tube shortage

Illustration by Kate Koenig

Relief for the tube shortage is ahead, but it’s happened before and could happen again. Here’s the practical—and geopolitical—long view.

“Think about the American and British rock bands trying to get into the Cold War Soviet Union to play rock music that Soviets had never heard—through their British tube amps, with tubes manufactured in Russia.”

That quote, from Sweetwater Senior Category Manager for Amps and Effects Darren Monroe, sums up how much culture and politics can impact every note you play. And that’s especially true regarding tubes. Let’s start with some deep background.

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Photo by Western Electric

Recent Russia sanctions and the prospect of shortages prompt the Georgia company to survey customers about which tube types they’d like to see manufactured in America.


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