frontlinebass Posted October 15, 2003 Share Posted October 15, 2003 I have had my ampeg SVT-CL for about 2 1/2 years now and have realized that my tubes need to be replaced. When to my suprize I found that Groove tubes cost $60 a peice for the 6550 tube of which I need 6. Thats $360. I need a better alternative that to spend that much money. Can anyone tell about alternate tubes if there are any? I have looked a electro harmonix and some russian tubes and they are cheaper but will they do the job? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getz out Posted October 15, 2003 Share Posted October 15, 2003 Originally posted by frontlinebass: I have had my ampeg SVT-CL for about 2 1/2 years now and have realized that my tubes need to be replaced. When to my suprize I found that Groove tubes cost $60 a peice for the 6550 tube of which I need 6. Thats $360. I need a better alternative that to spend that much money. Can anyone tell about alternate tubes if there are any? I have looked a electro harmonix and some russian tubes and they are cheaper but will they do the job? Thanks.How did you realize that your power tubes need to be replaced? If you liked the sound of the GT's, don't skip. $360 is not that much in the long run. But, if you were not enamoured with the GT's, check out the following site for some information: TheTubeStore.com Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
61Pbass Posted October 15, 2003 Share Posted October 15, 2003 Originally posted by getz76: $360 is not that much in the long run. I'm definitely with Maury on this one. Part of going with a tube head, especially a high wattage one, is higher maintenance costs. If it makes you feel better, look at it this way.....$360 in a 2 1/2 year period is only $12 a month. Later.................. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frontlinebass Posted October 15, 2003 Author Share Posted October 15, 2003 Thanks guys, It may be that I end up going with the groove tubes. But has anyone heard of any other band that would be comperable? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
... Posted October 15, 2003 Share Posted October 15, 2003 Groove Tubes, all the way. Part of having a tube head is replacing those bad boys every once in a while. Different tubes will affect the sound. So, if you like the way it sounds now, obviously you shouldn't change brands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Phil Posted October 15, 2003 Share Posted October 15, 2003 Originally posted by 61Pbass: Originally posted by getz76: $360 is not that much in the long run. I'm definitely with Maury on this one. Part of going with a tube head, especially a high wattage one, is higher maintenance costs. If it makes you feel better, look at it this way.....$360 in a 2 1/2 year period is only $12 a month. It doesn't seem so bad that way. Now does it? http://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/blue.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/black.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/fuscia.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/grey.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/orange.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/purple.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/red.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/yellow.JPG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frontlinebass Posted October 16, 2003 Author Share Posted October 16, 2003 getz76.... I realized i needed to replace them when my tone jsut started to suck... and also have hearing this and ajusting my bias the bias led's showed that they were shot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getz out Posted October 16, 2003 Share Posted October 16, 2003 Originally posted by frontlinebass: getz76.... I realized i needed to replace them when my tone jsut started to suck... and also have hearing this and ajusting my bias the bias led's showed that they were shot.Okay, that's a good answer. 2 1/2 years seems a bit quick for those power tubes to go dead. How much do you play the head? Are you using the Standby switch properly? If you are using the SVT a lot, you might want to consider using a solid state amp for practice to save on cost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frontlinebass Posted October 16, 2003 Author Share Posted October 16, 2003 Just wanted to let you all know that you info was greatly apreciated and that my tubes are a little worn out but not terribly. I figured this out when I borrowed a friend of mine's new SVT-CL and ran both through the same cabinet (Vintage ampeg 8X10). His did sound better by a small margine, and I attest that to my lack of tube amplification knowledge when i first got mine. (I totally ignored the stand by button). It turns out that it was my other cabinet that what giving me the problems (ampeg 4x10hlf) it has the high and low end ajuster on the back and that was is what needs to be tweaked (sp). Also i want to correct the $60 groove tube price. I was able to find 6550 groove tubes for around $35 depending on the model at macmidimusic.com. Anyways thanks for all the info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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