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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
 Posted - 11/26/2008 : 20:10:56
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Music gear maker Groove Tubes is closing after nearly 30 years
The San Fernando manufacturer, which was sold to industry giant Fender Musical Instrument Corp. in June, is closing its inventory sale Saturday.
In August, Groove Tube operations moved into Fender facilities in Ontario, Calif., and Scottsdale, Ariz., while production moved to a factory in Mexico. Citing a nondisclosure agreement, Pittman would only say that Groove Tubes sold for 10 times its annual earnings.
A former Guitar Center store manager, the 60-year-old Pittman started Groove Tubes in 1979.
"Groove Tubes built up a name as the only U.S. manufacturer-distributor of good quality tubes," Ringwald said. "Nobody else could really come in and build their own facility and compete with that."
But of Groove Tube's roughly 35 employees, very few were given spots at Fender, leaving others, including sales manager Benson and Kathi Kostick, without jobs.
"It was time for Aspen to move on, but it's just hard for the people who worked here for years," said Kostick, office manager for three years. "So many companies are laying off people now."
A Fender spokesman declined to comment.
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 11/26/2008 : 20:15:02
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Poop.... |
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verivorax
Platinum Member
Canada
1185 Posts |
Posted - 11/26/2008 : 20:42:42
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I find it too bad that Fender is gobbling up lots of smaller companies and homogenizing them into a 10-digit model number.. (Jackson, Guild, Gretsch, now Groove) The Mexican production is also a shame. EVH amps are the first travesty, the guitar of the same name is next.
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pawnshop_trash
Gold Member
USA
603 Posts |
Posted - 11/26/2008 : 22:52:53
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| that really sucks... Aspen Pittman and Groove Tubes were one of a kind. and how can you not find spots for just 35 people (although not wanting to relocate might be part of it)? |
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zerksies
Double Platinum Member
USA
3406 Posts |
Posted - 11/27/2008 : 00:01:19
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| and i really liked groove tubes |
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stahlhart
Platinum Member
1318 Posts |
Posted - 11/28/2008 : 07:42:35
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I think that he just lost his niche in the market. Look at how many places you can get tubes now. Back when he started, he was it -- if you didn't go to him, you got your tubes off the shelf at the same stores that sold them to local repair shops. I think that he was the first guy that graded tubes and did matched sets. At least it was the first I had heard of it.
I talked to him on the phone once, back in the early '80s. I can't remember now if the tubes were for me or for one of the amps I was working on for someone else. He gave me the whole run-through on how to use a signal generator and a scope to set the bias (crossover point) for the outputs. I didn't know it at the time; I just called there and this guy answered, and towards the end of the call he told me his name, just "Aspen", and I didn't really think anything of it. Then a while later I was reading an gear article in, I think, Guitar Player, and it mentioned Groove Tubes and Aspen Pittman, and I connected the dots and realized that I had been on the phone with the owner.  Back then I guess the company was so small that the chances were good that you'd get him on the phone if you called.
I've got an old copy of his reference book from back then still.
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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 11/28/2008 : 08:46:38
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So what kind of tubes do you guys like the best in your amps.. GrooveTubes, Tungsol, JJs, Sovteks, etc? Have any of you experimented with different types.
I know so little about them.. 6V6s modern American power, EL84s for higher midrange/treble British sound, I'm not sure about preamp tubes besides a 12AX7 standard. My tube amps are all self-calibrating or whatever the word is. Mesa Boogie has a cool tube reference guide. Is it a decent all-purpose reference of different tubes or Mesa specific?
Where can I learn more?
