Sunday, December 30, 2007

More About Tubes . . .

If you haven't already deduced, my 12/29/07 post on vacuum tubes was purposely ambiguous in regards to their actual functionality. This was due largely to the fact that I've only become familiar with their importance in the tonal equation over the past few years. Having done a fair amount of reading on the subject, however, I thought it might be good idea to offer a few resources in regards to their inner workings.

The Tube Store has an excellent page with all sorts of information pertinent to vacuum tube applications as they apply to guitar amplifiers. Rock n' Roll Vintage.com also has a nice page with lots of good info. At the very least, these two links should provide you with a good base of knowledge in regards to the inner workings of tubes, recommended usage, model cross-referencing, etc. There are tons of great sites on the internet where you can find information about tubes - most are just a Google search away.

Another outlet I've used in the past is Eurotubes, suppliers of J & J brand tubes. Their staff is both knowledgable and friendly in regards to information and recommendations, and their service is top-notch. Most of my tube amps have run J & J tubes at one time or another, and I can say first-hand that they are toneful and incredibly consistent. Very reasonably priced, too.

Even with all of the information and resources available the internet, your own ears are still the best judge when it comes to your tone. Learn to trust those instincts, and the rewards will be many - J.

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