Would anyone be willing to help with this please? (amp tube stuff)

Captain Marvel · #1 04-19-2010, 12:56 PM

Hi everyone,

I am in need of a full set of tubes for a Fender Bassman 300PRO and decided on a set of Svetlana winged c's and some JJ's pre-amp tubes but then I saw these on e-bay -

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

The description seems vague but the guys feedback is really good, plus its half the price of what I've been looking at.
Is this worth a gamble or should I stick to the 'you get what you pay for rule'?
This is my first purchase of tubes and I would rather not do something silly.

As always any advice is hugely appreciated.

Twocan · #2 04-19-2010, 01:03 PM

Wow, seeing the price tag on tubes makes me glad a play a solid state w/VT pedal.

Captain Marvel · #3 04-19-2010, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twocan

Wow, seeing the price tag on tubes makes me glad a play a solid state w/VT pedal.

If I was to buy the tubes I have been looking at from a shop in England its about £350 or $500. Ouch!

Its worth it though..............

bongomania · #4 04-19-2010, 01:08 PM

Seems like a fair deal from a fair dealer, but whether the tubes you get are "as good" as like a full set of JJ's or Telefunkens, maybe not--no way to know for sure in advance. Note this bit from his ad copy:

Quote:

Typical manufacturers include the following:

USA Made: RCA, Sylvania, GE, JAN, Hammond, Conn, Baldwin, Silvertone, Delco, etc.

Foreign made: Russian Military, Sovtek, Svetlana, Mesa, Ruby, Electro Harmonix, JJ, Groove Tubes

Premium Tube sets usually DO NOT INCLUDE manufacturers such as Telefunken, Mullard, Phillips, Valco and other high priced tubes. (These tubes are sometimes available as matching sets in the Individual Tube Sets section of my store or may be available in our SELECT or ULTRA Tube Sets.

NOTE: I HAVE MANY SETS OF THESE TUBES AND THE ONES YOU RECEIVE MAY NOT BE IN THE SAME BOXES OR BE THE MANUFACTURERS AS ILLUSTRATED BUT THEY HAVE ALL BEEN TESTED TO HIGHEST STANDARDS AND YOUR SATISFACTION IS GUARANTEED AND I AM SURE YOU WILL PLEASED WITH THE PREMIUM TUBE SETS! NOTE WE USE WESTINGHOUSE, PROCOMM AND EI TUBE BOXES FOR PICTURES ONLY!

Fergie Fulton · #5 04-19-2010, 01:13 PM

Tubes can be unstable in transit and any damage that occurs from the time they leave the factory till you install them will only show up with you.
If there is a problem you need to be able to clear it up, so you need a relationship with the supplier so if there are problems you can sort them out.
Then we have cheap tubes re-packaged as the real deal, seconds etc., not saying that this is the case but they are out there so only fair to warn you.

I would get my tubes local, through a reputable service dealer, may cost a bit more but then you have a physical place to return to if any problems. Those problems may be faulty tubes, bias problems, etc and that's what you pay for and why you support local trade, so it is there if you ever need it, and with valves... you will.

Captain Marvel · #6 04-19-2010, 01:14 PM

Yeah, it all sounds good but dare I say........TOO good?

As it works out so much cheaper for me I am leaning towards pulling the trigger and seeing what I get.

Kind of feels like buying a baseball card pack only with bass amp tubes.

johnk_10 · #7 04-19-2010, 01:57 PM

IMO, i'd prefer to have a set of winged C 6550's in that amp. you can get a matched sextet from antique electronics supply (http://tubesandmore.com/) for only $183.60 and then get two JJ ECC83S's ($8.78 ea) or two ECC803S's ($11.70 ea), and you'll not only be saving $, but i think that you'll be getting better tubes. i've always had great service and fast shipping when dealing with them too.

Captain Marvel · #8 04-19-2010, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnk_10

IMO, i'd prefer to have a set of winged C 6550's in that amp. you can get a matched sextet from antique electronics supply (http://tubesandmore.com/) for only $183.60 and then get two JJ ECC83S's ($8.78 ea) or two ECC803S's ($11.70 ea), and you'll not only be saving $, but i think that you'll be getting better tubes. i've always had great service and fast shipping when dealing with them too.

Thanks, thats great advice. This way I'll get what I really want for the money with no risk as to what I'm getting.. I'll just have to hope they don't get damaged in the journey to England.

Thanks guys I'm glad I asked before taking the plunge.

johnk_10 · #9 04-19-2010, 03:02 PM

they pack their shipments very well so i think that they'll survive the journey.

i_got_a_mohawk · #10 04-19-2010, 03:16 PM

http://www.eurotubes.com/

Are you retubing yourself, or handing it into a tech to do? When I had my guitar amp fixed up (something internally had gone, and killed the power tubes along with), the tech got me a full set of tubes for less than it would have cost anywhere else I looked. Heck, even with his bench/service charge, it wasn't much over what it would have cost for the tubes alone!