There is such a thing as a Bad TUBE...

bammbamm · #1 11-20-2006, 12:24 AM

Out of urgency, I dropped 110+ dollars to retube my Triaxis and 20/20 Power amp. All the local GC had in stock was Groove Tubes. I was already less than thrilled at this prospect, as I'd had a bad experience with GT's before.
The last time I tubed an amp with them, ( A brand new 5150 (orig)) as I powered it up to set the bias and test it out, one of the power tube's tracings burned up in a flash, before my eyes. Shorted plate to grid right out of the box.

So, needless to say, I went forward with much trepidation, not knowing what to expect, I figured, I need them so I'll make the best of it and lets just get it over with, maybe things have changed.

Un-friggin-believable...

The farken tubes were the gold series, and the most microphonic POS's I've ever installed. WHAT A FRIGGIN JOKE.

So, stupidly, I go to take them back to GC... Something told me this wouldn't come out well.

My psychic ability prevails again...

GC won't take them back, I ask for a mgr, he reaffirms this, I threaten loss of business on my part if they do not accept the crappy tubes back.

Thinking back, I'm sure they knew what they were doing in not taking back Groove Tubes... I'll bet this happens a bit...

So, I place a call to the repackaging tube seller's 800 number.
I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop now...

I knew they repackaged other tube mfr's stuff, but I figured they'd at least rebrand GOOD tubes... JEEZ

I've used Sovtek for years, I switched to JJ's last year, I like them, I like Sovteks, they are both pretty predictable and reliable.
The problem arose out of a troubleshooting spree I was on to kill the noise in my rig.
I developed a pretty good amount of hum in my rig so I figured along with all the cables, I would retube. The 'old' tubes are still fine, it's the cables that are the problem. But now I'm going to have to dick-around with GT to get new tubes or my money back. I don't want more groove tubes though, that much I can tell you.

It's sick, we recorded some tracks just to run through some new material and you can clearly hear on the CD the tubes ringing after I play a note. UN-friggin-believable.

Heed my warning.

The tubes you buy may kill your tone! ! !

The Euphor · #2 11-20-2006, 12:35 AM

Did you read the manual before installing them?

bammbamm · #3 11-20-2006, 01:20 AM

twice...

The Euphor · #4 11-20-2006, 01:40 AM

Maybe you read it umop ap!sdn?

ChrisPcritter · #5 11-20-2006, 05:16 AM

This is why I only get tubes from someone that tests each tube themselves like eurotubes or dougs (from what I hear I haven't tried them yet)

bammbamm · #6 11-20-2006, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisPcritter

This is why I only get tubes from someone that tests each tube themselves like eurotubes or dougs (from what I hear I haven't tried them yet)

Supposedly, GT does that.
I guess just not that well.

bammbamm · #7 11-20-2006, 03:08 PM

So GT Issued an RA# for the preamp tubes and I'll be sending them back for replacements. No refunds issued whatsoever.
Can you say BULL$HIT along with me?
"BULLLLLLSHIIIIT"!
Very good.

This crap is going to the bay and I'm done with groove tubes.
Forever.

I asked the guy who's tubes they rebrand and it's everyone JJ, Chinese, Sovtek, E.H., and they contract a company to make their version of a Mullard, but they didn't specify whom.

This is my Anti GT Rant.
Don't waste your time with them, just buy the brand you like without going through a rebranding company like GT.
The guy told me: "Ahh, you have some silver series eh? "We don't recommend those, all we do is see if they light up." the only reason GC buys them is the price point, they cater to those not in the know, and rip 'em off.
Lucky for me, I talked them down on the price to begin with, otherwise it would've cost me another 50% or more on the overall price.

W@nkers.
And F*** Guitar Center too, they wouldn't take 'em back, knowing damn well that they probably sold me a turd to begin with.

The other thing the GT rep told me was that hardly anyone else sells the silver series BUT Guitar Center, toss in a bunch of kids that don't know much about higher end gear, voila, you have a recipe for a pi$sed off customer.

MotherF***ers
I'm going to do something creative and mean to make sure these ******** learn a lesson. **** ******** ******** ******** * **************** ****************************************
******************** *********** ******** ***** **** *****
***************** with a ********************** ** *'s handle til it breaks off and ************************** * *********** *****
their mothers will NEVER FORGET !

**jim777** · #8 11-20-2006, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bammbamm

Supposedly, GT does that.
I guess just not that well.

I think they hold them up to a light bulb, proclaim, "Yup, that's a tube alright. PASSED!".

Or something similar

newbieguitarmaker · #9 11-20-2006, 05:03 PM

i have never had problems with gt's, not once in my life

bluealien · #10 11-20-2006, 05:08 PM

Well, I had a issue with New Tubes ordered directly from Mesa Boogie, which are tested and matched, however when I recieved them one 6L6 had the black position tab broke off of the protected black base. The good thing , is I call they just reshipped a new matching pair with no hassles.

RSVampire · #11 11-20-2006, 05:32 PM

I freakin hate groove tubes, I had them in my blues jr when I first got it and it sounded like turd, I got it retubed with JJ's power and Electro-Harmonix pre's and it sounds worlds better.

Despite the terrible quality of the physical tube itself the things just don't sound good at all.

bammbamm · #12 11-20-2006, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim777

I think they hold them up to a light bulb, proclaim, "Yup, that's a tube alright. PASSED!".

Or something similar

Hit the nail on the head there.

Both times I've used a GT product, something less than satisfactory has gone down.

ibanezdiehard · #13 11-20-2006, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim777

I think they hold them up to a light bulb, proclaim, "Yup, that's a tube alright. PASSED!".

ChopTart · #14 11-20-2006, 11:13 PM

Sorry to hear about these problems bamm.

To my eyes, GT's are just way overpriced for what they give. At a surprisingly cheap price, I can re-tube my mesa from eurotubes, plus I have total faith in that guy. I got one microphonic tube first time, and he was super apologetic and hasty to get me a replacement.

Most of those "tube-checking" procedures you hear about are not too far off from what Jim said, basically them just heating for a bit and making sure it lights.

bammbamm · #15 11-21-2006, 01:29 AM

Had I not been in a pinch, I would have not even bothered.
I should post a clip of practice the other night, you can hear the tubes pinging.

Lemme find a clip...

...ok

Here it is.

Listen to the tail end of the notes on the lower dynamics section.
It sounds like spring reverb, but it isn't, its the tubes ringing. a small amount of 'verb was added on the console, and is digital, I was running completely dry, Strat-> triaxis> Mesa 20/20-> 4x12 Cab Shure Sm57 Mic to a Tascam 16 Ch board in to 2 Tascam DA38 dat recorders.

This was part of a new song we were messing with, so ignore the gonks on my playing.

Bamm