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SolidState TUBES

#9
There is NO reason to worry about tubes!

Everyone seems to think they're incredibly fragile, and they're not. Most of the tubes in my 1967 blackface Bassman are still good - and I have two tube testers to check with.

Tubes last for years - more often, DECADES - and there's no reason to feel apprehension about their failing you. If/when they go bad, the change is usually gradual and you get audible warning.

(Info from the resident old fart...)
 
#13
It's happened before.
There was a time when every telephone switching center was chalked full of 12ax7 tubes. Cost of air conditioning, inconsistency of tubes, and maintenance, and a market SS tube replacements was created. Later the whole telephone circuit redesigned around SS. For all the reasons WattGrinder points out.

WattGrinder concept is right on target.
Every vendor of tubes claims to individually test and only sell the top 5-20% of what they test. The next vendor in line - the same story - they only take the top % of what they test. Somehow all the tubes end up on the market. Tube manufacturing videos can be found on the net. There's a +- 20% variance between tubes because many steps are mechanical. SS doesn't have that problem as WattGrinder points out. And as he points out Made in USA, this may mean more to some US players than staying true to a vacuum. I wish them luck, but I don't expect a huge market since SS amps have come a long ways anyhow.
 
#15
seamonkey said:
It's happened before.
There was a time when every telephone switching center was chalked full of 12ax7 tubes. Cost of air conditioning, inconsistency of tubes, and maintenance, and a market SS tube replacements was created. Later the whole telephone circuit redesigned around SS. For all the reasons WattGrinder points out.
Click to expand...
A phone switching center used hundreds, maybe even thousands of tubes, where your basic amp uses anywhere from 1 to 15. And as anyone who's ever heard the sound out of a phone can attest, audio quality is not a priority. Hardly the same thing.

I agree with the people who say tubes aren't any more of a big deal than SS circuits. Yeah, now and then you have to buy tubes, but now and then you have to have a SS amp serviced, too.
 

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