TIA ~DF |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 11/28/2008 : 09:46:56
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Sad to hear this...Aspen sounds like a decent sort of person to spend the time to talk you through your problem stahlhart.. not many CEO's would answer the phone like that.....Fender and Gibson seems to be gobbling up a lot of smaller companies these days,before you know it the quality will have returned to 70's levels.....
as for tubes i've used EL 34's and 84's and 12ax7's.... Groove Tubes,EH,JJ's,T.A.D. and Sovtek(which i think are Russian EH's)..the sovtek lasted the longest in the Musicman which has plate voltages of 725v some of the highest in any guitar amp...i didn't really get a chance to rate the JJ EL34'S n but one of them was dead out of the box and the amp was starting to go south around that time,the JJ EL84 in the selmer is a great sounding valve.......the best sounding for the musicman were the EH ones,the musicman takes a 6ca7 which is a EL34 on steroids but i didn't really care for the sound the regular 34's sounded better to me....the T.A.D. EL84's and adapters in the marshall to scale the power sound very sweet and have led to other muso's offering to buy the amp off me on gigs....ain't happening friend...
off topic .... i might of found the prob in the musicman...one of the wires off the power tranny seems to have come off where it was soldered to the driver board,i tried to figure it out the other day again and ended blowing up a cap on the driver board.... but i managed to find an internal pic on the musicman amp forum and saw where it's supposed to go....oh the joys of owning vintage valve amps... ....keep your fingers crossed....
P.S i just remembered i have some original Mullards in an old Akai reel to reel 12au7's i think,but i'm leaving them there as i might decide to get some tape in the future and experiment with old skool recording.... |
Edited by - FRANZONI on 11/28/2008 09:57:57 |
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verivorax
Platinum Member
Canada
1185 Posts |
Posted - 11/28/2008 : 13:55:08
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The Mesa guide is great, but it really only refers to their sets of tubes - which all fall within a prescribed bias range. I'm told (by boogie and by people who've tried it) that you can bias an amp for a set of boogie tubes, and then not need to bias again (until it drifts) as long as you use the Mesa tubes.. but their colour system doesn't match Groove's at all - it's just an indicator of pairing apparently.
I also hear of ppl putting non-Mesa power tubes in their mesa, but I'm not sure if/how they changed the bias (or just used other branded tubes which measure the same as boogies).
My boogie takes EL84s, and they don't sell those in matched pairs. I've been meaning to re-tube that for a while now..... too bad I have schoolwork. |
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zerksies
Double Platinum Member
USA
3406 Posts |
Posted - 11/28/2008 : 23:14:02
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| you can put pretty much any power tube in an amp and it will work.But if it is not. Biased you can burn out a tube or something else. but in all it is better to bias and amp. and the tubes that i am usings are Tungol 12ax7's an jj 12at7 pretty sweet sound for a fender twin reverb. Got a very bright twangy sound to it |
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Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2008 : 02:02:11
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Hi DeFrag & Guys
I find this such a sad story,
but indicative of the times...
I guess I better save up for a copy of the Tube/Amp ref. Guide.
Regards Dr. Bob |
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the-destructor
Silver Member
USA
334 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2008 : 03:11:08
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<RANT MODE></RANT MODE>
No comment.
 T-D |
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stahlhart
Platinum Member
1318 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2008 : 03:51:41
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quote:
Originally posted by Dr. Bob
I guess I better save up for a copy of the Tube/Amp ref. Guide.
Would you like a scan of mine, or are you looking for a more recent revision?
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2008 : 05:35:26
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quote:
Originally posted by stahlhart
quote:
Originally posted by Dr. Bob
I guess I better save up for a copy of the Tube/Amp ref. Guide.
Would you like a scan of mine, or are you looking for a more recent revision?
Oh, oh... me want scan too! |
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2008 : 05:37:12
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| Talked to the local music shop last night. Their understanding of it was that Fender had just shut down the US operation and moved the factory to Mexico - they didn't think the Groove Tubes name would disappear. |
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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2008 : 05:48:22
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Stahlhart: Sign me up for the brain.. er reference scan as well, if you please.
Laurie: that would make sense financially & marketing. After all, brand recognition is over half the battle in maintain market share. Lets hope you're right. |
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GrooveTubes closes shop
