- Sovtek
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Sovtek is a brand of vacuum tube owned by Mike Matthews's New Sensor Corporation and manufactured in Saratov, Russia. They are often used in guitar amplification and include the popular variants of the 12AX7, EL84, EL34, and 6L6 models. Many amplifiers in modern production come with Sovtek valves, due to their low noise performance and low prices.[1]
In the 1990s, Sovtek also manufactured tube amplifiers at factories in St. Petersburg, Saratov, and Novosibirsk.[2] Several models were offered for guitar and bass. These amps were known for their high quality sound, PCB construction (some of them were point to point, for example mig-60), good reliability and low cost. Today, a decade after production ceased, these amps are considered collectible by some. Sovtek brand speaker cabinets fitted with US made Eminence speakers were also offered. At the same time, Sovtek manufactured variants of several effects pedals already manufactured in New York City, USA by Electro-Harmonix, another company owned by Mike Matthews. Sovtek released versions of the Electro-Harmonix Big Muff and Small Stone pedals. Those pedals, along with the Bass Balls pedal, were later manufactured in both NYC and Russia, but only under the Electro-Harmonix name.[3]. Electro-Harmonix does not currently manufacture pedals in Russia.
At this time Sovtek is used only as a nameplate for vacuum tubes manufactured by the New Sensor Corporation.
List of Sovtek Amps
- Mig 30
- Mig 50
- Mig 50H tube midget
- Mig 50B "Bass Blues Midget"
- Mig 60 "Siberia"
- Mig 100
- Mig 100H
- Mig 100B "Bassov Blues Boy"
- Mig 100U
References
- ^ Serinus, Jason Victor. Tube Supplies Under Siege in Stereophile, May 20, 2006
- ^ http://www.kramerforum.com/george/amps.html
- ^ http://www.guitaramplifiermagazine.com/pub/2005/premier_issue/mike_matthews_interview.html
External links
- Sovtek catalog
- Electro Harmonix
- Sovtek Mig-60 Photographs of the inside of a Sovtek Mig-60 Amp
Categories:- Vacuum tubes
- Guitar amplification tubes
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