morgwn

Myles, I'd like to thank you for the Ruby EL34B-STR tube recommendation...those are VERY nice sounding tubes, and a LOT better than the Svets that were in there (much more even accross the freq. spectrum). They sound bigger, badder, and meaner, and with more bottom end and top end. I still am not entirely in love with that amp (Bogner 101b), but now I know what tubes to buy! Thanks again! -Morgwn

Hi Myles, A friend swears by Ruby EL34B-STR's in his Bogner 101b, so I'm thinking of going that route (need to get the amp rebiased though). I know Bogner runs his amps pretty hot though, and I have no idea about the reliability/durability of the Ruby tubes in a Bogner amp. Sean at Bogner said "just get Svets" and I won't need to rebias, however, I've heard that the new Svets are junk...a local amp tech told me he used to love them, but the new ones he wouldn't think of puting in an amp. (he said the Ruby's are pretty good). So I guess my dilemna is either tracking down an "older" quartet of Svets (where to find them I don't know), or trying something new and rebiasing the amp (experimentation time!). Durability is definitely key, as I don't want my amp blowing anything during a gig. Any thoughts/experience would be helpful!! Of course I would rather _not_ rebias my amp and save a little extra $$. Does switching to _any_ other tube that the Svetlana require rebias? (I'm almost under the impression that even replacing with Svets the amp _should_ need a rebias for optimum tone?) Also, where does one get some of the "new" EH12ax7 tubes? (as I hear the latest ones are best?) And a matched phase inverter. Are there companies that pre-test/rank "preamp" tubes for gain and noise characteristics? Thanks in advance, Morgwn