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Replacement Tube Shortage?

PJammer4lifePJammer4life Los Angeles Posts: 2,648
in Musicians and Gearheads
Russian sanctions and now only JJ plant in Slovakia making tubes in that part of the world. Any thoughts? Just added a few spare sets to ride this out. One of those things you take for granted. I just started to enjoy my Marshall Bluesbreaker, Fender Twin Reverb 1965 Reissue, and have a UK VOX AC30 TBX on the way. This is more than just supply chain it seems.
Bridge Benefit 1994, San Francisco 1995, San Diego 1995 1 & 2, Missoula 1998, Los Angeles 2000, San Diego 2000, Eddie Vedder/Beck 2/26/2002, Santa Barbara 2003, Irvine 2003, San Diego 2003, Vancouver 2005, Gorge 2005, San Diego 2006, Los Angeles 2006 1 & 2, Santa Barbara 2006, Eddie Vedder 4/10/08, Eddie Vedder 4/12/08, Eddie Vedder 4/15/08, 7/12/2008, SF 8/28/09, LA 9/30/09, LA 10/1/09, LA 10/06/09, LA 10/07/09, San Diego 10/09/09, Eddie Vedder 7/6/2011, Eddie Vedder 7/8/2011, PJ20 9/3/2011, PJ20 9/4/2011, Vancouver 9/25/2011, San Diego 11/21/13, LA 11/24/13, Ohana 9/25/21, Ohana 9/26/21, Ohana 10/1/21, EV 2/17/22, LA Forum 5/6/22, LA Forum 5/7/22, EV 10/1/22, EV 9/30/23

Comments

  • Jason PJason P Posts: 19,138
    The president of Electro-Harmonix stated that sanctions will cease all russian tubes for 2022 at a minimum.  All pending orders from have been cancelled.  That isn't rumor and you can google it easily.  EH covers a lot of the big brands in tubes.


  • PJammer4lifePJammer4life Los Angeles Posts: 2,648
    I also heard Fender cut tube amp production in its factories.
    Bridge Benefit 1994, San Francisco 1995, San Diego 1995 1 & 2, Missoula 1998, Los Angeles 2000, San Diego 2000, Eddie Vedder/Beck 2/26/2002, Santa Barbara 2003, Irvine 2003, San Diego 2003, Vancouver 2005, Gorge 2005, San Diego 2006, Los Angeles 2006 1 & 2, Santa Barbara 2006, Eddie Vedder 4/10/08, Eddie Vedder 4/12/08, Eddie Vedder 4/15/08, 7/12/2008, SF 8/28/09, LA 9/30/09, LA 10/1/09, LA 10/06/09, LA 10/07/09, San Diego 10/09/09, Eddie Vedder 7/6/2011, Eddie Vedder 7/8/2011, PJ20 9/3/2011, PJ20 9/4/2011, Vancouver 9/25/2011, San Diego 11/21/13, LA 11/24/13, Ohana 9/25/21, Ohana 9/26/21, Ohana 10/1/21, EV 2/17/22, LA Forum 5/6/22, LA Forum 5/7/22, EV 10/1/22, EV 9/30/23
  • pjpjpaulpjpjpaul Posts: 1,685
    Guitar Center stopped carrying tubes this week as did many other retailers. 
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  • Jason PJason P Posts: 19,138

    I heard Fender is cutting back amp production 50% … and they are using Chinese tubes so this even effects them.  The trade situation with China could drop on a dime as well.  That leaves Slovakia, a country that borders the Ukraine and was formally part of the Soviet Union until 1993, not exactly a beacon of stability.

     

    There is no other production in the world, at least that I’m aware of.  Tube amps are heading into a dark ages until / if new production facilities are created, but I don’t know if there is financial incentive (16 million new guitar players should spark some incentive).


    If you are sitting on getting a tube amp, there are two considerations ... 1) there probably wont be many tube amps available for a while once current tube amp inventory is gone  2) If you do get one, you may be in a pickle if you need replacement parts for the next year






  • gimmesometruth27gimmesometruth27 St. Fuckin Louis Posts: 23,303
    i should have stocked up. though i do not go through tubes that often, the thought of not being able to get them when needed is unsettling. even the little 12ax7s are backordered. crazy.

    i guess people will begin to evolve away from tube amps. i know it is old technology and transistors can do the same thing as tubes, but i am old school and will never not use a tube amp unless i just cannot get replacement tubes when needed.
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • AC300802AC300802 LA Area, California Posts: 72
    Crazy. I remember my guitar tech telling me there was going to be a shortage, even before the Russian crap. So I bought a few spares.

