For those of you who own tube amps (or for the scary audiophiles who have tube-based home audio gear), I have a good story to share.

I decided to re-tube my Fender Vibrolux a month ago. Well, actually it decided to be re-tubed by blowing up during a gig, but it was loooong overdue. So I went to a local shop to check prices, and they wanted $150 for the set, which was crazy, and I told them so. They tried the "these are american tubes, you don't want chinese or russian ones, they're crap" tactic, as though I didn't know that the ones they're selling are re-branded russian Sovteks with Groove Tubes stamped on them. I honestly don't think he knew until I told him... it's his fucking JOB to know that shit, not mine. "Nobody in america makes tubes, dude."

So I went to thetubestore.com and checked prices. I got better tubes for $80 with tax and shipping... Electro Harmonix 12AX7's, upscale sovtek 6L6's, and a JJ Tesla AT7 equivalent. Then, the first time I busted the amp out (monday night) was to play a gig, and something was wrong. The sound was quiet, distorted, farty. I got through the show, but wasn't happy. After some testing with another amp, turns out the new AT7 driving the reverb circuit was bad.

I wrote the tube store to see if they agreed with my diagnosis, and they wrote back to tell me I was correct, and that a free replacement will be sent. This is awesome - I didn't even ask for it. The site is VERY user friendly, and behind the scenes there appear to be extremely nice folks. I don't grudge them for "taking" business from locals, when the locals have shitty service and exorbitant margins. Tubestore is working for the business, and the local shop isn't, unfortunately.

Strongly Recommended.

Sorry for the unpaid ad, but there was a time when I didn't know about them, and I wish someone had told me then. If you need tubes, give the site a gander. And if you have a tube amp (coughHAQcough), have been playing through it for a few years, and have never changed the tubes, it's time.