Hey there! Thought I’d share some exciting updates to our valve testing capabilities and our cool new test gear we’ve got in-house! Our business has boomed since kicking off back in 2013, so we’ve decided it’s time to upgrade our valve testing equipment. Think of it as a turbo boost for our valve quality assurance here at VTGA!
Prices on everything seem to be going up. We are all suffering the effects of inflation. I thought I would make a comparison of trusted valve ( tube) suppliers here in the UK on one of the most common valves, the popular JJ ECC83S. I looked at prices on the morning of 17th September, 2023. I went through the exercise of buying one piece. In each case, I picked the cheapest option to get a
Valve guitar amplifiers have long captivated musicians with their distinctive warm tones, rich harmonics, and organic response. Central to their magic are the valves, also known as vacuum tubes, which play a crucial role in shaping the amp’s sound. If you’re an owner of a valve guitar amp, you may already be aware of the potential for tonal exploration through valve rolling. In this article, we delve into the exciting world of valve rolling, uncovering
It has happened or will happen to you when you’re the proud owner of a valve guitar amp or Hi-Fi amp. It worked fine yesterday and today it has gone weird. The thing is blowing fuses, making weird noises, or dead as a doornail. We, of course, sell valves and related gear, but we don’t want you to buy valves you don’t need. When disaster strikes, there are things you can do to diagnose if
9 simple ways to diagnose faulty valves in an amp Read More »
If you own an amp and want to keep amp repair costs to a minimum, there are certain things you should avoid doing. Here are ten things to keep in mind: Never wrap a blown fuse with tin foil and continue using the amp. This is a temporary solution that will eventually lead to more serious problems. Don’t gig with your amp for years without changing the valves. This will increase the likelihood of output
Valve Shortage Crisis: Is Your Amp in Danger? You know what’s not cool? The Russia-Ukraine war that just won’t quit. It’s causing all sorts of trouble, including a serious valve shortage. Apparently, the customs duty on valves imported from Russia has skyrocketed from 0% to a whopping 35%. Ouch. Word on the street is that some key folks from the Saratove factory may have hightailed it out of there, and others have been drafted into
Folks ask me about how to make a 100 watt amp less loud. They want the amp “singing” but they need to have the output valves starting to clip and this means LOUD. Usually they are amps with outputs north of 60 watts. Exceptions are Vox AC30’s which are 30 watts. The discussion here is focused on amps that four or more output valves. First thing to keep in mind is that a 100 watt
New valve testers now installed. Click here and see how we are ensuring you get the best quality valves.
Orders will be sent out on 18th April.
We normally ship orders same day for orders received Monday -Friday before 1.45pm and before 10.30am on Saturday.