    Also, fortunately got a Kemper last year so I don’t use the tubes amps very often anymore.
  • gimmesometruth27gimmesometruth27 St. Fuckin Louis Posts: 23,303
    AC300802 said:
    Crazy. I remember my guitar tech telling me there was going to be a shortage, even before the Russian crap. So I bought a few spares.

    Also, fortunately got a Kemper last year so I don’t use the tubes amps very often anymore.
    good that you got that tip. they have said that off and on for a few years but i never paid attention because i didn't think it would impact me all that much. i went and looked downstairs and every amp down there is a tube amp, lol so i should have paid better attention.

    those kemper things are nice. but i am old and like to keep things super simple. give me a guitar, a good tube amp, a couple of pedals, and let me go.

    i do not have the patience to learn new programs, unfortunately. it is amazing the technology that has come out in the last 10 years.
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • gimmesometruth27gimmesometruth27 St. Fuckin Louis Posts: 23,303
    rhett schul did a pretty good video about the tube shortage, i think yesterday or the day before.
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • Jason PJason P Posts: 19,138
    I've been using a Line 6 HX Stomp in my studio.  It is pretty amazing and very flexible and well engineered.  And for under $800 you have everything you need and more with the exception of speakers or monitors.  The biggest issues are that you really need to dig into the manual and then I suffer from option paralysis ... like coming to a fork in the road with 200 different paths to choose from to get you home.

    But I felt after researching the physics of tube amplification, there is a connection there that I don't think will be replicated in the digital world.  I think the demand will keep tube amps alive in the long term.


  • PJammer4lifePJammer4life Los Angeles Posts: 2,648
    Hope Pearl Jam is stocked up for this tour 🤘🏻
    Bridge Benefit 1994, San Francisco 1995, San Diego 1995 1 & 2, Missoula 1998, Los Angeles 2000, San Diego 2000, Eddie Vedder/Beck 2/26/2002, Santa Barbara 2003, Irvine 2003, San Diego 2003, Vancouver 2005, Gorge 2005, San Diego 2006, Los Angeles 2006 1 & 2, Santa Barbara 2006, Eddie Vedder 4/10/08, Eddie Vedder 4/12/08, Eddie Vedder 4/15/08, 7/12/2008, SF 8/28/09, LA 9/30/09, LA 10/1/09, LA 10/06/09, LA 10/07/09, San Diego 10/09/09, Eddie Vedder 7/6/2011, Eddie Vedder 7/8/2011, PJ20 9/3/2011, PJ20 9/4/2011, Vancouver 9/25/2011, San Diego 11/21/13, LA 11/24/13, Ohana 9/25/21, Ohana 9/26/21, Ohana 10/1/21, EV 2/17/22, LA Forum 5/6/22, LA Forum 5/7/22, EV 10/1/22, EV 9/30/23
  • AC300802AC300802 LA Area, California Posts: 72
    gimmesometruth27 said:
    AC300802 said:
    Crazy. I remember my guitar tech telling me there was going to be a shortage, even before the Russian crap. So I bought a few spares.

    Also, fortunately got a Kemper last year so I don’t use the tubes amps very often anymore.
    good that you got that tip. they have said that off and on for a few years but i never paid attention because i didn't think it would impact me all that much. i went and looked downstairs and every amp down there is a tube amp, lol so i should have paid better attention.

    those kemper things are nice. but i am old and like to keep things super simple. give me a guitar, a good tube amp, a couple of pedals, and let me go.

    i do not have the patience to learn new programs, unfortunately. it is amazing the technology that has come out in the last 10 years.
    Yep I get that. I still have a lot to learn about the Kemper. I found a few profiles that play well with my pedals and after years of playing guitar and drums my ears appreciate that I can get good tones at low volumes out of the Kemper.

    Tubes will come back. It’ll just take a while.
  • gimmesometruth27gimmesometruth27 St. Fuckin Louis Posts: 23,303
    AC300802 said:
    gimmesometruth27 said:
    AC300802 said:
    Crazy. I remember my guitar tech telling me there was going to be a shortage, even before the Russian crap. So I bought a few spares.

    Also, fortunately got a Kemper last year so I don’t use the tubes amps very often anymore.
    good that you got that tip. they have said that off and on for a few years but i never paid attention because i didn't think it would impact me all that much. i went and looked downstairs and every amp down there is a tube amp, lol so i should have paid better attention.

    those kemper things are nice. but i am old and like to keep things super simple. give me a guitar, a good tube amp, a couple of pedals, and let me go.

    i do not have the patience to learn new programs, unfortunately. it is amazing the technology that has come out in the last 10 years.
    Yep I get that. I still have a lot to learn about the Kemper. I found a few profiles that play well with my pedals and after years of playing guitar and drums my ears appreciate that I can get good tones at low volumes out of the Kemper.

