2. amps-preamps
  3. 1109646228

retube VTL amp

It's time to retube my VTL MB250. The unit is 5 years old w/ the original tubes. I just lost one tube and so its time to retube.

This will be my first to completely retube this amplifier. In fact, it will be my first time to retube an amplifier with so many tubes, 10 tubes per side.

To me, it seems the easiest thing is to purchase the complete set from VTL? If you have purchased tubes from VTL, I would like to read your thoughts, pros/cons.

Any advise with purchasing tubes from another vendor? Any recommendations?
mybuddy

Showing 2 responses by piezo

piezo
304 posts
 
groove tubes does a good job at additional quality control on their tubes compared to the factories but you'll pay a premium. Still a better deal than getting hit with the factory markup. I'm not sure they do any additional tube QC or not.

Zaikesman, you seem to do a lot of experimenting with tubes for the VTL...have you (or anyone else for that matter) heard, or heard anything about the groove tube Mullard knock off 12ax-7s. A number of guitar amp guys have really liked them but i've not heard from the audiophile side of things
piezo
304 posts
 
hmmm, sounds like i may have bought the spheel and just got lucky with the groove tube thing. cheap is always good and your experience level with retubing is a lot higher than mine. thanks for the input.

as to the 12ax7 mullard knock offs are the only ones i've seen marketing them that's why i applied the name. I'm pretty sure they are russian made. The ax7 is a very common preamp tube with a bit more gain than an AU7 and those two are interchangeable. I assumed that there is interchangeability with the at7s as well wich may be a bad assumption. thanks
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