Yep, tube amps (because of the transformer alone) is one heavy beast.


Anyways, where are tubes made nowadays? 15 years ago we were getting all of our 12ax7's etc... from Russia because no company in the US made them. Even Great Britain stopped making valves.

 

-----signature-----

Tubes are made primarily in Russia and China. The problem with making tubes is that it involves a lot of nasty stuff like mercury so US environmental laws won't allow for it in the US anymore; Russia and China don't have a problem with that. New Sensor (Sovtek, Electro-Harmonix) is probably the biggest producer and they are based in Russia.


Here is a good article on one supplier of new tubes: ToneQuest Report: Doug's Tubes

 

-----signature-----

Interesting.


I will say I still remember tubes from my old JC Penny TV and some tubes were being retrofitted with solid state back then. I even had articles on how you, as a radio amateur (ham operator), could make them. Looked like a tube, fit in the tube socket but it never became hot because it had transistors inside (used less energy too).


Anyways my old JC Penny used a 12AX7 and an old Halicrafters shortwave radio I had from circa 1940's used a 6L6 in it. I am, therefore, not nostalgic for tubes. I hated them to be honest as they were hot (peeled my skin enough times), expensive, the equipment that used them was extremely heavy, and I had to go to Radio Shack to use the handy tester on them as they blew out quite often. The only thing I like about tubes is the saturation and tone that they give but that is it.


edit: A side note and goes to show we shouldn't listen to emcees or announcers about such things:


Which award did David get from the Queen at Buckingham Palace in 2003? Does David have to be referred to as 'Sir Gilmour' now? (Andy)

— David was made Commander in The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, or CBE for short, in November 2003 for services to music.


The Order is limited to 100 Knights and Dames Grand Cross, 845 Knights and Dames Commander, and 8960 Commanders.

'Sir' is reserved for Knights only so, no, he should not be addressed as 'Sir David'.


Guess people thought he was knighted but he really wasn't.

 

-----signature-----

The only experience I have with tubes is through guitar amplifiers. I've owned various amplifiers over the years and, to me, the best ones were always the tube ones. My hope is that, one day, digital modeling or some other technology will surpass tubes for sound quality AND feel and make them obsolete. Tubes just "give" and react with the guitar in a certain way that feels just right. But who wants to carry around something so heavy and fragile?

 

-----signature-----

That's why we have roadies.

 

-----signature-----

How in god's name do you have the patience to write all that stuff Nevver? lol

 

-----signature-----

I can help you finely tune an air guitar.

 

-----signature-----

I have a big mouth.

 

-----signature-----

i play air guitar

I'm late to this party - will try and hit the major points:


1) The more springs the better, imo, on a standard strat trem. I have all 5 on mine and the bridge is flush against the body. I like lots of resistence but I also have zero tuning issues with that guitar and the intonation is as good as intonation gets.


2) Modeling amps/racks work best when they are amplified by something that does not color the sound at all, e.g., a keyboard amp or straight into a PC for recordings. They sound much better that way. For quick PC recording, I use a Line 6 Toneport UX2. My main rig is all tube and analog effects and I'm going to be getting a dummy load speaker box soon to record that seup into a firewire device into the PC.


3) I don't think there is a three, so hi everyone!

 

-----signature-----