feedback you provide.

[Lord Valve]

Thanks for all of the info Lord Valve. I am a very novice player and don't know a lot about tubes but the info you are putting out here is great.

I have a Fender Blues Jr. Amp (tweed). I bought it used and I am pretty sure it still has the original tubes. I think they are a pair of EL-84 Groove Tube output tubes and three 12AX7 preamp tubes.

If I were to replace these, what would you suggest?

Thanks for any feedback you provide.


JJ EL84s and Tung-Sol 12AX7s.

LV

[glaswerks]

Thanks for the update on the TS 12AX7's. I think they will become my standard offering, at least in a couple of slots.

Gary

[Ratty]

Haven't had a problem with my Tung-Sol but it wasn't from the cited batch.

[swankmotee]

Just a quick update.... just ran a test on 12AX7's down at the local music shop and found that the only one that doesn't hum are the EH's because they have spiral filaments. They don't sound quite as good as the Tungsol's but until I can spring for changin' all my old Marshall's to "DC" they'll just have to do. Bummer though because both the Svets and Tungsol's hum but both sound better!:rolleyes: