Some interesting valve thing...

[Dmoney]

so you may remember the ToneGrinder preamp valve replacement devices. I think Denim & Leather has a couple and he likes them... Since i found out about them, I really wanted to know if those were similar to the Fetron's that mesa used to use, but I could never find any info on just what made the TG's work. Just a lot of theory on hifi forums, which was probably good theory, but still theory.

Anyway. A while ago I saw a Jet City demo where they had some similar devices in an amp, and just now I found this site http://retrovalves.com/

Looks like a similar thing to the TG's. Solid State replacements for 12AX7's and such. It makes the usual claims about being able to mimic and surpass glass vacuum tubes, however in this instance, they have put up the patent number, so you can go search to see what makes them tick in some ways.

If you go to a site like this http://www.freepatentsonline.com and search for those patent numbers, it brings up a lot of info. I thought I'd drop some links here in case some people other than myself might be interested in reading about these things... I'll have a read later on when I get to work.

[Denim n Leather]

Thanks for the links, I will check em out!

I do, indeed, own two Tonegrinders. I knew it would be the only way to really try them out. Ppl that judge things based off of hearsay are @asshats lol.

[Dmoney]

haha. I almost feel like you're suggesting i'm an @asshat.

I'm interested in how these things work. My main issue with TG's was the cost. It was too much for me to try them, and If I did, the cost would have felt like a bit of a weight that might have skewed my view on them. wanting them to be comparable or better than a valve because of how much money I spent, like having some psychosomatic effect. That's just how I'd feel though. Going off the sound clips I couldn't really justify taking the plunge, I just didn't want to risk the money, and I had some other reasons too. me and you have been through this before so lets not do it again. haha. I'm not saying the TG's are bad, I've never heard one in real life but testing it out in this case costs more than trying new picks. Or it used to. dunno what they cost now.

I do find these devices really interesting little things though and wonder how they would sound in different circuits. maybe they aren't just electrically similar but maybe there is some way of shaping tone inside them. I have no idea. Like if you used one configured as a bootstrapped cathode follower or cascode how would they sound vs a valve? what i'm getting at is if they are tailored for your average gain stage, to sound great, but if using them in some wacky valve circuits makes a difference. would be something fun to experiment with.

I might email this guy and see how much these cost. I think I prefer this guys approach to the TG guy.

[Transcend]

haha. I almost feel like you're suggesting i'm an @asshat.

I'm interested in how these things work. My main issue with TG's was the cost. It was too much for me to try them, and If I did, the cost would have felt like a bit of a weight that might have skewed my view on them. wanting them to be comparable or better than a valve because of how much money I spent, like having some psychosomatic effect. That's just how I'd feel though. Going off the sound clips I couldn't really justify taking the plunge, I just didn't want to risk the money, and I had some other reasons too. me and you have been through this before so lets not do it again. haha. I'm not saying the TG's are bad, I've never heard one in real life but testing it out in this case costs more than trying new picks. Or it used to. dunno what they cost now.

I do find these devices really interesting little things though and wonder how they would sound in different circuits. maybe they aren't just electrically similar but maybe there is some way of shaping tone inside them. I have no idea. Like if you used one configured as a bootstrapped cathode follower or cascode how would they sound vs a valve? what i'm getting at is if they are tailored for your average gain stage, to sound great, but if using them in some wacky valve circuits makes a difference. would be something fun to experiment with.

I might email this guy and see how much these cost. I think I prefer this guys approach to the TG guy.

i was also considering getting some TG's as an experiment but the costs and a reminder that it would be a lot of money to throw away just as an experiment put me off.

Let me know how these cost they do seem interesting

[Transcend]

and also they look awesome... not that that should matter though but they do

[Dmoney]

I will let you know.
The cool thing is this site has links to patents so if you want to take the time and read through all that junk you can at least figure out what your getting for the money.

[Denim n Leather]

haha. I almost feel like you're suggesting i'm an @asshat.

HA, not at all, my man. I was saying that, for better or worse, I would rather spend the $$$ and find out for myself instead of standing on a pedestal and say, if it's not glass it must suck! That is the @sshattery I was referring to ....

In the end, I still prefer glass valves in the V1 slot, but I can now speak from experience, not hearsay and not from clips on Youtube.

[Dmoney]

I read that the retrovalves guy is going to be working with Jet City.
someone on a forum suggests the these glass valve replacements will be about $30. no idea where they got that info but it its true its way cheaper than the TG's. I could take a pop at those maybe. If anything they'd be useful spares to get you out a tight jam on the road.

[Transcend]

that is very true now im going to go through and actually read the patent info.

[WezV]

certainly the price range suggested by jet city was reasonable - which makes it worth a punt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD4N0vundGQ&feature=player_embedded

[Dmoney]

word from Jet City is these are going to be more like $20 each and maybe even less if you buy a pack of them or something.