Brand new Ruby Tubes Red plated!!!

[briman]

Hey Ayton...... I changed all the tubes in my comp on Friday night. I bought all Ruby's for pre amp and power. After biasing them to 31ma, I played for about 15 mins and then I heard a loud pop and looked in the amp immediately and to my horror saw one of the EL34's entirely burning bright orange!! The whole tube! Plates and all!
I instantly turned off the amp and was really worried that it might have damaged something.
I put the old tubes back in and re biased again and everything was fine. Phew!!! I took back the EL34's to the store and they hesitantly exchanged them but this time I requested Electro Hamonix. I have always used them and like them in the comp. The guy said he never had anyone return Ruby's even though they are made in China.
Very happy my Comp survived this ordeal! I will probably be very nervous everytime I change tubes now. The loud pop scared the crap out of me!

[splawndude]

My opinion is that you deserve better tubes.

Ruby's are rebranded (not necessarily Chinese) and
EXH tubes are just ish IMO

[briman]

I have had Tung Sols in my comp and they sounded very similar to the Electro Harmonix's. I will try JJ's some day in it.

[sonofiam]

That'll get the heart rate up!! I run Tung Sol EL34b's and love them. I've never had an issue with them in any of my amps. I've had to roll back my treble and presence a bit but I really enjoy the feel and clarity I get from them. I've actually found biasing them a touch on the cool side, 29+/- gives me the best tone. I use my Competition with a Fender Deluxe V-neck strat with Kinman blues, a PRS CE-24 with Dimarzio Mo'Jo and PAF Pro, and an Ibanez JS2400. All sound great but the magic combination is with the strat.

[briman]

Yeah my presence and treble are always rolled back too. I have my EH's biased at 29ma right now and sounds great. I don't know if it's my imagination but I think this is the best my Comp has ever sounded!