Conference napalm::guitar

    I'm sure someone could post the pointer to the Stewart-MacDonald
    catalog number, or the one for CF Martin parts, etc... I have 'em home.
    
    I read somewhere, in last year, that we would soon be seeing all-tube
    amps coming from that part of the world (don't know quite what to call
    it).  Any word on that?
    \Gary

    There is a brand called SOVTEK which I have seen reported being present
    in some Western trade shows.
    
    I have also seen their name on an add in a US magazine which was
    promoting tubes from different manufacturers.
    
    (The story was that they are making the best 6L6 that there is, the
    reason being that the Russians were still using (on purpose) tubes in
    some of their military design.
    
    The reason why the Russians are still using tubes is that supposedly
    they would  not be wipped out by the magnetic shock of a nearby nuclear
    blast)
    
    I have not yet located SOVTEK in Moscow, but I have a couple of friends
    trying to find them.
    
    Regards
    
    Jean-Paul
    
    
    They have been at a couple of shows

    I don't remember Stewart-MacDonald's having the soundhole rings
    (there's a proper name for them, but I can't remember what it is right
    now), but I'm pretty sure that they are available from Luthier's
    Mercantile.  I'd check with them first.
    
    Greg

    I recall recently seeing a soviet 300 watt head for sale I think at
    American Guitar Center in Maryland. I think it was a Sovtek. That ought
    to make a dandy practice amp!

    I've already seen ads in the U.S. for Russtones.  They show one model,
    sort of an offset body/pointy headstock/heavy metal kind of thing but
    the ad mentions several models are available.  No details on price; I
    think the distributor is based out of Cambridge MA.  I can publish the
    address if anyone's interested.
    
    /rick

    Isn't the soundhole ring called a "rosette"?  
    
    						Merle

    I have SOVTEK 5881's in my KH M3. They sound great!

    Stewart-MacDonald's and Luthier's Mercantile both sell rosettes.
    Luthier's Mercantile prices actually seem to run a little cheaper
    (we're talking between $10 to $20 in either case), by my LM catalog is
    somewhat older, so they could be about the same. LM has a better
    selection, though. Both these catalogues are a wealth of other
    information and materials that anyone making guitars would want to know
    about. The 800 number probably doesn't work from Russia?
    
    	Stewart-MacDonald's Guitar Shop Supply
    	21 N. Shafer St., Box 900
    	Athens, Ohio	45701-0900
    	(800) 848-2273
    
    	The Luthier's Mercantile
    	P.O. Box 774
    	412 Moore Lane
    	Healdsburg, CA 	95448-0774
    	(707) 433-1823
    
    - Ram

    I've seen SOVTEK tubes advertised in "Nuts 'n' Volts" which is an 
    electronics classified advertising magazine out of California.
    From what I've read and heard, the SOVTEK tubes are of excellent
    quality, with only one exception, which are their 811A tubes. Their
    filaments are a bit "saggy", and may short out to the grid in the
    case of when the tubes are mounted horizontally, instead of vertically.
    
    Their 6L6's, 5881's and the like are supposedly the best that money can
    buy.

    Ah, found that Russtone note.
    
    Found in these week's MA WantAds, 2 Russtones for sale.  1 Orbiter and
    one Shark.  Both mahogany w/maple neck, single coil + dual hummers, Floyd.
    $500 and $600.
    
    /rick