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- May 12, 2024
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I'm attempting to learn more about Mesa's tubes. I'm planning to swap out the EL34s in my TC-50 for some 6L6s. I found the site of a UK company that lists the country of origin for most of Mesa's tubes (valves to them). As far as I can tell, there are 3 countries making guitar amp tubes for Mesa (and probably for everyone else?): China, Russia and Slovakia. One particular tube is NOS from an East German factory.
On each of Mesa's tubes is a 3 digit numeric code starting with a 4. The site listed numbers from 417 to 454 (with gaps, the list is not continuous). Some of the tubes listed don't show country of origin info. Find your tube, or the one you want to buy, here:
https://www.watfordvalves.com/valve_guides_mesa_reference.asp
One tube not listed on the Waterford site but is listed on the Zzounds site is the 6L6 STR-445 which is made in Slovakia.
I would prefer not to buy goods made in either China or Russia right now, but then there is the whole issue of the matching color codes (a different discussion thread) and other variables, and what the quality difference of each country of origin might be. So much to learn!
On each of Mesa's tubes is a 3 digit numeric code starting with a 4. The site listed numbers from 417 to 454 (with gaps, the list is not continuous). Some of the tubes listed don't show country of origin info. Find your tube, or the one you want to buy, here:
https://www.watfordvalves.com/valve_guides_mesa_reference.asp
One tube not listed on the Waterford site but is listed on the Zzounds site is the 6L6 STR-445 which is made in Slovakia.
I would prefer not to buy goods made in either China or Russia right now, but then there is the whole issue of the matching color codes (a different discussion thread) and other variables, and what the quality difference of each country of origin might be. So much to learn!
