SVT Re-tubing questions

[MediaJones]

Alright,
I play an SVT VR and its starting to sound pretty dead (almost muddy)... I am anticipating that its probably time for re-tubing and had a few questions.

I have been told that if I want my amp to sound its best, I should think about getting warranted tubes by a company/dude who checks them to make sure they are of quality. I will be doing a bunch of re-amping to put the finishing qualities on an album and want to capture a really good sound, so I figured I should probably do this. However, I checked triodelectronics.com and apparently my plan has proved to be a pretty expensive one... First of all, am I on the right track with buying tubes that are checked for quality?

I know I have 6 power tubes and around 6 (I really do not know for sure) preamp tubes, should I buy my tubes matched (6 matched pre amp tubes and 6 matched power amp tubes)? Are matched tubes of higher quality? If so, does anyone sell matched tubes in batches of 6? And which pre amp tubes match with the power amp tubes (do brand differences matter)?

[JimmyM]

you don't need to match pre tubes but you should match power tubes in sets of 3 so it works more efficiently. but what i would do is take it to a tech and let him test the tubes so you don't just replace tubes that work fine.

[seamonkey]

Originally Posted by MediaJones

Alright,
I play an SVT VR and its starting to sound pretty dead (almost muddy)... I am anticipating that its probably time for re-tubing and had a few questions.

I have been told that if I want my amp to sound its best, I should think about getting warranted tubes by a company/dude who checks them to make sure they are of quality. I will be doing a bunch of re-amping to put the finishing qualities on an album and want to capture a really good sound, so I figured I should probably do this. However, I checked triodelectronics.com and apparently my plan has proved to be a pretty expensive one... First of all, am I on the right track with buying tubes that are checked for quality?

I know I have 6 power tubes and around 6 (I really do not know for sure) preamp tubes, should I buy my tubes matched (6 matched pre amp tubes and 6 matched power amp tubes)? Are matched tubes of higher quality? If so, does anyone sell matched tubes in batches of 6? And which pre amp tubes match with the power amp tubes (do brand differences matter)?

Can't you find a local tech with a tube tester and experience in working on your amp?

[MediaJones]

Originally Posted by seamonkey

Can't you find a local tech with a tube tester and experience in working on your amp?

Yeah, I figured they would just replace the tubes with whatever tubes fit. I know that the quality of tubes have decreased because of their decreased use/importance and now they are made quite cheaply. I figured that most techs do not really test them for quality and that's why people make $$$ matching and selling quality tubes... Am I wrong?

[zachoff]

Originally Posted by MediaJones

Yeah, I figured they would just replace the tubes with whatever tubes fit. I know that the quality of tubes have decreased because of their decreased use/importance and now they are made quite cheaply. I figured that most techs do not really test them for quality and that's why people make $$$ matching and selling quality tubes... Am I wrong?

Good tech will match them & test them. You can either buy the tubes, outright that are matched or not & then take it to the tech to get biased or you can rely on them to order the tubes. They generally get pretty good deals & I've always just let the tech get the tubes.

Ryan at Robb's Music in Boulder is who I've gone to. I had super bad luck with Service Depot Online & that's probably where a lot of the local stores will direct you. There's a dude on S. Broadway that's supposed to be super good too, but his name escapes me.

[JimmyM]

btw, it could also not need tubes at all. it could just need a professional biasing. the lights are ok for ballpark stuff but a tech can bias it more properly. as you use them, they can go out of spec, and can occasionally require a biasing.