Time for Tubes - sources?

[Rango]

I know this comes up from time to time, my turn.

So my normal source for JJ's came back with "we don't have a schematic, so we're not sure what to recommend...."

Not the answer I was looking for.

So WHO should I get the tubes from and "What" tubes are the current spec?

Have a BE-100 that is the 2015ish version...revised back panel, quieter but before the new caps. I LOVED it with the JJ's that were in it but I trust Dave's ear.

Also recommend a bias probe.

Thanks!

 

[glip22]

I've had quite a few bias probes and the below one is really doing the job for me.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dual-Tube-Amp- ... Swe7BWyh0g

 

[Rango]

Thanks!

 

[CrazyNutz]

I know this comes up from time to time, my turn.

So my normal source for JJ's came back with "we don't have a schematic, so we're not sure what to recommend...."

Not the answer I was looking for.

So WHO should I get the tubes from and "What" tubes are the current spec?

Have a BE-100 that is the 2015ish version...revised back panel, quieter but before the new caps. I LOVED it with the JJ's that were in it but I trust Dave's ear.

Also recommend a bias probe.

Thanks!

Dave currently uses Electro-Harmonix el34's. But if you loved the JJ's before, just get a new matched quad of JJ el34's

Keep in mind he switched from JJ's mainly for manufacturing QA. He was experiencing some failures with JJ's, and the TAD's he switched to as well.

I too like JJ's in this type of amp, never had a problem.

 

[RACKSYSTEMS]

Seems like new batchs of jj tubes are complete shit. I wouldn't recommend anybody getting them at the moment.. epic Epic issues from several sources.. the Chinese el34 tad or ruby don't seem to have the greatest lifespan.. so we switched to Eh el34 tubes. You could by apex matched ones.. their matching and testing seems to be good.

 

[Ventura]

Seems like new batchs of jj tubes are complete shit. I wouldn't recommend anybody getting them at the moment.. epic Epic issues from several sources.. the Chinese el34 tad or ruby don't seem to have the greatest lifespan.. so we switched to Eh el34 tubes. You could by apex matched ones.. there matching and testing seems to be good.

Honesty. I like posts that are straight up

 

[Rango]

Seems like new batchs of jj tubes are complete shit. I wouldn't recommend anybody getting them at the moment.. epic Epic issues from several sources.. the Chinese el34 tad or ruby don't seem to have the greatest lifespan.. so we switched to Eh el34 tubes. You could by apex matched ones.. their matching and testing seems to be good.

Okay I found them on Reverb from Amplified Parts:
EL34 - Electro-Harmonix, Apex Matched Quad
https://reverb.com/item/2997934-el34-el ... tched-quad

They also have "burned in" for $5 more:
https://reverb.com/item/2997935-el34-el ... tched-quad

I'm thinking about buying the burn in ones just to lessen the chance of failure out of the box, thoughts?

Thanks Dave, Guys.

 

[CrazyNutz]

Seems like new batchs of jj tubes are complete shit. I wouldn't recommend anybody getting them at the moment.. epic Epic issues from several sources.. the Chinese el34 tad or ruby don't seem to have the greatest lifespan.. so we switched to Eh el34 tubes. You could by apex matched ones.. their matching and testing seems to be good.

Okay I found them on Reverb from Amplified Parts:
EL34 - Electro-Harmonix, Apex Matched Quad
https://reverb.com/item/2997934-el34-el ... tched-quad

They also have "burned in" for $5 more:
https://reverb.com/item/2997935-el34-el ... tched-quad

I'm thinking about buying the burn in ones just to lessen the chance of failure out of the box, thoughts?

Thanks Dave, Guys.

Since they are matched they were taken out of the box and tested on the Apex machine. But for $5, I guess why not.

I usually have faulty tubes fail within a week, to a month, YMMV.

 

[Ventura]

www.thetubestore.com

And be done with it....

 

[RedPlated]

I’ve tried lots of tubes in my BE100 and came full circle back to JJ el34. They sound and feel the best to me. Just get an Apex matched quad from Amplified Parts.

People tend to want to get the “latest” tube that Dave uses. Remember, he changes tubes primarily for production reliability, not necessarily the best tone. It’s a compromise.

I tried the following:

JJ el34
TAD el34bstr
EHX el34
JJ kt77
Sovtek 5881
Tung sol el34b