Engineering:Sovtek
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 versions of the popular 12AX7, EL84, EL34, and 6L6 vacuum tubes. Many of the vacuum-tube amplifiers in modern production are factory-fitted with Sovtek valves.[1] Originally, Sovtek guitar amplifier valves were claimed to have been descendants of earlier wartime Russian-made components and carried blast proof capabilities. This, however, was later dispelled as urban myth, attributed to a sales person who promoted early product at music industry trade shows worldwide[citation needed].
In the 1990s, Sovtek also manufactured tube amplifiers at factories in Saint Petersburg, Saratov, and Novosibirsk.[2][unreliable source?] Several models were offered for guitar and bass. Sovtek brand speaker cabinets fitted with U.S.-made Eminence speakers were also offered. At the same time, Sovtek manufactured variants of several effects pedals already manufactured in New York City 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 the U.S. and Russia, under the Electro-Harmonix name;[3] manufacturing in Russia was later discontinued.
(As of 2012) Sovtek was used only as a brand name for vacuum tubes distributed by the New Sensor Corporation.
References
- ↑ Serinus, Jason Victor. Tube Supplies Under Siege in Stereophile, May 20, 2006.
- ↑ "George's Amps". http://www.kramerforum.com/george/amps.html.
- ↑ "Mike Matthews Interview". Archived from the original on May 30, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070530104601/http://www.guitaramplifiermagazine.com/pub/2005/premier_issue/mike_matthews_interview.html.
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