Valve order from Tube Depot, need collaborators.

ezietsman

Hello All.

So I think I may need some new valves soon and I see from other posts and people that www.tubedepot.com is a good place. Problem is, my HT-5 only uses 2 valves and I thought of getting 2 different 12ax7s to try and one 12bh7 which comes to a royal total of around $35. Looks like the 7-10 day shipping is $30 so I'll more or less pay double to get those 3 valves here. Nick expressed interest in piggy backing on my order so hence, will anyone else be interested in ordering some valves? To make things a bit easier it would make sense to have people who live in and around Cape Town join, else I have to go and faff around in post offices too much.

On the other hand, if someone else in CPT is going to order some valves soon, can I piggyback on your order?

TomCat

Why not get what you need through either Matta or Karel Mars? For the quantity you need you will probably end up paying a lot less and much quicker supply.

Also a bit of support for the local China's here on the forum...

AlanRatcliffe

+1000. And if it's something special like NOS Mullards or Amperex, check with Mr Valve in JHB first and then guys like KCA NOS or Doug's tubes. I've found TubeDepot to be a bit hit-and-miss with NOS stuff.

ezietsman

That was my other idea, I don't want uber expensive valves, just wanted to try 2 or 3 brand of 12ax7 and get another EH 12bh7 as backup. Was thinking of a Tung-Sol and a JJ 12ax7 for the preamp (there's apparently a Sovtek in now).

On that note, is there a general consensus about the sound properties you get from the different brands?

Gearhead

ezietsman wrote: is there a general consensus about the sound properties you get from the different brands?

On 12AX7 yes sorta: most people seem to agree that you get good but darkish tone from JJ's, you get harsh but raw distortion from EH, the Sovtek 12AX7WA is always tame but good for clean clean amps as a first tube, the B and C variant being rather unspectacular but cheap, the new Mullards are close to the EH but a lot less harsh because of the larger plate and the bottom end Tung-sol receives mixed reports. Winners as always are Philips JAN NOS and Mullard NOS, but you do pay the price. Google and you can read reports for a day.

Karel-Mars

Maybe this helps:

https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0ATH0yLK8boGGZGN4bXoyMzVfMTU0Z2Q1OG14Zng&hl=en_GB

I'd like to make it visible in the post, but I do not know how :'(

matta

Thanks Karel,

That is a great document! It is interesting because my real worl/audible listening tests, at least to my ears, revealed the same findings as the author did RE JJ and Sovtek's.

Cheers

Matt

Karel Mars wrote: Maybe this helps:

https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0ATH0yLK8boGGZGN4bXoyMzVfMTU0Z2Q1OG14Zng&hl=en_GB

I'd like to make it visible in the post, but I do not know how :'(

ezietsman

I saw those tables somewhere on the interwebs. I've also read somewhere (other than one of the previous posts) that the JJs are darker. This is then what I need as I'm forever lowering the treble knob on my HT5.

I still need to contact Graeme about this, but it looks like someone will have to do a group order. So please let me know if you're interested

Wizard

I see everything is made in Russia, China or Slovakia ...

killafo

Nice Post...... So if i were in Durban and wanted to get some valve replacements, i would contact........??? ???

Gearhead

I'm in on a Tube Depot order...
Will restrict myself to preamp tubes, still not completely done rolling 12AX7s in the Triaxis. Looking for a high gain tube that still has lekker cleans for the first stage, need to cover the whole range from vintage Strat pups to EMG's....

AlanRatcliffe

Wizard wrote: I see everything is made in Russia, China or Slovakia ...

The (now former) USSR military continued using valves long after the West stopped using them (cost to retool and they are the only electronic tech that can withstand the EMP of a nuclear blast). Also, these days environmental regulation is too strict in other countries to get away manufacturing valves in them.

matta wrote: That is a great document! It is interesting because my real worl/audible listening tests, at least to my ears, revealed the same findings as the author did RE JJ and Sovtek's.

+1. Generalises a bit on the NOS stuff though.

There are also some good, if a bit dated reviews available at http://www.watfordvalves.com/reports.asp

matta

ezietsman wrote: I saw those tables somewhere on the interwebs. I've also read somewhere (other than one of the previous posts) that the JJs are darker. This is then what I need as I'm forever lowering the treble knob on my HT5.

Valves are always need to be tried in circuit to see, but as most of the amps I deal with are Fender's I tend to find that the JJ's are bright and more defined in the mid range than the Sovteks, which are darker in tone, which seems to be an assessment that the author has as well.

Cheers

Matt

nick

Im quite keen to order too. Want 2x Sovtek EL84s to complete a set I have and then possibly 2x 12ax7's to play around with. 8)

ezietsman

OK so it looks like there's some interest and it may be worthwhile for me to accept more orders from around the country. I guess a (sortof) fair system will be:

We all order whatever valves we want. We split the shipping between us and the package (hopefully) arrives in Cape Town where I'll go and pick it up. You then come get your stuff from me, if you live elsewhere in the country, I'll post it to you at your cost. Better suggestions are welcome.

So far:

Me
Nick

matta

Fairest way and the way I've done it in the past with several Tube Depot orders and the Mojo order, just bear in mind that you will prob be hit with import duties and clearance fee from Fedex, which guys should be aware of, it has bitten me in the ass a couple times!

Cheers

Matt

ezietsman wrote: OK so it looks like there's some interest and it may be worthwhile for me to accept more orders from around the country. I guess a (sortof) fair system will be:

We all order whatever valves we want. We split the shipping between us and the package (hopefully) arrives in Cape Town where I'll go and pick it up. You then come get your stuff from me, if you live elsewhere in the country, I'll post it to you at your cost. Better suggestions are welcome.

So far:

Me
Nick

Manfred-Klose

Looking for a high gain tube that still has lekker cleans for the first stage, need to cover the whole range from vintage Strat pups to EMG's....

let me know if you find that tube!!!!!!!
i'm shure world peace will follow soon after the discovery.

just bear in mind that you will prob be hit with import duties and clearance fee from Fedex

it happened to me. ☹

AlanRatcliffe

Yeah, last time I ordered valves from KCA NOS, I got hit with import duties as well as the usual VAT - and that was via post.

If it's FedEx, they will always charge you import duties (unless you're willing to fight with them for a couple of weeks while your stuff sits in their clearance depot) as well as the VAT, and they may even tell you you have to get an importer's licence from SARS. I always seem to end up fighting someone when it's FedEx. On top of that, they charge you a flat fee of about R150 for clearance plus a disbursement fee (not sure how they calculate that - was R50 for my speakers). Those last two also include VAT on top!

Don't forget, your bank/CC company also charges a percentage of any fees paid internationally.

All this stuff adds up:
http://articles.guitarforum.co.za/blogs/alan-ratcliffe/importing-gear-%E2%80%93-real-costs

ezietsman

I understand that there's some extra costs (which will hopefully be split among a couple of people) , but I have made some inquiries to the local guys and they all advised me to go ahead with the order. So unless someone who makes a business of this let me/Nick/the others know that we can get valves from them I don't see another way (do you perhaps know of someone Alan?). Valves must be had and the local shops don't seem to stock them in great amounts (strangely enough, seeing they're pushing many valve amps out the door)

I think we need an article on the hazards of buying valve amps in RSA, I haven't owned one for long enough to wear the valves out and (stupidly it seems) assumed that replacement valves will be available easily enough. Meh.

ezietsman

So far:

Me
Nick
Gearhead