FDP Home Page / FDP Forum / Classifieds / FAQ's / Links / Cookbook

The FDP is made possible by the following companies and individual members like you.
Please use the links below to show them we value their sponsorship.

The Music Zoo	Sweetwater	WD Music	Amazon
Antique Electronics Supply	Bill Lawrence Pickups	TTS Music	Jensen Loudspeakers
www.thetubestore.com	Contact Us!	Musician's Friend	MOD KITS DIY
Guitar Center	Amplified Parts

* God bless America and our men and women in uniform * * Illegitimi non carborundum! * If you benefit and learn from the FDP and enjoy our site, please help support us and become a Contributing Member or make a Donation today! The FDP counts on YOU to help keep the site going with an annual contribution. It's quick and easy with PayPal. Please do it TODAY! Chris Greene, Host & Founder Registered Members: 64,000+ LOST YOUR PASSWORD? ...................................................................... IF YOU CANNOT LOG IN, RESET YOUR PASSWORD.

	For Sale/Wanted Classifieds
FDP Jam Calendar		Find musicians in your area!
	Search the Forums

FDP Forum / Miscellaneous and Non-Fender Topics / Why do Groove Tubes have such a bad reputaion?

Next 20 Messages

Tony F Long Island When you come to fork in road take it	Apr 25th, 2012 01:01 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic Reading about tubes online seems just about everyone swaps out there Russian made Groove Tubes for JJs or Tungsol or EH and so on meanwhile I notice the groove tubes are more expensive than those other tubes. A Tungsol 12AX7 or JJ or EH sell for around $13. while the GT 12AX7 is around $17. I know that more cost doesn't necessarily mean better but something doesn't make sense.
stratcowboy Contributing Member ******* USA/Taos, NM	Apr 25th, 2012 01:18 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic I've tried some of the Groove Tubes (been a good while, so can't provide details) and they just didn't live up to the hype (which it seems they're good at), IMO.
BBQ Gord CANADA Didn't chew kill my bruvah?	Apr 25th, 2012 01:41 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic I don't own any myself, but some techs recommend them. Maybe there are fewer duds?
Alderandash Contributing Member **** QLD Australia	Apr 25th, 2012 02:56 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic Interesting subject. I'm amused when people bag Groove tubes and recommend brand X or push Groove Tubes in preference to other well known brands. I'm really ROTFL when someone says " I've just thrown out the original Groove Tube 6V6S's and replaced them with JJ's". The following Chart from one of our sponsors shows they have just replaced their tubes with exactly the same thing: Groove Tubes Cross Reference Chart Groove Tubes Part Number Original Part Number GT-6L6B Sovtek 5881WXT GT-6L6S JJ 6L6GC GT-E34LS JJ E34L GT-EL34R Electro-Harmonix EL34 GT-EL84R Sovtek EL84 GT-EL84S JJ EL84 GT-6V6R Electro Harmonix 6V6GT GT-6V6S JJ 6V6S GT-12AX7C Shuguang 12AX7-A GT-12AX7R Sovtek 12AX7-WA GT-12AX7R2 Sovtek 12AX7-LPS Vacuum Tube GT-12AX7R3 Electro-Harmonix 12AX7-EH GT-ECC83S JJ ECC83-S GT-12AT7 Shuguang 12AT7 GT-12AY7 Electro-Harmonix 12AY7EH / 6072 Groove Tubes are just re-badged something else. (This message was last edited by Alderandash at 02:58 PM, Apr 25th, 2012)
Peegoo Contributing Member ********** ********** That chicken is WRONG, baby.	Apr 25th, 2012 03:03 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic Exactly. That's why they got a bad rep--because they weren't selling anything different than all the other tube dealers were peddling. All Groove Tubes did was do some voodoo-doodoo torture testing to make sure the tubes were fantastic and springtime fresh (Toyota 106-point inspection, anyone?) and stick a GT label on them, and sell them for more than what they were going for at other dealers. It is a good racket, actually. Marketing is everything.
stratcowboy Contributing Member ******* USA/Taos, NM	Apr 25th, 2012 03:24 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic I would note from the chart above that none of the tubes I've grown to prefer over the last number of years, have corresponding GT product codes--save for the Electro-Harmonix 12AX7-EH. But I never bought the GT version of that anyway. While I still use the Electro-Harmonix 12AX7-EH in some placements, my preference is still the Tung Sol 12AX7. And yes...I think GT is mostly about marketing, not innovating or actual manufacturing.
LudwigVonFender Contributing Member **** Portland, Oregon	Apr 25th, 2012 03:46 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic Most people don't have the technical knowledge to be able to discern the difference in tube design. Or, they don't do any research to find out if what they are buying is a different animal than what they have. I know I don't so, I, like many others lean toward popular opinion to make a decision about tube purchases. I've only changed tubes in two amps so far. A cybertwin head and a Valvetronix AD120. With each tube change, using EH 12ax7's, their was a significant change in tonal quality. Naturally, one set of replaced tubes where the Groove tubes and the others escapes me for the momemt. None of the replaced tubes were all that old and still firing on all cylinders, so to speak. But, the change made a significant difference in each amp. I wouldn't be surprized to find out that I changed tubes for the exact same tubes; the only difference being the label on the tube. 8)
