Where do you guys buy your tubes?

[shadowfax29]

I've been getting some excessive noise from my Herbert lately so over the weekend I decided to pull my preamp tubes and check them out. I bought my Herbert used about a year ago and these are the tubes that arrived in it and they are in desperate need of change.

Just curious what some others are using. I would generally go with Chinese tubes but always hear of the different generations and don't recall seeing any info on that at any site I previously purchased from. I guess what I'm asking is, are there particular generations that sound better than others and how to find a store to obtain such generation. I'm open to other brands, JJ's, etc, I just used the Chinese as an example since I only see one type available wherever I see them for sale. I'm not looking to try anything too exotic like NOS tubes that'll cost a fortune and be difficult to obtain, just what sounds best but is readily available.

Last question is, I've heard Peter mention using a "high grade" 12ax7 in V1. Is high grade an option such as getting "matched sections"? Or does that more so mean to just use a higher quality tube?

Thanks for the help! I can't wait to hear what fresh tubes is going to do to this already amazing amp!

 

[Peter Diezel]

Please call Tom at Ruby Tubes and order
3 pairs or a sextett or KT77-JJ and 6 12AX7AC7
highrades.

 

[steve_k]

For JJ's, I have also used Eurotubes a'lot. Excellent support from Jay over there and lots of info....

http://www.eurotubes.com


Steve

 

[hermetico]

Please call Tom at Ruby Tubes and order
3 pairs or a sextett or KT77-JJ and 6 12AX7AC7
highrades.

Hi, I would like to know it there is some equivalent in TAD tubes since, I don't see any place in the CEE selling those 12AX7AC7 tubes.