Where to get the old STR420's?

Nitrobattery · Jun 22, 2009

I know Mesa tubes are just relabeled other tubes, so does anyone know who made the old STR420's? I'd really like to try them in my Roadster.

Nitrobattery · Jun 30, 2009

gts said:
I believe they were Chinese tubes.
As you may know they are supposed to be very good, some similar characteristics to the STR 415's. But don't have a very long life and burn out/ up much quicker.
Only place I know to get them is used or NOS. I don't think the factory that made them is still in existence.

I absolutely loved them in my old Boogie's. I'd love to get them for my Roadster.

thunda1216 · Jun 30, 2009

Look for Shuguang 6L6GCR tubes. These are the same as the old brown based STR420 Mesa tubes. They are basically sino 5881 tubes. This tube is not marketed as such any more, but can still be found as new old stock.

The closest new production tube I have found is the Chinese 6L6GC straight bottle tube with the black base (probably Shuguang as well). The interior construction appears the same, and they have great tonal characteristics for a really reasonable price. I got my latest sets from Antique Electronic Supply ( http://www.tubesandmore.com ). 33 bucks for a matched quad! They work great in my Heartbreaker as well as my Pignose amps.

ty

Chadd · Jul 2, 2009

I had an old pair laying around that I slipped into my single rectifier when I got it a couple months ago. I forgot how good the 420s sounded. Unfortunately, they were just about shot and are now completely dead. I saw a guy selling 10 or so of them on ebay a little while ago but he sold them offline. Keep an eye on ebay, they will pop up from time to time.

R_ADKINS80 · Jul 6, 2009

I got mine from www.chinesetubes.com. They are the 6L6GCR. I bought 3 sets from them for my Triple Rectifier.

MusicManJP6 · Jul 6, 2009

You just missed 6 of these in the boogie classifieds. I bought a pair for my RoV combo and the guy that was selling them said after testing mine out to ensure they were still good after all these years that he was keeping the rest because they sound so good! My pair should be here this week. They are to replace a pair of JJ EL34s that came with my RoV. The 420s should sound awesome! I also have some 440s on the way to compare them with. Should be fun. Too bad it sounds like they don't last long - especially in a combo if I had to guess. My only saving grace is that I don't get a chance to play much louder than just above comfortable bedroom volume unless the wife is out and the neighbors are all gone in our 4 unit complex...