Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Ephemeria on August 24, 2011, 11:23:51 AM

Title: Can somebody please recommend a good place to buy Guitar Amp Tubes in the UK?
Post by: Ephemeria on August 24, 2011, 11:23:51 AM
Can somebody please recommend a good place to buy Guitar Amp Tubes in the UK? I only seem to be able to find the US. Looking for places that sell variety such as JJ, Ruby, =C=, etc.
Title: Re: Can somebody please recommend a good place to buy Guitar Amp Tubes in the UK?
Post by: Philly Q on August 24, 2011, 11:27:44 AM
Watford Valves?
Title: Re: Can somebody please recommend a good place to buy Guitar Amp Tubes in the UK?
Post by: Twinfan on August 24, 2011, 12:08:48 PM
I wouldn't go to Watford Valves, very mixed reviews.

Hotrox are spot on, totally recommended.
Title: Re: Can somebody please recommend a good place to buy Guitar Amp Tubes in the UK?
Post by: dave_mc on August 24, 2011, 12:10:29 PM
same here, though i haven't used either, but i've heard better things about HR than about WV.

Tube-town in germany sells valves too- never used them, either, but their prices can be a little cheaper than in the UK. Depends on the postage costs, of course (for me in NI, the english shops often charge more postage than the german shops :lol: but if you're in great britain (i.e. the mainland) the postage might be sufficiently cheaper that you're not really saving anything).
Title: Re: Can somebody please recommend a good place to buy Guitar Amp Tubes in the UK?
Post by: HTH AMPS on August 24, 2011, 02:11:16 PM
Hotrox without a doubt.

Tubetown in Germany has a good rep, but I've never used them - have heard good reports from people who's opinion I trust, so I'd not hesitate to use them if the price was right.



Title: Re: Can somebody please recommend a good place to buy Guitar Amp Tubes in the UK?
Post by: dave_mc on August 24, 2011, 02:55:26 PM
I should probably point out that I didn't check all their prices- just the stuff i was looking at. Plus that was a while ago, so they may have changed now. :lol:
Title: Re: Can somebody please recommend a good place to buy Guitar Amp Tubes in the UK?
Post by: Kiichi on August 24, 2011, 03:07:58 PM
As a german I have used Tube Town numerous times and was happy with them (also with the TT AX7 tubes). Got some good tubes and deciding help there.

PLUS they put candy in some of my packages^^
Title: Re: Can somebody please recommend a good place to buy Guitar Amp Tubes in the UK?
Post by: Pete24v on August 24, 2011, 10:16:57 PM
I always use Hotrox, had a few too many dud's and poor service from Watford Valves
Title: Re: Can somebody please recommend a good place to buy Guitar Amp Tubes in the UK?
Post by: Brow on August 26, 2011, 01:10:47 PM
I've used HotRox a fair few times, not for valves though, and have always had good experiences with them.
Title: Re: Can somebody please recommend a good place to buy Guitar Amp Tubes in the UK?
Post by: Transcend on August 26, 2011, 02:20:44 PM
I use Hotrox exclusively.


I only used watford once and they caused me two problems

the first was the "matched" pair that they sent me had a 13mv mismatch

and the second was the fact they took the shipping two and a half weeks later which ended up being the day before payday and it took me overdrawn by 3p and i got a £27 bank charge.
Title: Re: Can somebody please recommend a good place to buy Guitar Amp Tubes in the UK?
Post by: Alex on August 26, 2011, 04:52:14 PM
I've bought all my valves in the past from Tubetown and can recommend them. They also have some good advice PDFs, though not all of them are in English.
Title: Re: Can somebody please recommend a good place to buy Guitar Amp Tubes in the UK?
Post by: richard on August 26, 2011, 09:31:29 PM
Re-tubed my Cornford Roadhouse recently and Watford Valves told me a load of total cr@p which basically amounted to 'If there's any problem with our tubes it will be your fault and we will not exchange or refund'. Really horrible people. Hot Rox were the polar opposite - pleasant, very helpful guy who seemed prepared to discuss valves all day. Go to Hot Rox, don't touch Watford with a barge pole.