Retrovalve® - vacuum tube replacement devices

Just received these Retrovalves.

Retrovalves are designed by Doug Roberts and introduced by Jet City at NAMM 2011.
Not only Retrovalves, AMT Electronics had also introduced vacuum tube replacement called "12AX7WS (Warmstone)".
All these "solid state tubes" are actually not the new things, Mesa/Boogie used "Feltron" in ther Mark I amplifier during 70's.

The Retrovalves really impress me.
I can get more articulate, tighter, slight less compress feeling
when I plugged these solidstate tubes in my Diezel VH4 and Herbert.
Compare to traditional glass tubes, Retrovalves "Hot Gain" seem to have around 10% more in gain.
The greatest part is these solidstate tubes are very quiet and about 80% less in noise/microphonics.
I still feel my amps sound and play like a tube amp but much better tone now. When I swapped my glass tubes back, the amp sounds really muddy to my ears. Love these Retrovalves.

Retrovalves in my Diezel VH4.

Retrovalves in my Diezel Herbert.

My attenuators collection.

Here is my attenuators collection:
Weber "Mega Dump" - 200w. Designed for 8 ohms, may be used with 4,16 ohm amps.
Dr.Z "Air Brake" - 100w. Users can use it with a 4, 8, or 16 ohm amps.
THD "Hot Plate" -100w and 8 ohm model.


My favourite attenuator is THD "Hot Plate". The simple circuit inside the Hot Plate.
Passive fan is powered by the signal of the amp and only turned on
by high attenuation level with larger wattage tube amp.


"Light bulbs" feature noise reduction which is subtle.

Electrical and Electronic Contact Cleaner - Jackie Spray 60

I have been using this "electrical and electronic Contact Cleaner" for few years.

I always use it to clean up the tube sockets before installing new tubes.
Just simply spraying the contact cleaner on the pins of one of your old tubes or the new tubes,
and working the tube in and out of each socket a few times repeatly.

It can be used for cure the "scratchy pot" problem on the amps, effect pedals and guitars.



Jackie Spray 60 was manufactured by ADIWARNA INDUSTRIES PTE LED in Tampines, Singapore.
It's safe for Ozone and 100% NO CFC.
http://www.adiwarna.com/home.php

Weber BiasRite

I was lucky to get mine during "Free T-Shirt" promotion period before Weber discontinued the BiasRite.
https://taweber.powweb.com/biasrite/br_page.htm


BiasRite was hand-made by order from Ted Weber in U.S.A.
http://www.tedweber.com/


Every tube amp owner should get one of these. You can easily do the biasing job by yourself.
And you can safely measure the bias current or
even plate voltage of your tube amp by using bias probe/tester.

BR-4 (Octal quad tubes tester for EL34, 6L6, 6V6, KT77, KT88, 6550 and etc).


BR-AH with VI option (9-pin tubes bias probe for EL-84 and etc.)
Plug it with your multi-meter.


There are many other great bias probes/testers in the market, such as :
1)TAD Bias Master
2)Bias King
3)Ruby Bias Tester
4)Compu-Bias
5)Aiken Wombat

I highly recommend "Compu-Bias" and "Wombat" from Aiken Amplification.
http://www.compu-bias.com/ and http://www.aikenamps.com/Wombat.htm

Online Tubes Order Experiences

That was my first time to order JJ tubes from Eurotubes. http://www.eurotubes.com/
They provide really great and professional service to the customers all around the world.

My order arrived - JJ ECC83S Hi-Gain Selected Kit (included one Balanced JJ ECC83S for Phase Inverter) and JJ 6L6GC.
Hi-Gain Selected preamp tubes make your amp gain pot become more useful.
Even when you turn gain control all the way up, you won't ever get muddy tone at maximum gain setting.


Besides tubes and invoices, Eurotubes gives every customer of his/her order with
retube instructions note, business card and Eurotubes sticker.

TUBES ARE GOOD. My JJ 6L6GC powertubes was graded as "#63DM".
"#63" is the hotter grade from Eurotubes grade code.
"DM" stands for "Double Mica", JJ Electronic designed a version of 6L6GC
for us that utilizes double mica spacers which help reduce rattle from the tubes.


TubeDepot is another great place to go. http://www.tubedepot.com/
Besides the fast and professional service, they do often offer sales discount on their website.


I like TubeDepot logo design.