    Tubes will come back. It’ll just take a while.
    i think the thing about those modelers is that they are so versatile i get option paralysis and can't make a decision on what i want my sound to be. i think with a single amp for me i have less of that. if it were all there at my fingertips i would be a mess, lol.

    i think they will too. just not in the immediate term unfortunately.
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • Jason PJason P Posts: 19,138
    The crazy thing is I've been monitoring this because I've been studying the tube amp market since December and was ready to get one last week but really had to think about if it was wise to invest money in outdated tech made in unreliable locations.  I put an in an order for pickup on Saturday to reserve the one I chose and Monday decided I would be kicking myself if I canceled and then it is back-ordered for three years and cost $1000 more. 

    It has five knobs and is glorious.

    it also has 10 tubes :#

    I did order one set of spare tubes that I found before price gouging kicked in. 
  • PJammer4lifePJammer4life Los Angeles Posts: 2,648
    I literally had an offer accepted on a 2004 Made in England Vox AC30 TBX on Saturday. As soon as I heard the 
    EH news, I was buying spare sets to last until production ramps up hopefully in the future. 
    Bridge Benefit 1994, San Francisco 1995, San Diego 1995 1 & 2, Missoula 1998, Los Angeles 2000, San Diego 2000, Eddie Vedder/Beck 2/26/2002, Santa Barbara 2003, Irvine 2003, San Diego 2003, Vancouver 2005, Gorge 2005, San Diego 2006, Los Angeles 2006 1 & 2, Santa Barbara 2006, Eddie Vedder 4/10/08, Eddie Vedder 4/12/08, Eddie Vedder 4/15/08, 7/12/2008, SF 8/28/09, LA 9/30/09, LA 10/1/09, LA 10/06/09, LA 10/07/09, San Diego 10/09/09, Eddie Vedder 7/6/2011, Eddie Vedder 7/8/2011, PJ20 9/3/2011, PJ20 9/4/2011, Vancouver 9/25/2011, San Diego 11/21/13, LA 11/24/13, Ohana 9/25/21, Ohana 9/26/21, Ohana 10/1/21, EV 2/17/22, LA Forum 5/6/22, LA Forum 5/7/22, EV 10/1/22, EV 9/30/23
  • gimmesometruth27gimmesometruth27 St. Fuckin Louis Posts: 23,303
    jeez how often are you all planning on changing tubes?
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • PSUS2HPSUS2H USA Posts: 2,201
    gimmesometruth27 said:
    jeez how often are you all planning on changing tubes?
    I was thinking the same thing! Mine last years.
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  • gimmesometruth27gimmesometruth27 St. Fuckin Louis Posts: 23,303
    PSUS2H said:
    gimmesometruth27 said:
    jeez how often are you all planning on changing tubes?
    I was thinking the same thing! Mine last years.
    mine do too. i've had some of my amps for 20 years and have only retubed them a couple of times.
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • drakeheuer14drakeheuer14 Posts: 4,473
    gimmesometruth27 said:
    rhett schul did a pretty good video about the tube shortage, i think yesterday or the day before.
    I like his channel. Great videos
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  • Go BeaversGo Beavers Posts: 9,116
    Good tube news:

    'Enter Western Electric. Earlier this month, the Rossville, Georgia-based company outlined its plan to leverage its current tube-manufacturing plant – and its well-established expertise – to expand into manufacturing a massive range of tubes, rather than just the 300B. It also asked musicians and designers to share their thoughts on what they would want from a US-based tube factory. Safe to say, it piqued the interest of the guitar community, spreading like wildfire amongst tube-evangelists.

    The planned expansion isn’t without its challenges. 80 years ago, tubes were a necessary part of the vast majority of electronics. In 2022, outside of the world of enthusiast tech like hifi and guitar amplifiers, they’re now obsolete, far surpassed in practicality by solid-state transistors. In short, the tools and parts for their manufacture just aren’t as ubiquitous as they once were.

    Luckily, Western Electric is well-placed to execute such an expansion – it’s spent years modernising and refining the process of tube manufacturing for its 300B. We got in touch to know more about the company’s plans, and what hurdles it might face. Here’s what a spokesperson had to say.'

    https://guitar.com/features/interviews/exclusive-western-electric-confirms-plans-tube-georgia-factory-crisis/



  • dudemandudeman Posts: 3,064
    That's good news!
    If hope can grow from dirt like me, it can be done. - EV
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