ji43
Junior Member
Posts: 60
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Post by ji43 on Jun 2, 2022 15:04:42 GMT -6
Some of my tube gear came with NOS tubes from the manufacturer, others modern tubes.
I upgraded my STA Level to NOS (RCA 6v6s, GE 6386, etc.) and really felt the difference was worth it.
Thinking of putting in NOS glass for my Highland Dyanmics BG2, and Pultec EQM-1S3s. Any recommendations on NOS types for these units?
The Pultecs, which I'm using on mixbus each use a 12AU7, a 12AX7 and a 6X4. The Highland Dynamics BG2, uses 2x 6V6, a 6BC8, and a 6AL5. Thoughts?
Thanks!
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Post by teejay on Jun 2, 2022 15:38:16 GMT -6
Certain there's a lot of great feedback you're going to get here. Also recommend reaching out to Bowie (Christian Whitmore), who is an expert and resource for procuring NOS tubes: proaudiotubes@aol.com
Edit: He's fair but he's not the cheapest. You're paying for his knowledge, tested tubes, quality product, and often several recommended options complete with detailed explanations of tube character.
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Post by thehightenor on Jun 2, 2022 16:22:50 GMT -6
Imho, you have to know what your doing.
I messed with buying NOS tubes for my Millennia STT-1 and they sounded worse than the stock tubes.
Then I contacted Bowie (Christian Whitmore) for one of his NOS tubes for my old Rode NTV mic and it completely transformed the mic
into something really great and I was never completely happy with my NTV but with Bowie's recommended NOS tube it was fantastic.
So if you work with a NOS tube expert the results can be great.
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Post by paulcheeba on Jun 2, 2022 19:11:24 GMT -6
These day’s you’d be hard pushed to beat the designer’s choice unless you have an expert to hand or an infinite amount of time and money.
I enjoy comparing the differences for fun though.
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 14,961 
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Post by ericn on Jun 2, 2022 19:27:43 GMT -6
In the world of NOS tubes there is no one better to guide you than Bowie.
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Post by Chad on Jun 2, 2022 20:39:01 GMT -6
In the world of NOS tubes there is no one better to guide you than Bowie. These guys might be of some help as well: |
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Post by plinker on Jun 2, 2022 23:32:45 GMT -6
proaudiotubes@aol.com
Bowie has an NOS email address.
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Post by nick8801 on Jun 3, 2022 3:51:30 GMT -6
proaudiotubes@aol.com Bowie has an NOS email address. Brilliant 😅 |
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Post by sean on Jun 3, 2022 5:42:55 GMT -6
Pretty certain the Highland stuff already uses NOS tubes and I'd trust Bryce's choices. I know Steve at Pultec has said this about tubes: "(We use) current production Tung-Sol tubes, screened for balanced triodes and low noise/microphonics. When I was working with Gene (the original designer of the Pultec) to bring them back into production, I asked him once what tubes he recommended when he was manufacturing Pultecs. He said he liked RCA, GE and Amperex, but typically installed RCAs. When I asked him what he liked about the RCAs, his response was "I could buy them right down the street."
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ji43
Junior Member
Posts: 60
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Post by ji43 on Jun 3, 2022 6:27:49 GMT -6
Thanks for all the replies! Will reach out to Bowie. The Highland BG2 uses modern 6V6s.
I've had good luck with RCA 6V6s in the STA and tube amps, so I'll see if I can find a matched pair of RCAs for the BG2.
I've spoke to some manufacturers who use modern tubes, and they all say modern tubes sound just as good; though my experience thus far, I've consistently preferred the sound of NOS glass...subtle, but audible
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Post by mike on Jun 3, 2022 7:23:16 GMT -6
I've spoke to some manufacturers who use modern tubes, and they all say modern tubes sound just as good; though my experience thus far, I've consistently preferred the sound of NOS glass...subtle, but audible My experience has been the same. I don't think manufacturers who are making more than a small lot find it realistically sustainable to source and vet enough NOS tubes for their gear. and while I'm sure there are exceptions to every rule comparing tubes, I think in general most would agree that good NOS tubes are superior in quality to the current production of today, not to say that current is bad. The prime motivation dictating tube quality today is mainly cost, not quality, and the market for tubes is tiny in comparison to the 1960s when more than cost was a priority. www.effectrode.com/knowledge-base/tubes-the-old-verses-the-new/ |
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Post by svart on Jun 3, 2022 9:27:23 GMT -6
I've never really heard that much difference in NOS or quality brands in many of my attempts at upgrades through swapping tubes. It was more obvious going from cheapo chinese tubes to something decent, but most of the time going from something like JJ to NOS RCA or the like didn't make any discernable difference. I even tried Gold Lions once (when I needed to get an amp up and running for an impending session but couldn't find a cheaper set available quickly enough) at an extreme cost but was rather disappointed in the lack of clearly superior results.
I think the majority of "difference" heard is more likely the supporting circuit reacting to the difference in operating points on the new tubes rather than the tube itself making a difference or simply that a new tube sounds different from a well-used tube, so obviously swapping in a new tube could be easily heard. However, I've swapped tubes in units to new tubes and heard a difference, but later swapped back and heard no difference between them after burning in for a long time.
The rest is confirmation bias.
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Post by EmRR on Jun 3, 2022 10:17:26 GMT -6
Vintage matched power tubes are extremely problematic for new design or replacement, in anything. If a service job wanted to double or triple the cost, they can have me go down that road with truly matched vintage 6V6’s. New matched is the only practical sane choice. Remember, the front end is responsible for the majority of the tonal qualities, excluding overdriven instrument amps. A Stalevel/etc output stage just has to have matching current draw to maximize low end response and minimize transformer stress - you could buy a lot of random vintage 6v6’s to hit that mark.
The front end tube everyone uses in place of 6386’s in comps is cheap and plentiful, and no one has ever made a new one. So they’re all vintage.
If you need a low noise tube it gets very specialized and specific to the circuit. Very few are able to realistically test for that. If you need numerous, like the RCA consoles I’ve done, consider chasing 8 lowest noise 12ay7/6072’s. It’s definitely an advantage to select 8 quietest out of 30 new than dream of buying enough vintage for a similar result.
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Post by bluegrassdan on Jun 3, 2022 10:55:21 GMT -6
I must say, those RCA cleartop 12AU7s have incredible top end detail. Quite affordable too.
If that's what you want.
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Post by paulcheeba on Jun 3, 2022 17:03:06 GMT -6
It’s availability and market prices in your region. I notice there are some great deals in the U.S. that aren’t around in Europe and vice versa.
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