The Tube Shop - anyone shopped there?

[Justin Thomas]

Hi all,

I was just wondering if anyone has shopped at The Tube Shop in Norfolk, Virginia? I'm also in Virginia and have bought from KCA before... Support local business, etc. Just seeking opinions, good, bad, other? Thanks in advance,

Justin

[soundguruman]

I don't buy used tubes, I usually buy new ones for reliability.

[Justin Thomas]

Thanks, generally I agree with that, but I'm shopping for a Bassman 100 that I got for $50... I'm trying to avoid new preamp tubes, I've just had mostly trouble with them, and most of the amps I've bought have original preamp tubes that keep running for quite some time, so I'm willing to shell out cheap money on a chance they'll work. Power tubes are a different story - I won't pay for them used unless I know exactly where they came from. But I'm always happy to unload them off my friends for free...

Anyone else shopped there?

Justin

[big_teee]

Thanks, generally I agree with that, but I'm shopping for a Bassman 100 that I got for $50... I'm trying to avoid new preamp tubes, I've just had mostly trouble with them, and most of the amps I've bought have original preamp tubes that keep running for quite some time, so I'm willing to shell out cheap money on a chance they'll work. Power tubes are a different story - I won't pay for them used unless I know exactly where they came from. But I'm always happy to unload them off my friends for free...

Anyone else shopped there?

Justin

I would think if your just talking Preamp tubes?
If they are tested and they are on the cheap, I would say Go for it!
Terry

[Justin Thomas]

Hey Terry,

Sorry it's been a few days... I think I'll go ahead and give it a shot; prices are okay. Of course, I just picked up a 63Truvox reel-to-reel with (all Mullard) ecc83, ecc81, 2xecc82, 2xef86. Can't try the ef86s, but all the others worked and sounded GREAT! No microphonics, no hiss, no noise... I'll rewire one of my Bassman 100 channels to try the ef86s... Not too bad for $45! There was one other ecc81 that had cracked, and that's probably why it was retired a long time ago.

Justin

[Rxtele]

I bought a JJ ECC83 and a Mullard El84 from the Tube Shop
These were recommended as inexpensive upgrades for the Epiphone Valve Jr in an article in vintage guitar magazine
so I saw the Tube Shop's ad in the same magazine and called them up
the tubes came very well packaged and definitely sound better than the stock tubes that came with the amp
Very pleasant gentleman, don't remember his name, very helpful with my lame ignorant questions.
My Dad was in the Army and I graduated from high school in Norfolk, and hadn't heard people talk like that since then, so that was a nice side benefit