You guys seen this? Korg makes miniature vacuum tubes

[mayfly]

http://www.korg.com/us/news/2015/012212/

Almost makes me want to try one...

 

[sixstringsamurai]

It will be interesting to see if these go anywhere. :icon_scratch:

 

[mayfly]

If they sound good, then what the hell.  I might use them in a stereo application!

I've got a design for powered HiFi loudspeakers, with active crossover, all in tubes.  With 12AX7s it's a bit busy/expensive.

 

[sixstringsamurai]

True. :icon_thumright: and awesome.
I was thinking more along the lines of Heads / combos no longer having to weigh 60+ pounds with the ability to still put out 50 - 100 watts.

 

[Rick]

I had heard about these, I hope they work.  I'm remember when solid state amplifiers were the rage (late 70's) and no one wanted those old tubes.  Who wanted to lug around a monster head?  For a time Yamaha made some great solid state combos (I have one!), but for the most part, now, I think the best makers of solid state combos are tech 21 and another company in England whose name escapes me now.

By all means I hope they work

 

[bagman67]

I did see a piece about those the other day.  My guess is it will be along time before you see them appear in anything but Korg products (including Vox amps) but if there is any objective truth to the press release claims, yeah, tube amps could become substantially lighter and more reliable.  I'm interested in seeing what happens with power tubes, if anything.  That's where the real wear-and-tear savings could be realized, since power tubes fail so much more regularly and predictably.

 

[sixstringsamurai]

I did see a piece about those the other day.  My guess is it will be along time before you see them appear in anything but Korg products (including Vox amps) but if there is any objective truth to the press release claims, yeah, tube amps could become substantially lighter and more reliable.  I'm interested in seeing what happens with power tubes, if anything.  That's where the real wear-and-tear savings could be realized, since power tubes fail so much more regularly and predictably.

CP Tubes are dirty toxic tech, that's really only made in two countries on a large scale.
And given the hostile climes in the Russian realm, and China's slow move to cleaner tech, who really knows how long those sources will last.
Also, we all know CP tube QC is less than ultimately desirable.

if it can be done on a smaller, less toxic, more efficient scale I say dump a ton of money into the R&D, plus if anyone can nail this down to work well, it'll be the Japanese.

 

[Cagey]

Tubes are on the Green Mile. Just buy an Axe Fx II and call it a love story.