Tubes / valves for guitar amplifiers: list of global brands and manufacturers

This article lists the worldwide brands and manufacturers of tubes/valves used in guitar amplifiers. Since the words tube and valve are synonyms for the same device, most commonly used tube in the United States and valve in Great Britain, I will use tube throughout the article.

First of all, some clarification is necessary to understand the real situation of this global niche. There are many brands on the market and manufacturers in the world. As a consequence of many “buy and sell” operations in recent years, today some factories produce models of tubes labeled with different brands, and you can buy the same device with a different name or brand depending on where in the world you live. . . The easiest way to approach the market is to identify the various tube models by brand, and this article is a list of tube brands with details on the manufacturers that produce them.

Another clarification is needed about Svetlana, a common female name in Russia that creates confusion because in the past it was used to compete with devices that led to legal action. There are actually two different series of tubes on the market that are often confused when named just Svetlana, but can be identified like this:

• Svetlana “S” Logo – Saratov, Russia
• SED/Svetlana “Winged C” Logo – Saint Petersburg, Russia

Later you will understand how to recognize them.

The last clarification is about the trademarks owned by New Sensor Corporation, an American company: they own the Sovtek and Electro-Harmonix trademarks plus the rights to the Svetlana “S” logo one for the US and Canada. In addition, they even produce and sell Mullard New Production and Tung-Sol New Production tubes.

And now, the list:

JJ Electronic – Slovak Republic

They started the production of vacuum tubes in 1994 and today they have an assortment of more than 20 models. Formerly known as Tesla, JJ electronic tubes are made on some of the original European equipment that was used in the heyday. They also produce valve amplifiers and electrolytic and polypropylene capacitors.

On their website it is possible to download some technical information, such as tube data sheets.

Sovtek – Russia

Sovtek was originally a Russian factory and brand, but today it is an American brand of New Sensor Corporation.

Sovtek tubes are produced by the Reflector Co. factory in Saratov, Russia, along with those of Tung-Sol New Production, Electro-Harmonix, Mullard New Production, and Svetlana “S”.

These tubes are distributed among others by TubeDepot which on their website says: These tubes are used by more manufacturers than any other tube made.

Some of the companies that trust Sovtek tubes are:

• Fenders

• Marshal

•Peavey

• Cash register

• Table Boogie

• Atma-Sphere

• Ampere

• Soldier

• Hartke

• Bogner

• Audio notes

• cary

• Balanced audio technology

• Behringer

• Denmark

• Unmatched

• Orange

• Eagle

• Audio research

• RogueAudio

• converge

• Manley Laboratories

• carvin

• Demeter

• VTL

• Well born

Svetlana “S” Logo – Saratov, Russia

New Sensor Corporation has the exclusive right to use the name Svetlana for the US and Canadian markets only.

They use it for this assortment of tubes that can only be identified by the “S” logo. Svetlana alone is confusing, because it is used by SED/Svetlana “Winged C” logo tubes in the rest of the world.

These tubes are produced by the Reflector Co. facility in Saratov, Russia, along with those of Mullard New Production, Tung-Sol New Production, Electro-Harmonix, and Sovtek.

SED/Svetlana “Winged C” Logo – Saint Petersburg, Russia

These tubes are produced by the Svetlana Tubes factory in St. Petersburg, Russia, one of the oldest tube factories in the world, and marketed under the SED brand in the United States and Canada and Svetlana in the rest of the world.

This assortment of tubes can be uniquely identified by the “Winged C” logo. Svetlana alone is confusing, because in the United States and Canada it is used on tubes with the Svetlana “S” logo.

Electro Harmonix – Russia

Electro Harmonix is ​​a trademark owned by New Sensor Corporation.

These tubes are produced by the Reflector Co. factory in Saratov, Russia, together with Mullard New Production, Tung-Sol New Production, Sovtek, and Svetlana “S” logo.

TubeDepot on their website states that:

These tubes are considered by many to be some of the best new production tubes available.

Mullard New Production – Russia

These tubes are marketed by New Sensor Corporation.

They appear to be faithful reproductions of the original Mullard models, and are produced by the Reflector Co. factory in Saratov, Russia, along with those of Sovtek, Tung-Sol New Production, Electro Harmonix, and Svetlana “S”.

Tung-Sol New Production – Russia

These tubes are marketed by New Sensor Corporation.

They are produced by the Reflector Co. factory in Saratov, Russia, along with Electro Harmonix, Mullard New Production, Sovtek, and Svetlana “S” logo ones.

Chinese tubes SINO – China

Without a doubt, its strong point is the price, like many other products made in China.

They are distributed among the others by TubeDepot, which on its website says:

Chino china tubes have seen vast improvements over what was available just a few years ago. The EL34-B and KT88-98 have garnered many rave reviews and the 5881 is the most affordable 6L6 type in our entire stock. Try these puppies, we think you will be surprised.