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Conference napalm::guitar

Title:GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:KDX200::COOPER
Created:Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3280
Total number of notes:61432

2769.0. "Sovtek Tube Amps (Made in Russia)" by TECRUS::ROST (Graduate of More Science H.S.) Fri Jul 16 1993 15:21

    The Sovtek amps, all tubes and Russian made, are here.  Saw two
    yesterday at Centre Music and Wurly's (both in Framingham, MA).  Centre
    said they were $395 for the 50 watt head, master volume is more $$. 
    
    Surprise, they are tiny!  They don't look nearly as primitive as I was
    expecting.  I didn't hear it, so can't comment on the sound.
    
    						Boris Badenov
T.RTitleUserPersonal
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2769.1GOES11::G_HOUSESon of SpamFri Jul 16 1993 15:593
    What features doe they have?  What type output tubes?
    
    Greg
2769.2Germany tooSUBSYS::GODINFri Jul 16 1993 16:113
    There's a German outfit (Hughes - ????) with a hyphenated name that
    makes a whole line of tube stuff that "smells" like Laney/Sound City.
    Paul
2769.3KDX200::COOPERLet The Light Surround You!!Fri Jul 16 1993 22:028
    Paul,
    
    You're thinking of Hughes and Ketner, aka H&K.
    Talk to Boom all about it...  And perhaps you should try
    an ACCESS before you dump your $$ on a Boogie...
    They're HOT!
    
    jc (Who sez there is a topic for H&K in herew someplace...)
2769.4FREEBE::REAUMEACCESS the TONE ZONESun Jul 18 1993 14:508
      
    
      		---> H & K   topic 1793 <---
    
       Tons of info on the ACCESS, ATTAX, and other Hughes and Kettner
    amps. 
    
    							-B{}{}M-
2769.5"What do you mean, RTFM? I WTFM!"SUBSYS::GODINMon Jul 19 1993 09:277
    There seems to be *metric* tons of stuff in 1793. Now if I could only
    figure out what all those cryptic abbreviations mean, I might be able
    to understand what people are actually trying to say. From the looks of
    it these H&K things have seen happening fo rquite a while.
    
    Thanks,
    Paul
2769.6FREEBE::REAUMEACCESS the TONE ZONEMon Jul 19 1993 10:247
    
    
      WTF do you mean my abbrv? Any MRP can relate to a DSP effex enhanced
    MIDI preamp into a VS-250 power amp. Ask Coop the RMoR! 
    
    							-B.-  (abbreviated)
    
2769.7WTF do you mean WTF do you mean my abbrv?SUBSYS::GODINMon Jul 19 1993 13:295
    Welp, jc was kind enough to translate GTS for me, but I'm just not an
    MRP (yet) so a lot of this SHIT (Stuff Hidden In Technicalities) still
    eludes my SICK (Syntactical In-Context Knowledgebase).
    
    PG
2769.8WGaS?NAVY5::SDANDREAHillary, Jennifer, now us...Mon Jul 19 1993 13:492
    re: -1
    
2769.9I do.SUBSYS::GODINMy other preamp is a Tri-Axis.Fri Jul 23 1993 15:481
    
2769.10MRP's UNITE!!KDX200::COOPERFri Jul 23 1993 16:581
    Ditto
2769.11Russian Army-issued fuzz-box.MILKWY::JACQUESVintage taste, reissue budgetFri Jul 23 1993 23:247
    McDuff's music had a Sovtek distortion pedal in the store last week.
    The thing was fugly with the biggest mechanical footswitch I've ever 
    seen. It was also huge, about 6 times the size of a Boss stomp box.
    
    I doubt I'll be trading in my Fender amps for Sovteks any time soon.
    
    Mark
2769.12How are Sovtek tubes ?SUBSYS::GODINMy other preamp is a Tri-Axis.Tue Aug 03 1993 08:056
    Has anyone out there done any comparisons of Sovtek tubes against any
    other ones ?
    
    I think Mesa started shipping some of their stuff w/Sovtek power tubes.
    
