RCA tubes for bass..?

Sugar McGuinn · #1 03-03-2013, 11:27 AM

Hello fellow TB'ers.

Question for you:

Are RCA tubes decent for bass?

I recently got my Bassman returned to me from a studio loan, only to discover someone (likely a guitar player) retuned the entire head with RCA tubes...
2-6l6 - 3-12AX7 - 1-12AT7. My head was on loan to the studio for a few years, and the owner has no idea who did, or who they belong to. So I guess now they are mine...

So there is the dilemma...
I could likely sell the RCA tubes for enough to retune it with anything...
But if they are fine for bass, why bother...

Any thoughts ?

Also. Not really looking for the "use you ears", or "if it sounds good, it does" type of advise/comments. More of and informed experience/opinion from those who have used RCA tubes for bass...

Thanks!

Sugar McGuinn · #2 03-03-2013, 11:29 AM

Wrote that from my phone, which auto-corrected "retubed" to "retuned".

I live apple, but come on...

LiquidMidnight · #3 03-03-2013, 11:45 AM

Yes, RCAs are considered holy grail NOS tubes along with old Mullards and Telefunkens. I have some in my SVT-II and they sound great.

With that said, this is totally the wrong forum for this thread.

96tbird · #4 03-03-2013, 05:12 PM

RCA are cream. Pure cream. Rock on.

spacebassed · #5 03-03-2013, 06:03 PM

Those old RCA tubes are junk, especially 6l6's and 12ax7's. I'll PM you my address so you can send them to me and I'll make sure they're disposed of properly... I'll even replaced them with some brand new Chinese tubes.

RCA's are some of the most sought after NOS American tubes... KEEP THEM IN THERE!!!

chadds · #6 03-03-2013, 06:37 PM

Yes!! This!!!

JimmyM · #7 03-03-2013, 09:13 PM

You should give the guy sexual favors for doing that! OK, maybe not, but you made out. Even if it's the run of the mill RCA's like I usually get, they're way better than most new tubes out there today.