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Post subject: Re: Tube origins....???
Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 6:49 pm
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At least partly. I have heard of people getting GT tubes that weren't quite a good match, and I can believe that it happens sometimes. I would bet that the dud was a casualty of the rough treatment. I'm not exactly sure how Fed Ex fares better than UPS, I've worked in plants of both companies, they have similar conveyors and equipment. It seems that Fed Ex just does a better job of handling/sorting, treating the packages with greater care, maybe their equipment runs a little slower, I don't know. Coincidentally, I just recently turned down a job offer from the Fed Ex hub here in Indy and I complimented them on their better handling of packages over UPS.

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Post subject: Re: Tube origins....???
Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 11:59 pm
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Yeah man, probably just the luck-of-the-draw. Does GT still use the "S", "R", "R-2", and "C" designations on their tubes? Art

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Post subject: Re: Tube origins....???
Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 5:51 am
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Yes, and don't forget R3, M, GE, MPI, SV.

Without double checking (it's early and GT just completely redesigned their website), S is made at the JJ factory, C is Chinese, M is Mullard reproduction, GE is the GE reproduction, (R is Russian) - R1 is Sovtek, R2 is the long-plate 12AX7, R3 is EH, MPI is matched phase-inverter. Not sure about the designation for the Tung Sol or Svetlana, or if GT is using them yet, I haven't seen them, although there is an SV designation for the KT88 which is anther GT exclusive.

I have recently used the M (GT EL34M) in a couple of Marshall amps and they are really sweet. In fact, the smashed box in my previous post were the EL34M. I have yet to try the GEs, but am anxious to do so. I really like the new GT site, although the info for the origins of the tubes, and the designation meanings seem to be missing, or I just haven't found it.

http://www.groovetubes.com/

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Post subject: Re: Tube origins....???
Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 10:53 pm
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Thanks Shimmy!!! Haven't checked out GT tubes for a while. Art

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Post subject: Re: Tube origins....???
Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 9:30 am
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Sounds like all tubes are coming from the same 3 places & everything else is marketing mumbo-jumbo


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Post subject: Re: Tube origins....???
Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 9:43 am
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LesK wrote:
Sounds like all tubes are coming from the same 3 places & everything else is marketing mumbo-jumbo


That's really it in a nutshell, Les.

Unfortunately, hype trumps truth here.

:wink:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Tube origins....???
Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 10:35 am
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Consider that there are only about six or so places in the world that make receiving tubes, and everyone buys the same tubes from the same places. Marketing yes, "mumbo-jumbo"?, not exactly, unless you don't understand technical details. For example, if EH tubes are great tubes, getting the ones that are tested and selected by GT, or any other company, can only be better. The tester can't somehow make the ones that they test worse than ones that aren't tested. I will say that "JJ/Tesla" is more than mumbo-jumbo, it's an outright lie, serving no purpose other than to fool people into coming to a false conclusion.

All modern tubes have a fairly high failure rate right off of the assembly line, so testing is a must, and the better the testing, the better the odds of getting good tubes. GT and Mesa Boogie have the most thorough testing of any manufacturer or reseller. All resellers have their "hype" if you will. TAD uses Chinese tubes, specially spec'd for them as well as using regular production tubes that they (he) tests and selects. GT uses Chinese tubes, and those from other countries specially spec'd for them, and JJ tubes specially spec'd for them, as well as regular production tubes that they test and select. On and on, the same for Mesa Boogie and any other reseller. JJ resellers test and select their tubes just the same as anyone else (EuroTubes for example), just not quite like Mesa or GT. And many companies, like GT and other resellers, each have their own exclusive tubes. I think that GT is good about telling buyers that some of their tubes aren't best for certain applications, and not over-hyping their tubes. The potential buyers infer too much sometimes and read things into the advertising claims.

Everyone has their favorites, and experience is everything, so if they work for you and you like them they're great, and if they don't work then they suck. There are no tubes made that don't have some failures, it's always been that way. Tube sales are much more prolific now than "back then", so along with that, and the internet, we are much more aware of the failures that are probably near the same rate that they have always been, at least for the companies that have been making the same tubes since then. Simple really. Just like the old Chevy vs Ford vs Dodge debate. Most often, where you buy the tubes can make all of the difference between getting good ones and getting duds.

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