Post by zdogma on Oct 20, 2006 7:13:58 GMT -7
Up North we don't have a lot of choices. The tubestore (based in Hamilton, Ontario) is really the only online retailer we can use, without having to deal with border crossing hassles, etc. Of course, we can also get GT through local shops.
I have used the tubestore with good results. They are Canadian, the delivery is very quick (in Canada), and they have served me well when issues have occurred (a rectifier that broke in transit was repaced in 24 hours). I don't order power tubes from them, so I can't comment on matching, but in thirty or so preamp tubes I have only had one bad one.
My experience with GT tubes have been good except for three bad three bad 12AX7M out of the four I bought last year. In fairness to GT I wasn't aware of their warranty policy until recently when Miles mentioned it. I find that their power tubes are excellent. I have bought a quad of KT66, two quads of the 6L6 GC and about five or six pairs of EL84s. None have had any issues, and all were well matched and sounded good.
My opinions about GT have changed a lot over the years. A few years ago I would avoid them completely, I was totally unaware of the screening and matching process they used. Miles' posts on this site and his own, and Aspen Pittman's Tube Amp Book have given me a lot more saavy in terms of choosing tues.
I would use GT exclusively these days, if the prices were more comparable (at my local shop a GT branded JJ 12ax7 is 25 plus tax, the non-GT is 10 dollars), and they were a bit more accessible. In Canada, my local shop keeps a good selection of GT in stock, but if the tube has to be ordered it takes a couple of weeks to get it. I'm guessing that most of the delay is in the border crossing, etc.
I wish GT had a canadian based webstore. Anyone think that would fly? If that existed, and the prices were reasonable, I would buy all my new tubes form GT.
In case you haven't read it here is Miles comment on the tube store:
www.guitaramplifierblueprinting.com/thetubestore.html
Here is the tube store's comment on GT:
thetubestore.com/groovetubes.html
I doubt they are exchanging Christmas cards.
I also don't think that everything that the tubestore mentions in their list is entirely correct.
I have used the tubestore with good results. They are Canadian, the delivery is very quick (in Canada), and they have served me well when issues have occurred (a rectifier that broke in transit was repaced in 24 hours). I don't order power tubes from them, so I can't comment on matching, but in thirty or so preamp tubes I have only had one bad one.
My experience with GT tubes have been good except for three bad three bad 12AX7M out of the four I bought last year. In fairness to GT I wasn't aware of their warranty policy until recently when Miles mentioned it. I find that their power tubes are excellent. I have bought a quad of KT66, two quads of the 6L6 GC and about five or six pairs of EL84s. None have had any issues, and all were well matched and sounded good.
My opinions about GT have changed a lot over the years. A few years ago I would avoid them completely, I was totally unaware of the screening and matching process they used. Miles' posts on this site and his own, and Aspen Pittman's Tube Amp Book have given me a lot more saavy in terms of choosing tues.
I would use GT exclusively these days, if the prices were more comparable (at my local shop a GT branded JJ 12ax7 is 25 plus tax, the non-GT is 10 dollars), and they were a bit more accessible. In Canada, my local shop keeps a good selection of GT in stock, but if the tube has to be ordered it takes a couple of weeks to get it. I'm guessing that most of the delay is in the border crossing, etc.
I wish GT had a canadian based webstore. Anyone think that would fly? If that existed, and the prices were reasonable, I would buy all my new tubes form GT.
In case you haven't read it here is Miles comment on the tube store:
www.guitaramplifierblueprinting.com/thetubestore.html
Here is the tube store's comment on GT:
thetubestore.com/groovetubes.html
I doubt they are exchanging Christmas cards.
I also don't think that everything that the tubestore mentions in their list is entirely correct.