Ruby tubes reliability report

[frischmann]

Hi Guys,
I just had a set of Ruby tubes GLGGCMSTR go bad on me. They have about 10 hours on them. This is the second time I've had a set of Ruby's go bad. Not a big deal but I've only used them twice.

Anybody else have similar issues or is it just me?

[ayan]

Hi Guys,
I just had a set of Ruby tubes GLGGCMSTR go bad on me. They have about 10 hours on them. This is the second time I've had a set of Ruby's go bad. Not a big deal but I've only used them twice.

Anybody else have similar issues or is it just me?

I have heard several reports similar to yours. I think the MSTR are the cheapest tubes Magic Parts sells, no? They always honor their warranty but you may want to consider "upgrading" to something better. I think most everyone will agree that the Winged C's are good, but they are expensive. Some folks do not like JJs, I do and use them successfully in my amps. Never had a failure with either type in my amps, which see a lot of abuse.

Cheers,

Gil

[glasman]

That is a bummer. I was liking the tone of the Ruby's. Guess it is back to C's or TungSol (which I had one die in a very bad way). Only issues I have had with C's is mechanical vibration/microphonics in a few tubes.

Not a fan of the JJ's. Sorry Gil. . But they are reliable and cheap.

Gary

[dogears]

I preferred the Tung Sol short bottle 6L6GC to the Ruby's in Gary's new amp... Better mid articulation and tighter bottom.

[frischmann]

I got them becaue I read a really good review somewhere and was ordering a bassman opt.

As I was going to start experimenting, I thought it would be better to do it on these than the NOS RCA's, just in case....

I'm past 6 months even though these these have less than ten hours on them.

They sound pretty good...too bad.

You should have seen the flaming filament flying down to the getters....what a sight...

No more Ruby for me...

[frischmann]

Has anyone tried the short bottle TAD's or Shuguangs which I think are the same?

[BobW]

FWIW, I have a pair of MSTRs in a Bassman ODS conversion for over a year now, (~30 hrs.) no issues. I bought them awhile ago, when they were first available from Magic Parts.

[talbany]

I like the SB Tad's though some people here say they have had a few failures.. I have roughly 300 amps out there now with them in it and have had not 1 complaint about reliability or performance and I get them OEM..I did an A/B with the Tung Sol 6L's like Scott recommended (Although it was not an Overdrive amp our Fralin Model) and actually liked them a little better.. Main reason a bit more headroom and liked the way they broke up a bit smoother to my ears..I guess being the short bottles..Keep in mind the test was done with a cathode biased amp with only 1 pair of TS's so they might have been a not so good sounding set although they were well matched..Some people here also say the TAD's are too bright.. I disagree...JJ's a rugged tough tube but don't care much for the tone and feel..Stiff and Sterile..



Tony VVT

[Structo]

I had a tall bottle TAD 6L6GC (STR?) that redplated after only about 8 hours run time.
That kind of spooked me. When I had mentioned it a long time ago someone else mentioned they had the same thing happen.

I know it's probably not fair to judge a manufacturer on one failure but it has made me gun shy of the TAD tubes.
If I hadn't had the amp situated where I could see the tubes, I'm not sure what damage would have been done had I not seen the plate glowing cherry red.

I find the Winged =C= 6L6GC a good sounding 6L6.

A few weeks back a friend from a guitar forum gave me a whole box of Baldwin brand tubes.
Lots of 12ax7's that look like Raytheon's.

The kicker was a pair of 6L6GC tubes that as far as I can tell are RCA blackplates. The D'Lite has never sounded better.
Now if I can just get rid of the hash, I will be a happy man.

[talbany]

I had a tall bottle TAD 6L6GC (STR?) that redplated after only about 8 hours run time.
That kind of spooked me. When I had mentioned it a long time ago someone else mentioned they had the same thing happen.

Tall bottles not the same... Not even close!!

Best sounding NOS tube for a D-Style amp IMO. Sylvania/Phillips 6LGC or STR ..BIG round bottom... Great in a 100 watter...Bring on the critics!!!





Tony VVT

[jelle]

That's what I use in one of my personal amps.

But JJ's are great too. And they put out a lot of power. I do not find them stiff at all in my amps.

Winged C is another very cool brand.

[butwhatif]

I like Tung Sol 5881s

[Baxtercat]

I've always liked the Sylvania/Phillips STR415 tubes too [and thank you for this excuse to post another pic. of 'stuff'!]


[too bad 2 or 3 of the 8 oldies I own are a little noisy; a mechanical rattle]

[collinsamps]

Dejavue..........I just had a new Ruby 5U4's pins go loose and wobbly after one plug in and cause random chaos and waste about 25 minutes of my life. I'm done with them. Why can't JJ make a 5U4 already.

[collinsamps]

I had a tall bottle TAD 6L6GC (STR?) that redplated after only about 8 hours run time.
That kind of spooked me. When I had mentioned it a long time ago someone else mentioned they had the same thing happen.

Tall bottles not the same... Not even close!!

Best sounding NOS tube for a D-Style amp IMO. Sylvania/Phillips 6LGC or STR ..BIG round bottom... Great in a 100 watter...Bring on the critics!!!

Tony VVT

Concur, put some in a properly set up 6G6 / 6G6B bassman and it's rockabilly heaven.