Tony F Long Island When you come to fork in road take it	Apr 25th, 2012 04:06 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic here's some tubes that are the same on above posted cross reference yet very different reviews in link below. I'm just trying to decide on either tungsol 12ax7 or 12AX7EH for my pro jr which is VERY sensitive to preamp tubes. With my VHT combo I can put any tube in and it's always dead quiet where my pro jr has to have the wright tube combo just not to roar at idle. tube ratings
NoMonks USA Stardom, one receipt at a time.	Apr 25th, 2012 06:01 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic I used to think the NOS tube thing was all hoey, until I tried some vintage Brimars in my DRRI. So it's not the GTs are bad per se. It's just the old stuff really is that much better.
LeftyMeister Contributing Member ********** Buckeye Country, USA Motorcycles, Guitars, and Golf	Apr 25th, 2012 07:38 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic GT is the Bose of tubes. They're good, but are they worth the hype and price?
archiestone Contributing Member ******** El Californio	Apr 25th, 2012 08:05 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic I just looked into retubing my SFPR with JJs and was shocked at the price. Truly didn't expect it to be over $100.
reverendrob FDP Data Goon Moderator Hero, hero you have done so well...	Apr 25th, 2012 08:08 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic GTs were good in the 90s when I couldn't reliably find other stuff, especially at 4 pm on a Saturday before a gig. I wouldn't thumb my nose at most of them now- what they are is generally consistent and I can't even count on that in NOS stuff.
champster Contributing Member ***** Oceanside, CA	Apr 25th, 2012 08:23 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic I've had a number of tubes that were real garbage compared to most Groove Tubes tubes I used. I've had many lousy NOS tubes and now just use new production tubes. You just have to use what works for you and your amp.
Rick Plays The Blues Austria May I try that again?	Apr 25th, 2012 10:35 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic I have no idea about current quality of Groove Tubes, but I am one of those who swapped the GTs out of a Fender quite soon. I had GT 12AX7A and GT12AX7WA in my 2001 Fender amp - while the 12AX7A where quite ok but not stellar sounding, the 12AX7WA sucked imho. Today, I use JAN GE 5751, JJ ECC83S and EH 12AX7 in these slots. Also the then installed GT 6L6R where only ok but not good. Today, I use TAD 6L6WGC-STR that I love. Now given the price point and the fact that they are all just relabeled other tubes never made me think of using GTs again.
DrKev Contributing Member * Irishman in Paris Forget Tone - go with Note Choice	Apr 26th, 2012 07:49 AM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic Ridiculous prices and BS marketing. Call me old fashioned, but I won't buy a product if I don't respect the company. I choose not to give them money.
Deacon Blues Contributing Member Stay interesting my friends.-The world's thirstiest man.	Apr 26th, 2012 08:02 AM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic They are part of the Fender family of products these days. I've used a few and some have been better than others. I won't use EH tubes knowingly, and I would guess that the GT tubes that I didn't care for were EH tubes.
K4 Contributing Member ********** ****** Kentucky	Apr 26th, 2012 08:28 AM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic Why is it everytime I try out a Fender amp in a store it has bad tubes? Yes they all say GT FENDER on them. That is somewhat of a lie, I have tested 3 or 4, out of hundreds, in the last 8 years that had tubes that didn't rattle. That is why I wont buy them.
Steve Dallman Contributing Member ***** Merrill, Wisconsin Ain't turned 60, but I got my blinker on	Apr 27th, 2012 08:45 AM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic I replaced more GT branded tubes as a tech than all others combined. Maybe because there were more out there...
Bubbalou Contributing Member ********** USA THE LOW END OF UPPER TEJAS	Apr 27th, 2012 09:52 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic "It's just the old stuff really is that much better." There are some of us that were alive during the 50's, 60's and 70's that used and remember the tubes we now call NOS. Yes, there were some really good ones and a lot of Junk too. My most hated were the Realistic tubes marketed by Radio Shack. Very good at shorting out. Phillips, RCA, Sylvania, GE, Tunsol and Mullard and a few others had some good ones but even those brands had a few failures. It is a shame from the mid 70's until the 90's we lost most (but not all) of the art of making tubes. I understand today's Tungsol's seem pretty good. I am sure there are others but I have been out of the tube loop for a few years now.
Guitar Fool Contributing Member ********** Titusville, Florida Thank a Vet today....	Apr 28th, 2012 04:00 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic I've got tons of old tubes...they can be finicky....what may sound bad in one amp might sound great in another... of course...YMMV

Next 20 Messages

FDP Forum / Miscellaneous and Non-Fender Topics / Why do Groove Tubes have such a bad reputaion?

Reply to this Topic
	Display my email address             Lost your password?
Your Message:
Link Address (URL):
Link Title:

Moderators: Black Hole Gang  Chris Greene  EA6B  Iron Man  reverendrob  

FDP, LLC Privacy Policy: Your real name, username, and email
are held in confidence and not disclosed to any third parties, sold, or
used for anything other than FDP Forum registration unless you specifically authorize disclosure.

---

Copyright © 1999-2013 Fender Discussion Page, LLC   All Rights Reserved