'57 Twin Re-issue

[unclej]

a buddy of mine just brought me a brand new 57 re-issue twin to check out..what a great amp! but while i was reading the owner's manual i came accross a statement that puzzled me. "matched pair of new USA-made Groove Tubes gt6l6-ge output tubes." is someone actually making tubes in the u.s. at present?

[lovekraft]

Yeah, Aspen bought the old GE production lines for the 6L6 and the 6CA7, and they've been making 6L6s for about three years and 6CA7s for a slightly shorter period of time. I don't know if they're any good, and at $90.00 a pair, I doubt I'll ever find out. AFAIK, he's still having his other tubes made in China or the former Soviet Union, including the new "Mullard" reissue 12AX7s.

[unclej]

thanks lk...no way of knowing how long the tubes will last but the amp sounds great. on the bright channel it starts sounding pretty raunchy at around 5 and i can't imagine what it'd do cranked all the way up. and it's got a great vintage look. lacquered tweed, leather handle and such. we played five different guitars through it and they all sounded good.

[1guitarslinger]

Yeah, Aspen bought the old GE production lines for the 6L6 and the 6CA7, and they've been making 6L6s for about three years and 6CA7s for a slightly shorter period of time. I don't know if they're any good, and at $90.00 a pair, I doubt I'll ever find out. AFAIK, he's still having his other tubes made in China or the former Soviet Union, including the new "Mullard"  reissue 12AX7s.

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I had heard that only the "innerds" were being made in the US, and the actual tubes were being made in China or where ever.