    Paul 
2769.13I've used them for years! They're the only tubes I buy!FRSBEE::ABATELLIYou&#039;re not from around here are you?Tue Aug 03 1993 09:2514
    I've been using Sovtek's for years and find them to be very smooth
    in comparison to standard Mesa tubes or GT's. They didn't seem to last
    long in my Mesa Mk 2c head (roughly 6 months), but then I had a very
    busy band schedule so maybe 6 months was actually good. I have two
    rigs that I use, an older Peavey MX amp (ss preamp and tube pwr amp)
    that has had Sovteks in it since 1990 and haven't been changed yet! The
    tubes have been VERY reliable. My Boogie 2c head has Sovtek preamp and
    pwr amp tubes in it sounds great to me.
    
    My 2�.
    
    
    Rock on,
    	    Fred
2769.14Big MuffskiTECRUS::ROSTGot a revved-up teenage headThu Aug 19 1993 11:0310
    I heard a Sovtek Big Muff-Pi in action last night.  It looks sort of
    like the E-H original, but bigger (is you can believe that).  It now
    has modern conveniences like a no-pop switch, LED "on" indicator and a
    battery compartment door.  The sound is similar to the original, but
    quieter...no bacon sizzling noises in between notes.  If you're looking
    for that Robert Fripp liquid sustain, here you go.  Price is in the $40
    range, so it's not even very expensive...nice touch when the E-H pedals
    are going for $150 and up used!
    
    								Brian
2769.15GOES11::G_HOUSEI think I am, therefore...?Thu Aug 19 1993 12:513
    Sounds kinda cool, where can you get 'em?
    
    gh
2769.16JUPITR::DERRICOJBrian Rost Library_Card holderFri Aug 20 1993 22:2210
   The Big Muffski is sold through New Sensor Corp.



FYI


J/


2769.17DABEAN::REAUMEACCESS the TONE ZONESat Aug 21 1993 11:1417
    
    
       It all adds up:
    
    		Mike Mathews   - Electro-Harmonix - makers of the original
    						  - Big Muff 
    
    		Mike Mathews   - New Sensor Corp  - importer of Sovtek
    					    	  - tubes and amps
    
    	  ..maybe we'll see more old E-H stuff resurface with a 
       Made in Russia tag on it. With the current retro-trend it
       probably will sell (and it's the "Milwaukee's Best" of guitar
       gear. 
    							-B{}{}M-
    
    						
2769.18For What It's WorthPOBOX::PATLAElvis sells DECpc&#039;s at DEC!Sun Aug 22 1993 10:411
    My Champ 25 SE came with SOVTEK tubes in it...
2769.19Get Sovvy!JUPITR::DERRICOJBrian Rost Library_Card holderSun Aug 22 1993 22:088
   I have this feeling that Fender is now switching to Sovteks. I bought a 
'59 Bassman 4x10 reissue, last year. The unit came with the typical Japenese 
6L6's. The store that I bought it from has a new reissue and it has the Sovtek 
5881/6L6's in them. That's ok with me!


/J
2769.20They sound GREAT... IMHOEARRTH::ABATELLIYou&#039;re not from around here are U?Mon Aug 23 1993 07:5231
    Just my 2�...
    
    With the tube vendors falling at such a quick rate, it's getting harder
    and harder to find any good and reliable tubes. China has all the tubes 
    you could want, but their reliability has always been questionable. Russia 
    has been producing tubes for years and the Sovtek 5881 is a heavy duty
    (military grade) 6L6 tube. Sovtek also makes a "standard duty" tube
    so be careful what you buy. The replacement 5881's do not have a large
    base, so your standard tube clips won't work since the clips would
    clamp on the glass. The "standard" Sovtek's have a larger base so your
    clip can be used. I have found however that the standard Sovtek's do
    not last quite as long as the 5881's. The 5881's are alot smoother 
    sounding than almost anything I've used including Chinese Mesa's, PV's
    Groove Tubes's. I think the "worst" sounding tubes I've ever had were
    GT's...   and to think I spent all that money on them too...  what a
    waste. Ofcourse that's JMO.
    
