Recent Posts
- 2011 Show Pictures by Pete DeGraw
- Choosing the Right Tube by Pete DeGraw
- Why do I keep blowing my highs? by Pete DeGraw
- You don’t have to be from Tennessee to be a Volunteer by Frank Werner
2011 Show Pictures
Pictures from 2011.
by Pete DeGraw | pdegraw@onstageservices.com
Gin Blossoms and Tonic, Val Du Lakes, MI
Gin Blossoms sound check, Val Du Lakes, MI
Val Du Lakes at night
Electric Junkyad Gamelan, One Trick Pony, Grand Rapids, MI
Dublin Irish Festival
Tiesto, Electric Forest Festival
Tripolee Stage, Electric Forest Festival
Tripolee Stage, Electric Forest Festival
Dog Look A-Like Contest, Laugh Fest
Pat Benatar
Paul Rodgers
REO Speedwagon
Secondhand Serenade, Art Prize 2011, Grand Rapids, MI
Loading in backline, National Catholic Youth Conference
The main stage, National Catholic Youth Conference
The main stage, National Catholic Youth Conference
New Year's Eve, Grand Rapids, MI
New Year's Eve, Grand Rapids, MI
New Year's Eve, Grand Rapids, MI
Fender Super Reverb Restoration
When tubes go bad.
This is not a good tube.
Marshall JCM800 in for repair.
Tung Sol EL34 power tubes.
1965 Fender Pro-Reverb
Packing for a big rock show.
Choosing the Right Tube
Find out what brands of tubes hold up the best.
by Pete DeGraw | pdegraw@onstageservices.com
What brand of tubes are the worst? This shows defective tubes that where pulled out of tube amps over the course of one year. They are mostly out of guitar amps.
6L6 Power Tube Types
| Brand | Qty | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Ruby 6L6GCM-STR | 13 | 48% |
| Groove Tubes GT-6L6B | 7 | 26% |
| Mesa-Boogie 6L6GC | 3 | 11% |
| Electro-Harmonix 6L6 EH | 2 | 7% |
| Sovtek 5881/6L6WGC | 2 | 7% |
We found that the Groove Tubes were mostly out of Fender amps and the tubes themselves had many more years than the other brands. These were typically the tubes that the guitarist had in their amp since they bought it. The Groove Tubes GT6L6B are Sovtek 5881WXT.
EL34 Power Tube Types
| Brand | Qty | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Winged C EL34 | 6 | 55% |
| Ruby EL34B-STR | 3 | 27% |
| Groove Tubes GT-EL34-M | 2 | 18% |
The Winged C tubes were all labeled Marshall and were the original tubes that came with the Marshall amps.
6550 Power Tube Types
| Brand | Qty | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Ruby 6550ASTR | 2 | 40% |
| Sovtek 6550WE | 2 | 40% |
| GE 6550 | 1 | 20% |
These are mostly from Ampeg SVT bass amps. Winged C 6550 tubs were a very popular choice for replacement tubes. Note that there aren't any defective Winged C tubes in the list. Electro-Harmonix was also a popular choice.
Sovtek, Groove Tubes, Fender, or Mesa-Boogie?
Notice the white debris, that's from the plate. It's time to change your tubes when you see this.
