ARS Tubes?

[McSoappy]

Hey all,

I've been recently thinking about getting some backup tubes for my Matchless Independence. I do want to get the same brand of tubes that it originally came with. The tubes it has are "ARS" EL34's. I've searched on the net but can't really find any company information or where to buy a pair of em'. Anyone know where I can look?

Thanks!:cool:

[grinder965]

I recently saw a set of old Tesla EL34's that were marked with an ARS logo. Think is was on eBay....may want to check out completed auctions for "Tesla EL34". The old Teslas are a great tube but are getting hard to find and are expensive.

[Robal]

Hey all,

I've been recently thinking about getting some backup tubes for my Matchless Independence. I do want to get the same brand of tubes that it originally came with. The tubes it has are "ARS" EL34's. I've searched on the net but can't really find any company information or where to buy a pair of em'. Anyone know where I can look?

Thanks!:cool:

ARS is a wholesaler that rebrands tubes, electrolytic caps, and other parts. Here's their contact info:
ARS Electronics

7110 De Celis Place
Van Nuys, CA 91409
Toll-Free: 800-422-4250
Phone: 818-997-6200
Fax: 818 997-6158

[Blue Strat]

....and like most "rebranders", they'll buy whatever is cheapest at the time, rebrand it, and sell it. Therefore, they could be made by anyone. If they're recent tubes, they're most likely Chinese, Russian, Czech, Yugoslavian, etc.

You don't need to buy the same brand.

[deeval]

....and like most "rebranders", they'll buy whatever is cheapest at the time, rebrand it, and sell it. Therefore, they could be made by anyone. If they're recent tubes, they're most likely Chinese, Russian, Czech, Yugoslavian, etc.

You don't need to buy the same brand.

You are correct about their sales!
I met them at the Amp show in May and they sell alot of China stuff and rebrand it with intials ARS
Plus they aren,t to much into customer service either!

[Blue Strat]

Plus they aren,t to much into customer service either!

Most of the "big guys" aren't. You'll never get a person on the phone who knows anything about amps or who can make a recommendation.

[Tallhorses]

....and like most "rebranders", they'll buy whatever is cheapest at the time, rebrand it, and sell it. Therefore, they could be made by anyone. If they're recent tubes, they're most likely Chinese, Russian, Czech, Yugoslavian, etc.

You don't need to buy the same brand.

McSoappy - Did you buy the amp new? Very intersting that Matchless would buy cheap rebranded tubes? I wonder if the ARS EL34's have some redeeming quality? Do amp builders like Matchless test these tubes, listen to them in their products and like them?

I've always wondered why Bad Cat ship amps with Ruby tubes...again rebranded...

[deeval]

When I purchased my Bad Cat Trem,it came with EI,s

[Tallhorses]

When I purchased my Bad Cat Trem,it came with EI,s

How recently? Every tube EI?

[McSoappy]

McSoappy - Did you buy the amp new? Very intersting that Matchless would buy cheap rebranded tubes? I wonder if the ARS EL34's have some redeeming quality? Do amp builders like Matchless test these tubes, listen to them in their products and like them?

I've always wondered why Bad Cat ship amps with Ruby tubes...again rebranded...

Yeah, I bought my Matchless Independence new.......I kinda surprises me, but I won't know about any redeeming quality until I buy a set of JJ's this weekend and listen to the difference in the two. I'll post here what I discover.

[McSoappy]

When I purchased my Bad Cat Trem,it came with EI,s

EI's?

[Blue Strat]

McSoappy - Did you buy the amp new? Very intersting that Matchless would buy cheap rebranded tubes? I wonder if the ARS EL34's have some redeeming quality? Do amp builders like Matchless test these tubes, listen to them in their products and like them?

I've always wondered why Bad Cat ship amps with Ruby tubes...again rebranded...

The 2 qualifications for tubes used by amp builders are:
1) Cheap
2) Reliable enough to outlast the warranty

I'm sure they sound test them too just to be sure that their amps don't sound crappy with the tubes they pick.

[McSoappy]

The 2 qualifications for tubes used by amp builders are:
1) Cheap
2) Reliable enough to outlast the warranty

I'm sure they sound test them too just to be sure that their amps don't sound crappy with the tubes they pick.

I would tend to agree, I bet after I get my JJ's this weekend, they'll make a huge amount of difference, or at least I hope they do. The amp sounds amazing as is, but I'm guessing after a good set of matched quality tubes it'll be that much more rich and thick sounding.

[Blue Strat]

I would tend to agree, I bet after I get my JJ's this weekend, they'll make a huge amount of difference, or at least I hope they do. The amp sounds amazing as is, but I'm guessing after a good set of matched quality tubes it'll be that much more rich and thick sounding.

Maybe, unless the original tubes were relabeled JJs which is completely possible.

[McSoappy]

Maybe, unless the original tubes were relabeled JJs which is completely possible.

That's one thing I've always seen about tubes..........they can be labeled "insert here", but can be completely different brands. Which makes me ask: How do you know what your getting?:NUTS

[Swarty]

ARS... You don't hear much about them anymore, but they were one of the first companies to cater to the guitar amp market. 15 years ago or so when the military sold off their tube stocks they were selling those JAN Philips 6L6WBGs for $7 and JAN GE 6550s for $14! I still have the old catalogs (pretty dry compared to Angela's wacky catalogs).

[Blue Strat]

That's one thing I've always seen about tubes..........they can be labeled "insert here", but can be completely different brands. Which makes me ask: How do you know what your getting?:NUTS

You don't know what you're getting unless you can see, and identify what's inside the glass. Or you can buy from a dealer, like me, who clearly states who made the tubes they're selling.

[McSoappy]

You don't know what you're getting unless you can see, and identify what's inside the glass. Or you can buy from a dealer, like me, who clearly states who made the tubes they're selling.

PM sent.

[deeval]

How recently? Every tube EI?


My Mistake,they are GT,s #6

[Blue Strat]

My Mistake,they are GT,s #6

Which still tells us virtually nothing. Is the "s" a plural or the suffix after the tube number? The suffix is what identifies JJs from Sovteks from Svetlanas, etc, etc. Most of what Groove Tubes sells are rebranded tubes made by the aforementioned sources.

[deeval]

Which still tells us virtually nothing. Is the "s" a plural or the suffix after the tube number? The suffix is what identifies JJs from Sovteks from Svetlanas, etc, etc. Most of what Groove Tubes sells are rebranded tubes made by the aforementioned sources.


:confused: The tubes are marked Groove Tube #6 It has Four EL-84,s in the amp

[Blue Strat]

:confused: The tubes are marked Groove Tube #6 It has Four EL-84,s in the amp

There's nothing after the 4 in EL84? Could be EIs, JJs, Sovteks.....

[brad347]

you learn to identify them by visual inspection of the innards. There are many, many threads on this very board about that subject. We really like to ID various brands/vintages of 12AX7s round here :D

[katuna]

I think they are relabled JJs. Mine has them as well. You can see "JJ" somewhere on them.

[Blue Strat]

The Groove Tubes labeling system includes a suffix letter, or letters, after the part number. Example: EL84S would be Slovakian (JJ), EL84R would be Russian (Sovtek), etc.