tubes supplier?

rob1891

Where in Dublin would I find a large variety of good quality tubes? I would buy them online but I am thinking shipping is usually a flat 20-30 euro and that won't favour buying two tubes that only cost 20 each, unless the Irish Music Retailers' Cartel want 40 each of course (which I fear!).

They are to replace tubes in a poor (for the price) preamp that I think I have to buy (unless you can point me to a dual channel pre with digital out for under 400 euro that isn't an ART DPS II).

Rob

*goes off to learn a thing or two about tubes*

rob1891

ebay silly! Any better options I am open to, thanks!

Eoin Madsen

http://www.watfordvalves.com/mainindex.htm

I bought 3 Sovtek 12AX7 EH's from them about a month ago. £8 each, and shipping was definitely between £5-£10... I just can't remember exactly what. If you email them in the morning you'll probably have a shipping quote by lunch, they seem pretty prompt.

HusseinSarhan

Best prices and service from my dealings with him, he even talked to me on mns messenger about other totally non valve issues when I needed help. An honest businessman all around.

k.c.a. n.o.s. tubes

Watford valves also seem quite good.

I have heard form many people that GT tubes are a bit overpriced. I think so myself but have never used thaem with my gear so I cant really fully say.

Well good luck anyway.

rob1891

thanks guys!

dabhoys

rob1891 wrote:

ebay silly! Any better options I am open to, thanks!

NOO!!! Ebay is a horrible idea for tubes. Theres so many cons out there for tubes. Trust me buying tubes on ebay is a very bad idea. I use ebay for alot of things but tubes would not be one of them. Don't buy in dublin either there too dear.

Go to www.groovetubes.com and buy from here. Its worth. I've my mesa dual rectifier tubed with them and there excellent tubes. I got them cheaper then they are in town too....

Eoin Madsen

Bear in mind the US will incur VAT and Customs etc. etc. when calculating cost.

Doctor J

But at the moment, the import duty and VAT are covered by the favourable exchange rate

So you're still looking at a better than 1:1 exchange

HusseinSarhan

I didnt get charged VAT on the tubes I ordered. They were N.O.S. however. I'm not a snob when it comes to tubes but you get more choice if you go the N.O.S. route, having said that the prices for old Mullard ECC83's are a bit daft. I've heard alright things about GT's but they do seem WAY off the mark in the price. Well, I think you may have look in town, afterall you only need one or two tubes and not 8 or 9 like I did.

dabhoys

Groove tubes are excellent and defo worth the extra little bit you may pay. But I still paid less then what tubes in the shops in town were. Groove tubes test all there tubes and match them for you. Everyone to there own but GT are worth it...

HusseinSarhan

Yeah, as I said, I have no personal experience with them in any amp I own. I cant really comment on performance in a detailed way, however all GT do is sort and grade old tubes and repackage them (they do have to manufacture certain parts I believe). This does not make tham "bad" though!! I've always heard how they are somewhat better than most currently manufactured tubes but they are about twice the price as well. I thought they sounded grandwhen I heard them on amps I did not own. My belief is that they seem good however, you can get a lot more for your money with N.O.S. tubes. There is more of a selection. They just seem pricey for something that is quite ordinary sounding. I've heard good things about TAD tubes, altough I've never heard them.

This is a bit off the point but recently I changed the N.O.S. JAN/PHILIPS 12AX7WA (higher gain tube) in the first gain stage of my Fender twin's "vibrato" channel for a N.O.S. Mullard CV4024 (a 12AT7...lower gain) and I found that is really cleared the whole sound up. The whole sound was less harsh (it wasnt harsh to begin with really anyway), less muddy and it was a little bit warmer sounding also. I'm no freak when it comes to guitar sounds but it definately made the sound better, which actually does effect your playing as you start to focus on the music instead of getting the sound right! Granted, the amp is a *slight* bit quiter but the sound is so much softer, even and balanced (to my ears). I recommed it to anyone with similar amps. It just opens ups the sound loads.