NOS Tubes. Worth it?

[joelostrom86]

I'm a complete newbie to the realm of tube types and such. I've never experimented much with different brands or gain ratings. I'm curious, though, about the effect that a good quality NOS tube can have on the tone vs. a stock, factory shipped tube. 

I realize that asking which tubes are better is like asking which guitar strings are better; its highly personal preference. That being said, can anybody vouch for whether a good NOS tube upgrade can make a noticeable difference in tone - especially to someone as inexperienced as myself? 

If so, anybody got any good recommendations for the Ghia? Preamp and/or Rectifier? 
Thanks!

[John]

Preamp tubes: yes
Rec tube: yes
power tubes: no

Saying no to the power tubes comes from the fact that power tubes don't last that long in the maz. They need to be replaced regularly. preamp tubes can last many many years.

[BritInvasion]

^^ What John said. Especially the rectifier.

[joelostrom86]

Cool, thanks for the info fellas. I just bought a pair of Black Plate NOS RCA 12AX7/ECC83. $60 for a matched set. Not bad.
Looking forward to trying em' out in the Ghia!

[eggman]

Howdy,

What John said. 10 years ago I'd have given the green light to NOS output tubes, but those days are gone. My current favorite for output tubes is Sovtek, as they're cheap, rugged and fairly reliable. That's as good as it gets today.

[fishyfishfish]

What everyone said.

[smolder]

They all matter to me. They change tone, in some cases breakup, and they can last a whole lot longer. Their value depends a lot on the amp and your style. If you're a high gain player, the tone will likely not impress you. A lot of folks simply can't hear a difference... especially in the band mix.