The Final Part Of Our Feature On Tone Sees Adrian Emsley Explaining How To Choose New Valves For Your Amp.
If your amp is being gigged hard, it’s likely you’ll need to change your power valves every two years or so. But while there are a plethora of replacement valve brands on the market, there aren’t actually that many factories that still make valves any more. While we continue to love the way they sound in guitar gear, valves have vanished from nearly all other types of consumer electronics, meaning demand for their manufacture is only a fraction of what it was in the 1950s.
“There are a couple of factories in China, there’s the JJ factory in the Czech Republic, there’s the Reflector factory in Russia… and I think there’s still some stuff being made in the US for the military. But that is pretty much it,” Adrian explains. “That’s all that’s actually being made, so most of the umbrella brands you see on the market are just ‘matchers’ who will select tubes for [low] microphony, grade them and then brand them. And they will also match output tubes together – to varying degrees of effectiveness, to be honest.”
Adrian adds that, while all the remaining factories produce decent valves, some are particularly good at making one type of valve in particular.
この記事は Guitarist の March 2019 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Guitarist の March 2019 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
QUICK CHANGE
As Gibson finally adds some Quick Connect pickups to its Pickup Shop line-up, Dave Burrluck revisits this simple no-solder method to mod your Modern guitar
Return Of The Rack
A revered rackmount digital delay makes a welcome comeback in pedal form.
Pure Filth
This all-analogue preamp pedal based on Blues Saraceno's amp is a flexible powerhouse with a variety of roles.
Reptile Royalty
From Queen to King - there's another Electro-Harmonix royal vying for the crown of octave distortion
Tradition Revisited
Line 6 refreshes its Helix-based modelling amp range by doubling the number of available amp voicings - and more
Ramble On
Furch's travel guitar folds down so you can transport it in its own custom backpack and, the company claims, it returns to pitch when you reassemble it. Innovation or gimmick?
Redrawing The 'Bird
A fascinating reimagining of one of Gibson's more out-there designs, the Gravitas sticks with vintage vibe and mojo. Oh, and that sound...
1965 Fender Jazz Bass
\"They made them later on, but it's not something I've ever seen this early.
Boss Cube Street II
Regular readers will know that the last time I took the Boss Cube Street II out, I was in rehearsal for a debut gig in London.
STILL CRAZY
One of the most creative yet reliably great-sounding effects makers out there, Crazy Tube Circuits grew out of a fetish for old valve amps. We meet founder Christos Ntaifotis to find out more