Tube Heads, I Need Your Help

NMyTree

I got myself an older Ampeg VL-502 head (for free and you'll see why later on in this post) and I extracted the tubes (8 of the 12AX7) and two of the EL34.

All of the tubes have the brand name " Hot Rods " printed on them.

The 12AX7 indicate "Made In China".

The EL34 indicates " Made In West Germany "

Now, at first impression it seemed to me these " Hot Rods " are OEM tubes manufactored and labeled for Ampeg. But a google search seems to indicate that these " Hot Rods " labeled tubes may be a Fender brand name. Is that correct?

I'm familiar with many of the tubes out there ( and those not easily found) because my home two channel audio system (and my seperate Home Theater) all contain components which utilize vacume tube designs.

But these " Hot Rods " I am not familiar with. Seems to me they are just some cheap OEM tubes.

I was told (from the person who gave me the Ampeg head) that the tubes are all dead and that I shouldn't even hook it up to the speaker cabinet and plug it in, till I change the tubes.

So what's the story with these " Hot Rods "tubes? Anyone familiar with these? Are they worth searching for?

In general terms (because I know it could be a different sound character in different circuit designs and components), what do these " Hot Rods " sound like? What's their sonic character?

If they are simply cheap OEM tubes not worth searching for, I'll try some old Mullards, or those new Electro-Harmonix knock-offs, or some JJ/Tesla .....or whatever.

Also, I have four NOS Tung-Sol 12AX7's with Tung-Sol printing and "MADE in U.S.A. " printed on them. The person I bought them from claimed they're late 60's/early 70's stock. But I'm not sure.

I also have some cheap Ei 12AX7, which I could try. But I don't know if I should go with these, because I don't know if they are appropriate for amp heads.

Thanks.

exhausted

all i can help with is to state they aren't a fender branded tube.

fender usually usually groove tube branded tubes in their amps. they do have a series of amplifiers called hot rods which is why it came up in google probably.

i think groove tubes are usually rebranded sovteks.

All Those Yesterdays

exhausted wrote:

all i can help with is to state they aren't a fender branded tube.

fender usually usually groove tube branded tubes in their amps. they do have a series of amplifiers called hot rods which is why it came up in google probably.

i think groove tubes are usually rebranded sovteks.

Groove Tubes can be many different brands including sovteks.

All Those Yesterdays

NMyTree wrote:

I got myself an older Ampeg VL-502 head (for free and you'll see why later on in this post) and I extracted the tubes (8 of the 12AX7) and two of the EL34.

All of the tubes have the brand name " Hot Rods " printed on them.

The 12AX7 indicate "Made In China".

The EL34 indicates " Made In West Germany "

Now, at first impression it seemed to me these " Hot Rods " are OEM tubes manufactored and labeled for Ampeg. But a google search seems to indicate that these " Hot Rods " labeled tubes may be a Fender brand name. Is that correct?

I'm familiar with many of the tubes out there ( and those not easily found) because my home two channel audio system (and my seperate Home Theater) all contain components which utilize vacume tube designs.

But these " Hot Rods " I am not familiar with. Seems to me they are just some cheap OEM tubes.

I was told (from the person who gave me the Ampeg head) that the tubes are all dead and that I shouldn't even hook it up to the speaker cabinet and plug it in, till I change the tubes.

So what's the story with these " Hot Rods "tubes? Anyone familiar with these? Are they worth searching for?

In general terms (because I know it could be a different sound character in different circuit designs and components), what do these " Hot Rods " sound like? What's their sonic character?

If they are simply cheap OEM tubes not worth searching for, I'll try some old Mullards, or those new Electro-Harmonix knock-offs, or some JJ/Tesla .....or whatever.

Also, I have four NOS Tung-Sol 12AX7's with Tung-Sol printing and "MADE in U.S.A. " printed on them. The person I bought them from claimed they're late 60's/early 70's stock. But I'm not sure.

I also have some cheap Ei 12AX7, which I could try. But I don't know if I should go with these, because I don't know if they are appropriate for amp heads.

Thanks.

I wouldn't worry about finding the exact tube that Ampeg had in mind at the time. Honestly I wouldn't be suprised if they put in what ever they had bulk at the time. Also I doubt those are the orginals so here we go on the tube bragaide. Many folks will have opinions here. 8 12ax7's likes!!!! Svetlana brand 12ax7's have been appealing to me alot lately. You can get them thru the tube store at $10 a pop, or 5 for $45 (not bad!). Or you can go JJ's or what ever you want. JJ's are the popular ones around here.

