|
|
Post by myles on Jun 10, 2013 13:45:31 GMT -7
|
|
|
|
Post by heynewguy (Ol’ Bill) on Jun 10, 2013 16:29:41 GMT -7
Thanks Myles.
|
|
|
|
Post by KeithA on Jun 10, 2013 16:29:43 GMT -7
I buy all my tubes from www.tubestore.com. These guys seem pretty dependable to me. Good news on this test Myles. Keith |
|
|
|
Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Jun 10, 2013 16:40:52 GMT -7
Thanks for sharing this information Myles!
|
|
|
|
Post by Baconator on Jun 11, 2013 5:10:28 GMT -7
I buy all my tubes from www.tubestore.com. These guys seem pretty dependable to me. Good news on this test Myles. Keith Me too. I've never received a bum tube from them and I got my last shipment within two days. Thanks, Myles! I doubt I'll spend that much on a 12ax7 but it's nice to know that if I do the odds are I'll get something solid. |
|
|
|
Post by Maddog on Jun 11, 2013 5:31:24 GMT -7
Plus, it's got the Aurora Borealis on the box..... Who could ask for more?  ? Seriously, thanks Myles.....lets hope Northern will start making EL84's of that same high quality!!!! |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2013 6:20:20 GMT -7
Info appreciated!
|
|
|
|
Post by hymns on Jun 11, 2013 8:32:44 GMT -7
Glad some info from you came out Myles. Thanks for checking them out.
hymns
|
|
|
|
Post by myles on Jun 11, 2013 9:26:31 GMT -7
Thanks for the thanks folks.
|
|
|
|
Post by marco78 on Jun 12, 2013 8:50:50 GMT -7
Hi, I'm a new member and I don't have any Dr.Z amp, but I like a lot your discussion on tubes, so I'm glad to take part of your community.
Your work on tubes is awesome. Can you insert a TAD 7025S (Mullard clone) in your test?
|
|
|
|
Post by myles on Jun 12, 2013 11:02:36 GMT -7
Hi, I'm a new member and I don't have any Dr.Z amp, but I like a lot your discussion on tubes, so I'm glad to take part of your community. Your work on tubes is awesome. Can you insert a TAD 7025S (Mullard clone) in your test? I need at least 15 of a given tube to test. TAD generally is just a reseller of other folks tubes today. In the past (and perhaps today in some cases) they had their own 6L6GE copy which at the time was a great tube. It was made for them in the Shuguang factory and the parts were actually stolen GT parts from the same factory which were used for the GT 6L6GE. There was a lawsuit and GT won. About 400 tubes were turned over to GT. This was in 2008. These "Mullard" clones could be little more than the Sovtek reissue of their own 12AX7LP/LPS or could be old GT stuff. I am not sure and I have not looked into these as every "Mullard" copy I have seen was somewhat visually akin to the design but was not really close in performance or internal design. If you take a high res photo so I can see the top of the upper mica clearly I can tell you if this is a close copy or just another rebrand. In any case, I am a bit weary of TAD tubes due to their antics in the past and the fact that today they are not a manufacturer but a rebrander of other folks production. I have no issue with that for the most part but I feel that shelling out the money to buy 15 tubes that are probably the same as stuff already on the list may be pointless for me. Then again, if you want to talk to the maker and do the legwork to find out the real story of these tubes, the factory they come from etc., then I may consider adding them to the list. Welcome to the forum. These folks are a great group of people. If you are used to forums like The Gear Net or Harmony Forum you are in for a pleasant surprise. Not much bitching here or bad mouthing products, just folks who try to help others regardless of amp make. |
|
|
|
Post by BritInvasion on Jun 12, 2013 11:08:33 GMT -7
As always , great stuff Myles!
|
|
|
|
Post by marco78 on Jun 12, 2013 11:29:18 GMT -7
Hi myles, thanks for your fast reply. I know your tubes because I have a e-mail exchange. In the 12ax7 realm only this 7025S (and other few) are their project, while the major part are rebranded tubes. In this moment I don't have a 7025S, so I can't do a photo, but on the net I have read that the tube is really similar to original tube. On their site there is a good photo of this tube: RT 011. Otherwise Andreas say me that they can't do a exact copy because will be a scam. I live in Italy so for European boys this tube can be a good alternative to NOS tubes or Northern electric ones.. Thanks and sorry for my english, isn't my first language.  |
|
|
|
Post by marco78 on Jun 12, 2013 11:57:20 GMT -7
Sorry, I forgot... would be interesting to try too a TJ Fullmusic or Psvane tube, are high-quality chinese tubes.
|
|
|
|
Post by markT on Jun 12, 2013 19:20:17 GMT -7
From the Tube Store website: "Northern Electric had a rich history of producing high quality audio products and vacuum tubes in Canada. The original owners, Bell Canada and Western Electric, formed this company to produce telephone and audio equipment including vacuum tubes. Western Electric licensed their designs, processes, and technology to Northern Electric for the first fifty years of their production.
We are now re-introducing this classic brand and bringing to you the highest quality audio tubes possible. We are working together with a small, foreign tube manufacturer to produce exceptional high quality versions of common audio tubes. And while this manufacturer is not well known, they are the “Ferrari” of tube manufacturing and design.
The manufacturer’s immaculately clean factory houses state of the art and high precision equipment. All of the design and production is overseen by a living legend in tube design, Zhe Shen Liu.
Upon arrival in Canada, each tube is rigorously tested in a three-stage process for noise and electrical functionality. Tubes passing this are then printed and packaged for sale with an extended 6-month warranty.
We are excited and pleased to present our new reissue Northern Electric audio tubes."
So am I reading this correct Myles, Made in China, shipped from Canada?
|
|
|
|
Post by myles on Jun 13, 2013 9:21:09 GMT -7
Mark,
If that is what their data says I will not question it.
The issue I have with Chinese tubes built under a specific contract is that the initial runs are fantastic as the maker goes out of their way to meet promises and establish the brand. As time goes on things decline. In my own experience it is not an up and down path but more of a down path. In the case of the GT12AX7M the path went from the best 12AX7 ever made to the worst ever made in a span of about four years over a dozen or so production runs.
At the moment the tube is a winner but will this remain the case? Only time will tell. The Chinese can make some great products but their consistency is not good at all. I would not be surprised if the formula on the materials change to maximize their profit (the factory) while charging The Tube Store the same price. I would not be surprised to find the tubes tolerances drift as labor time is reduced and watch microphonics rise and specs drift. If they are shipping a lot of these the changes will come sooner than later. Perhaps the factory has finally learned that consistency is the key and when you have a good thing going to leave it alone. This seems to go against Chinese business culture but I hope I am wrong.
As a side note I am going to copy and paste your info into the blog piece along with my reply here. We will see what happens down the road.
|
|
|
|
Post by markT on Jun 13, 2013 15:01:05 GMT -7
^^^ Thanks for the clarification and insight Myles. May need to get a few now then! |
|
|
|
Post by myles on Jul 28, 2013 10:49:33 GMT -7
Just updated as promised - TAD 7025S at end of piece. Feel free to share.
|
|
?
