Groove Tubes bought out by Fender

[jbuckner]

It seems like Fender is buying every guitar company or parts company they can get a hold of.

From the info on the Groove Tubes site about the sale, it looks like everything will remain the same.

On that note they are moving everything to the Fender plant, as everything will be in house.

Aspen Pittman will remain as a consultant at Fender.

The Groove Tubes Soul-O 75 was the best amp that I have every played. The clean was clean and the dirty was great.

Hopefully the tubes won't suffer in this new era of Groove Tubes. 

[RumorsOFsurF]

The tubes can't suffer too much, as they're just re-branded Chinese stuff if I'm not mistaken.  Groove Tubes does not actually make tubes.  It's a joke, really.

[ohm-men]

My '64 Bassman came with a set of so called "high grade" Groove Tubes when I bought it (so called RI "coke bottles"). The things rattled like a snake as if there wase something loose inside.
After a while I could not take it anymore so I replaced those GT 6l6GC's with a nice pair of JJ's (which cost less then half/close to a third of what a set of GT's set you back. Man what a difference....
Never looked back. I'm not a Tube know it all, but the difference was there.

I think for the past few years all new Fender tube amps leave the factory with GT power tubes. At least as whown in the 2003 and 2004 Frontline catalogues, so I'm not surprised.

[jbuckner]

Actually they do make tubes. They make all the 6L6 GE tubes in the California plant. They even use the old GE equipment.

No doubt that a majority of the tubes are rebranded, but that's true with everybody especially JJ which are just crap tubes.

Sovtek are the only ones that make their own tubes, granted it's in the Russian Federation but nonetheless.

But given todays amps and the huge plate voltage that we use in the quest for more distortion, NOS tubes won't work in the majority of boutique amps so we have to go with new tubes.

[doc]

Actually they do make tubes. They make all the 6L6 GE tubes in the California plant. They even use the old GE equipment.

No doubt that a majority of the tubes are rebranded, but that's true with everybody especially JJ which are just crap tubes.

Sovtek are the only ones that make their own tubes, granted it's in the Russian Federation but nonetheless.

But given todays amps and the huge plate voltage that we use in the quest for more distortion, NOS tubes won't work in the majority of boutique amps so we have to go with new tubes.

Correct, they do make or own the manufacture of some tubes. Many are rebrands but they do make some tubes.

[dug]

JJ's > everything else *

*except nos tubes

[quarterpound]

Actually they do make tubes. They make all the 6L6 GE tubes in the California plant. They even use the old GE equipment.

No doubt that a majority of the tubes are rebranded, but that's true with everybody especially JJ which are just crap tubes.

Sovtek are the only ones that make their own tubes, granted it's in the Russian Federation but nonetheless.

But given todays amps and the huge plate voltage that we use in the quest for more distortion, NOS tubes won't work in the majority of boutique amps so we have to go with new tubes.

Wow, just about everything you just said was in direct contradiction to common knowledge. Impressive! ^^;; I will however admit I dig my old Russian tubes...

[Taylorplayer]

Dunno... the tubes they do in fact make were the best tubes I've used. They're called GT6L6GEs. They are GREAT tubes. I'll be installing a quartet into my Showman resurection.

[Maggieo]

That is good news.

So, when the day comes that the RCA 6V6 in my Vibro Champ dies, what would be a good replacement?

[Jay]

FWIW the new Tung-Sol 12AX7s really sound very good to my ears.  A bit different but reasonably comparable to the Amperex, Mullard, and Telefunken NOS tubes I have in my amps now.  They are way better then the more common Sovtek or Electro Harmonix 12AX7s and chinese 12AX7s that most amps come stock with IMO.

[øøøøøøø]

That is good news.

So, when the day comes that the RCA 6V6 in my Vibro Champ dies, what would be a good replacement?

An RCA 6V6.

Seriously, you can get them single for fairly reasonable still, especially "used, test strong" pulls which have many years of life left.

[Maggieo]

Sweet!

Because, I gotta tell ya, that little amp sounds like heaven and I want to keep it sounding that way.

[Fiddy]

http://thetubestore.com/eatkt88.html

Useless fact:

I've been to this store, it is in Hamilton, ON. I picked up a bunch of tubes from them last spring. They got lots of tubes...

[Maggieo]

Thanks for the pointers, Brad!

[mezcalhead]

Might not hurt to buy one of these for insurance:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1-RCA-6V6GT-6V6-GT- ... t_1125wt_0

Good score!