As for EL-34's, I'm not playing thru anything with those in it, so I can't help you at all there, but again I'd thing JJ's would be a descent way to go. The amp is going to sound good I'm sure.

Try either http://www.tubestore.com or http://www.tubedepot.com for buying tubes. By the way I'm not a big Groove tube fan, they are just over priced tubes. They buy them from tube manufacturers do their test and their rating then double the price. Not worth it.

Good luck.

NMyTree

Thanks for the responses guys.

I went on a tube shopping spree on Thursday and Friday for my 2-channel audio and HT systems.

I bought 2 matched pairs of the JJ/Tesla ECC802 12AU7 Long Plate..............http://www.triodeelectronics.com/jjec12lopl.html



One of the NOS Mullard CV4003/12AU7............http://www.upscaleaudio.com/product.asp?itemid=12&catid=44


One of the NOS Mullard CV4004/12AX7...........http://www.upscaleaudio.com/product.asp?itemid=5&catid=40#


A matched pair of the new Tungsol 12AX7 (New Sensor Corportation, not NOS).................http://www.thetubestore.com/tungsol12ax7.html



And a matched pair of NOS Tesla E88CC/Saber 6922 (1960s era).............http://www.thetubestore.com/teslae88ccgp.html

These up above are all my stereo/HT equipment (various CD Players and Pre Amp).

I think I'll go with the new Tungsol 12AX7 (New Sensor Corportation) tubes for the Ampeg amp head.

Haven't completely decided on exactly what to go with regarding the EL34, but I'm thinking of going with one of these..........


new production Mullard EL34................
http://www.thetubestore.com/mullardel34.html

or

the new Electro-Harmonix EL34EH.............
http://www.thetubestore.com/ehxel34.html

All Those Yesterdays

NMyTree wrote:

Thanks for the responses guys.

I went on a tube shopping spree on Thursday and Friday for my 2-channel audio and HT systems.

I bought 2 matched pairs of the JJ/Tesla ECC802 12AU7 Long Plate..............http://www.triodeelectronics.com/jjec12lopl.html



One of the NOS Mullard CV4003/12AU7............http://www.upscaleaudio.com/product.asp?itemid=12&catid=44


One of the NOS Mullard CV4004/12AX7...........http://www.upscaleaudio.com/product.asp?itemid=5&catid=40#


A matched pair of the new Tungsol 12AX7 (New Sensor Corportation, not NOS).................http://www.thetubestore.com/tungsol12ax7.html



And a matched pair of NOS Tesla E88CC/Saber 6922 (1960s era).............http://www.thetubestore.com/teslae88ccgp.html

These up above are all my stereo/HT equipment (various CD Players and Pre Amp).

I think I'll go with the new Tungsol 12AX7 (New Sensor Corportation) tubes for the Ampeg amp head.

Haven't completely decided on exactly what to go with regarding the EL34, but I'm thinking of going with one of these..........


new production Mullard EL34................
http://www.thetubestore.com/mullardel34.html

or

the new Electro-Harmonix EL34EH.............
http://www.thetubestore.com/ehxel34.html

You just spent more money on tubes, then I have spent on the new head with tubes!!!! Very cool though, keep up posted.

NMyTree

All Those Yesterdays wrote:

You just spent more money on tubes, then I have spent on the new head with tubes!!!! Very cool though, keep up posted.

Admittedly, I'm probably going a bit overboard , here.

But I want to stock up on different tubes and make sure I have a wide variation of choices (alternatives to sound character) and backup tubes for my gear.

Besides, it's fun:D:D

I'll have fun rolling tubes every 3 or months, if I want to try some thing different from my tube stash.

KevinStraub

Fender started using Groove Tubes in the late 90's. Before then the tubes found in their amps were labeled Fender but were just Sovtek's. Much like Groove Tubes which are also manufactured by Sovtek. Kind of like how many asian squire guitars, washburns and ibanez are made by Samick. I think the only reason Fender switched to Groove Tubes is that they bought the name. Fender Musical Instrument Corporation now owns SWR amps, Guild guitars, Jackson guitars, Charvel, Tacoma, Olympia, Brand X, Orpheum and even Gretsch guitars (they also bought the rights to the original Dearmond designs). I think it's only a matter of time until they swallow Fishman, Seymour Duncan and maybe even Schaller.