DG335
New member
wahoo":3h2qhm6f said:Do you have some link where are you ordering tubes ?
As supplies dwindle it's getting harder to find quality true NOS tubes so you sometimes have to settle for ANOS. I've bought quite a bit on ebay (mostly ANOS) and taken some risks which paid off big time and some that were a bust. I've also bought from the popular online dealers and got some gems and some duds. It's a crap shoot and it's not cheap. You will pay more from the online dealers, but the quality is "usually" better. I like the Mullard sound, but there are most definitely cheaper NOS option out there that will still sound better and last longer than the new production stuff (which I personally find to be generally garbage, but there are plenty who disagree). The US made tubes, GE, Raytheon, and RCA are much more accessible for us here (if you are in the US). Even GE, which people often turn up their nose at, are still an improvement over current production.
There is a great list of dealers in a sticky post in the amps and cabs forum over at the gear page. I suggest starting there once you get a feel for dealer prices you can also look on ebay. Audiotubes.com is a great place to start. Brent Jesse has a good selection. Prices are at a premium, but you pay for piece of mind that you are getting quality that has been tested and guaranteed.
My recommendation would be to start with one of those dealers and buy a few quality tubes you know you can trust. A/B the difference in your amp. The V1 position will make the most difference. If you can hear a difference that you appreciate, then you will start down a slippery and expensive slope of tube hoarding. If you don't hear the difference, you can call me a cork sniffer and I won't be offended. Not everyone feels the tonal differences are worth the investment.