Dave, your own guitar player runs a Fender Twin that is loaded with vacuum tubes. I've seen it and played with the innerds and believe at least a few are from Russia.

China, Russia, and old Iron Curtain countries like the Slovak Republic are the main producers for NEW tubes these days. There is a lot of old stock from USA, England, Germany, etc. running around but prices on those tubes have been going way up as that supply is finite and dwindling.

There are good digital modelers out there that are solid state, but they are mostly copying the old vacuum tube amps. They get close, but besides just the tone there is a feedback and feel a good tube amp gives the guitar player that just isn't being captured quite right in those models...or at least the ones i have tried. So, sound wise for things like praise bands where the soundboard is managing most of the sounds and levels, or where you just want to haul the least equipment possible, or when doing recordings...modelers are great.

It is kinda generational, too. i see more young players using digital equipment and the OGs using "name-your-favorite-tube-amp". That could be a cost thing as solid state is cheaper to make, or it could be a familiarity thing where the OGs were raised with vacuum tube amps.

Vacuum Tube hi-fi and radio equipment is it's own topic and each has a very dedicated following too, so it isn't just guitar amps.

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If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph: THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD WAS MUSIC - KV


Edited: 04/23/2022 at 06:12 AM by Bamboo