From datc1Nospa–(at)–oncentric.net Wed Sep 23 09:11:03 CDT 1998
Article: 128489 of alt.guitar.amps
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From: “Whole Lotta Tom”
Newsgroups: alt.guitar.amps
Subject: Re: Groove Tube = Sovtek?
Date: 22 Sep 1998 22:45:56 PDT
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Well, I guess that makes my last post a bit on the extreme side.

OK. As I expressed to Trem by private e-mail (I’ve explained a lot of
things to Trem over the years, but it all goes out the window when he wants
to shoot off a hate post at the target of his priapic obsession, Pittman) my
responsibilities at GT were related to GT Electronics, the guitar amps, the
audio processors and mics. I did not do any tube testing (except my own
stuff) although I did service the machine. The specifics of the test
equipment I am not at liberty to divulge, anymore than I am at liberty to
divulge the specifics of the Fernandes Sustainer following my employ there,
or the Aural Exciter circuit of SWR following my employ there. As for tube
duds, I quote from my e-mail to Trem:

*I observed that most power tube rejects and all preamp tube rejects were
*thrown away. If a power tube was shorted, inoperative or real low in the
*specs it came in swift contact with the trash can. The tubes that were
good
*but were on the fringes of the GT numbering spectrum, I.E. they were high
or
*low and had no mates, were stored in case mates were found in subsequent
*batches. If over time they were still around, these might be sold off.
*Keeping the ones that are near the spectrum but are not yet mated has
proven
*to be worthwhile. Most of the tubes end up in the 4-7 range. If Eddie is
*going on tour and wants twenty quartets of his fav 6L6 in numbers 1, 2
*and/or 3, and you only have five in stock, you run a new batch with some
low
*backstock to see what comes up mated. This happens damn near every VH tour
*and during tours. Since eddie only runs three output tubes in the one 5150
*head that is the master for his rig, he burns up a set a night.
*
*As for preamp tubes, when they are bad, they are shit. Not too much value
*there.

OK. Some clarification. As I stated, most tubes end up in the 4-7 range.
There are folks who must have grades 1, 2 or 3 of a particular type, and
these must be kept in stock. If a batch yeilds only three tubes in the #3
range, that is not a quartet, which is the preferred stocking method. So,
you might package a duet and put the other aside for inclusion in a later
batch. Those tubes that rate outside the #1 or #10 range are sometimes sold
off, as they can not be used by GT but are not inoperative. I do not know
who they sell to. If I did, I might not post it but I could give it out by
private e-mail. The simple truth is I did not pay attention as I was
swamped with production every day. Ever do production line testing? You
have to figure out why something does not work that has NEVER worked before.
It’s not that something breaks, it’s that someone on the line has left you a
little gift of a bad trace, a bad LDR, a solder blob that can not be seen
>from above the board, etc. I was also designing and answering phone calls
(you know THAT story!) and ordering parts. I could not have cared LESS
about the goddamn tubes. When Red was still there I was learning all I
could from him, as well as sussing out the EQ1 and doing the Slave, my forst
PC board. When Red was gone, I was the only one there testing production.
I was goddamn busy.

The Eddie thing is fact.

I was given info by one frequent poster as to one of the possible recipients
of GT rejects. Perhaps he could post that info, I will not do so for him.
Also, there are not that many rejects sold. Most rejects are trash. The
ones that are unmatched are kept. The others that are outside the “norm”
are also few and are put into eggcrate holders and stacked up. Anyone who
has been to GT can tell you what a goddamn mess it is. Pittman is a king
packrat and he’s got production tubes from the 70s. It’s not like they are
selling hundreds a month, more like hundreds in few years.

BTW, I defy the frequent posters claiming some VGTC (vast GT conspiracy) to
find a NONdisgruntled ex-GT employee. On any continent. Chaos does not a
happy workplace make.

You may all bite me now.

Pleasant dreams.

—
Remove nospam to reply.

.
Andrew McWhirter wrote in message <360870D5.1F4E4F3--(at)--igfoot.com>…
>Roy,
>
>Lemmme just say that my posts here indicate no malice toward you, GT, Tom,
>Aspen or anyone else.
>
>profrets wrote:
>>
>> Andrew McWhirter wrote in message <36085C26.9111408--(at)--igfoot.com>…
>> >
>> >”What does GT do with the duds????”
>>
>> Look, Andrew, nobody wants to hear what we have to say. We have said it a
>> dozen times in numerous posts.
>
>I haven’t seen that particular question addressed in any post. I don’t
>read ’em *all* though, so if I missed it, I apologise.
>
>> Everyone has their own preconceived idea of
>> what goes on, and our efforts to appease the masses have made no
>> difference.
>
>Well, maybe not *everyone*. My question is genuine; my idea of what goes
>on at GT is based on his book, posts here (from both sides), and a bit o’
>common sense. I’m quite aware of the way GT operates, but never have I
>seen the definitive answer to that one question.
>
>> As Tom said to me one time, “Roy, nobody wants to listen to reason about
>> Groove Tubes.” So I gave up, too.
>
>I can appreciate that both you and Tom might feel this, but you and GT are
>being bashed about by, dare I say it, an extremely vocal and opinionated
>minority.
>
>
>
>If GT products work for you and your customers, who the hell am I to argue?
>
>Cheers
>Andrew
>–
>Andrew-dot-McWhirter-at-Bigfoot-dot-com
>
>These opinions are hereby disowned by the company I work for.