Author Topic: I want to retube my Laney but I'm looking for a good website (Read 8623 times)

Pierre · « **on:** December 12, 2005, 02:41:44 AM »

And an amp tech in Edinburgh, if anyone knows any...
The Laney I have starts to sound like ass. There's a constant buzz even when I use it with the POD through the effects return and the distortion is very unstable and fizzy. I was thinking Sovteks 12AX7LPS and EH 6V6GTs. I need to get them the cheapest possible of course as the biasing is going to cost me a fortune (about 30 pounds) and I don't want to spend too much on an amp I may end up selling if I still don't like it. But eh it'll need new tubes even if I sell it. So... suggest away!

Skybone · « **Reply #1 on:** December 12, 2005, 08:21:00 AM »

Don't know about amp tech's in Edinburgh, but here's a couple of website's for valve suppliers. I prefer HotRox as they tend to be a bit cheaper than Watford Valves. Never bought any valves from Matamp, and they don't advertise prices, but as they are an amp manufacturer, they should be able to do them at a really good rate.

http://www.hotroxuk.com

http://www.watfordvalves.com/mainindex.htm

http://www.matamp.co.uk/enter.htm

Floyd Pepper · « **Reply #2 on:** December 12, 2005, 06:11:28 PM »

Yep. Read the valve reviews at Watford then buy them from HotRox. :)

tewboss · « **Reply #3 on:** December 12, 2005, 09:13:37 PM »

Watford now sell TAD (Tube Amp Doctor) valves which are really good. Another good make is JJ valves. Hotrox do probably the quickest delivery ever!

I've got TAD valves in my Marshall which the guy who services my amp uses in his own handmade amps.

You don't need to bias preamp valves just the power amp stage valves.

Pierre · « **Reply #4 on:** December 12, 2005, 10:41:10 PM »

Well I wanted EH 6V6GTs and Sovteks 12AX7LPS and neither of these places have any :( I basically want valves for high gain, yet silent operation (yeah ok... I want it all! Yeaheeeyah! I want it all! I want it now... ) and the LPS get great reviews, and I heard good things about the 6V6GTs too.

indysmith · « **Reply #5 on:** December 12, 2005, 10:53:40 PM »

i wouldn't use watford valves if i were you. Took them a week to send me some valves, which were packed with all the protection of a box made of regular-thickness card (not even cardboard). They were, not to my suprise cracked and microphonic. They sent me some more packed in the same terrible way about another week later and luckily they're all good. Terrible. Terrible Terrible.

big steve · « **Reply #6 on:** December 12, 2005, 11:49:26 PM »

6V6 valves? what laney are we talking about here? i thought laney only used el34 and el84 power tubes? or do 6v6s directly in for el84s? (with a bias adjustment obviously)

Pierre · « **Reply #7 on:** December 13, 2005, 12:12:07 AM »

It's an AOR pro tube 30 combo. All the input valves are ECCC83 and for the 30W combo specificially, the power valves are 6V6s.

What alternative models of valves should I look into, if you guys can advise me? I just need a lot of gain and a warm, not fizzy tone. Headroom is not a concern at all. Price is haha! But under 10 pounds a valve and I should be ok I think.

tewboss · « **Reply #8 on:** December 13, 2005, 09:47:22 AM »

Sovtek are the same company as EH if you didn't know. Mike Matthews has also bought the rights to use the Mullard and Tungsol names.

TAD are a really good company, and I would hesitate to recommend them to others. They do offer valves other than their own, but I would buy their own ones.

As far as reviews are concerned, I tend to avoid Harmony Central because too many people give top marks to anything they own.

Salty Bikini · « **Reply #9 on:** December 13, 2005, 10:13:02 AM »

I've used colomor valves several times for microphone and preamp tubes and would recommend them - but it looks like they have had some problems with their website but they are still in business.

http://www.websamba.com/colomor

Pierre · « **Reply #10 on:** December 13, 2005, 04:35:06 PM »

Quote from: Salty Bikini

I've used colomor valves several times for microphone and preamp tubes and would recommend them - but it looks like they have had some problems with their website but they are still in business.

http://www.websamba.com/colomor

Woa I had no idea! Eh well... and I haven't used HC yet, I'm scared of the review center on it :?
I think I'll go for some JJ 6V6 and Sovteks 12AX7WC. Thanks guys!

PhilKing · « **Reply #11 on:** December 13, 2005, 06:39:14 PM »

Check out these guys too:

http://www.thetubestore.com/

I use EH and old GE 6V6's in my Fenders, but I hear really good things about the new JJ/Tesla's.

tewboss · « **Reply #12 on:** December 13, 2005, 06:59:07 PM »

I know the tubestore sell JJ tubes

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #13 on:** December 14, 2005, 09:00:11 PM »

My experiences with Watford Valves have always been good but they are the most expensive.

Hotrox (otoh) have supplied me with tubes that have blown both times I've bought from them - 8x JJ EL34s and 4x EH 6CA7s. Oh yeah, and there was the Mullard GZ34 that went south too.

:twisted:

Skybone · « **Reply #14 on:** December 15, 2005, 08:15:59 AM »

Always makes me smile when I read on "that other music forum" where people slag off Sovtek valves, and then go on to say how much they love EH valves!

Erm...They are one and the same, it's just the Sovtek's are cheaper as they have the Sovtek name on them instead of the EH name (and markup!).