    Right now I have my PV-MX combo and my Boogie head loaded with 100%
    5881's and I'm very happy with my tone and the performance of these
    tubes. At $20.00 each, I needed to make a "smart" choice since
    retubing can be a MAJOR expense ($160.00 for both amps not including
    preamp tubes).
    
    I feel I made the right choice...  especially since many amp
    manufacturers are now using them as standard equipment.
    
    	Who knew?
    
    		Rock on,
    			Fred (who's been using 5881's for years)
   
2769.21Anyone use one?SMURF::CORCORANFri Nov 05 1993 10:032
    Anyone have one of these tube amps? If so, do they come with a
    schematic?
2769.22LEDS::ORSIGotInAt2WithA10+WokeUpAt10WithA2Fri Nov 05 1993 10:5619
>    Anyone have one of these tube amps? If so, do they come with a
>    schematic?

     As far as I know they do, and I've seen one. The 50W job is a dead-nuts
     copy of the '59 Fender Bassman. I didn't demo it though. I saw it at a
     vintage shop in Boston. The owner told me he bought for  sh!#$ 'n grins.
     I asked him what it sounded like and he said "it sucks". 'Course, you
     gotta consider that the guy is surrounded by stuff like '50's early '60's
     tweed/white/brown Fender Bassmans, Pros, Deluxes, Marshalls, a '54 Strat,
     various '50's Teles, '50's Les Pauls, and '60's Ricks, etc. He strictly
     plays a 50's Tele through a '50's Tweed Deluxe or Tweed Twin in a local
     Blues band called Evil Gal. I've heard him play, the guy smokes.
     	Anyway, if you're in Boston, and want to check out the Sovtek
     head, the place is called Baystate Vintage Guitars, 295 Huntington
     Ave., Rm 304, directly across the street from Northeastern University,
     above the conveniently located liquor store.
     
     Neal

2769.23Mig-50; very coolCOOKIE::S_JENSENWed Feb 15 1995 13:2221
    Actually demo'd one of these earlier this week (Koiter Piano has one
    for those in C/S area).  The one I played was a MIG-50.  50-w, with
    Master Volume, Volume, Bass, Mid, Treble, Presence. (Actually, I'm not
    all that sure it has Mid?? -- but I seem to remember it).  As mentioned
    previously, they are small, small....

    I thought it sounded great.  I didn't think there was a bad sound in
    it, until I heard the music store guy dink on it :).  But, seriously it
    is incredibly easy to get a great sound.  No footswitching stuff here,
    though.  Although, I think with an A/B box and by using both the Hi
    sensitivity and Lo sensitivity inputs, you could swing from pretty
    clean/blues to quite distorted.  The distortion sounds are first rate
    -- no mud and you can hear all the notes, so the fidelity is good
    (except when the above mentioned guy turned the bass all the way up).
    Nice ability to clean the tone up using a 3/4 volume on the guitar ala
    marshall too

    I liked it quite a bit.  I'd recommend trying one of these if you're
    looking for a simple easy to use rock/blues amp.

    steve
2769.24MIG 100NOTAPC::HARPERWed Mar 15 1995 09:398
    I tried the MIG 100 on the way home last night at Acton Music.  I was
    pleased with the warm tube sound and crunchability of this amp.  It
    reminded me of my friends V4 Ampeg.  I priced the head and 4 12" cab
    seperatly and together as mail order has the 100W heads for $349 +$15
    shipping and the store couldn't come near this price.  The store wanted 
    $399 for the speaker cab and $759 for the package.  
    
    Mark
2769.25POWDML::BUCKLEYWHAT a DUMP!Wed Mar 15 1995 09:498
    I tried this amp out recently while bothering the folks at Acton Muzak.
    
    Impressions?  It was *ok* -- your basic loud, crunchy tube amp.  I
    thought the construction was rather shoddy (read: KH), and didn't
    think it would be very road worthy.  Great for some kid looking for
    the basic british sound, but not much good for anything else.
    
    (FYI, panel controls are   bass, mid, treb, pres, gain, master)