These online retailers are warning customers that tube inventories have been impacted and they are pointing out that pricing is also subject to change based on the current economic climate. In the home audio market tube amp makers such as McIntosh, Audio Research, and Cary Audio do not consume the volume of tubes that guitar amp companies use, but these shortages could impact the availability of new tube-based products from these brands.Īdditionally, specialty tube retailers such as The Tube Depot, The Tube Store, and Eurotubes are caught in the middle of the tube shortage problem right now.
In his video outlining the tube shortage issues, Shull says these problems could accelerate the market’s already in-place evolution from tubes to digital technologies which includes plugin software solutions and “modeling amps” that emulate the sound of popular amps from brands like Marshall and Fender. GearNews’ Mastory includes a screen grab of Matthews’ statements regarding tube shortages, and Shull’s recent YouTube post does a great job summarizing how inventories have been impacted by the pandemic, as well as a fire to a large tube factory in China, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. SAKRETE Form Tubes are a single cylindrical heavy-duty cardboard form designed to replace labor-intensive wood forms. 1: Re: 12AX7, 12AT7, 12BH7 Tube MFG Recommendations (10.57) Posted by -3db on, 20:59:11 (66.213.200.178) EL509 Tube depot if in stock Russian EL509 may be better try Sovtek 12axy EI tube depot 12at7 El tube depot or RCA Black Plate as a first pass NON mil spec W 12bh7 Rca black plate, or EI tube depot. Several guitar websites and YouTubers, including GearNews and Rhett Shull, have picked up on Matthews’ statements and commented on the current state of global tube inventories. Found 200 records in Search of Tubes Asylum. If I ever had any tubes that were giving me a problem, that would be a sure way to find out which ones are getting ready to go out on me.CE Pro’s Email Newsletters deliver timely news, industry-leading content, product information, and downloadable resources directly to your email inbox. buying off the shelf from one of the big tube retailer where I've encountered too many early failures and problem tubes over the years to put much stock in any testing and/or matching procedures they might. The tester will tell you, if rather your tubes are still good or not.īoy, do I wish they made talking tube testers! For new tubes, the folks at TC Tubes don't have the worlds widest selection of stock, but they're very helpful and seem to do extensive testing which has produced great results for me, vs. If you haven’t got one already, get yourself a good tube tester and test your tubes. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators. When the tubes are brand new, then the rings are gonna be silver.īut if those rings turn white, then the tube or tubes have a leaking problem.īut If I could see like I once yoost to be able to, then I would do this. If the tube glows red or some other collar, then the tubes are becoming gasy.Īlso, all tubes have these rings either in the top of them, or in the sides of them. When your tubes are getting ready to go, the sound changes.īut if you can’t tell just by listening, then start looking. Paul, if you’re reading this comment, I agree with you, whole heartedly! Sense we’re talking tubes here, there are quite a few things that’ll signal to you, it’s time to replace your tubes.īut before I get to that, I’m gonna say this first. It has warm lows and mids with a top-end that offers more presence than the Sovtek WA, WB and WC tubes. I can’t see to look at things like this, but I have told my sighted wife what to look for. This long plate Russian tube is smooth and tight. These are the tubes, that are in the output session of your power amp.Īll depending on how long you play music on that system, that will predict when you’ll need to replace your power tubes.įor instance, if you’re playing the system for about 12 hours a day, seven days a week, then it mite be every year, or every two years you may need to replace them.īut also, keep in mind, some amps are harder on tubes then other amps. The tubes that you mite need to replace, are the tubes that do all the heavy lifting. Preamps and phono stages, don’t need their tubes replaced that often.
That will tell you baste on the results, if you need to replace them or not. If you can, either test the caps, or have a tech to check the caps for you. If I knew that, I could give you an accurate answer to that question.īut generally, unused electrolytic capacitors, have a shelf life, of two to five years. Good afternoon Sirdodo!I’m gonna take the last question, and answer it first.įor the vintage equipment, how long have you had it in storage?