Groove Tubes closing creates some reverb in L.A. history
There's a historic and bittersweet moment playing out right now in the sonic life of Los Angeles.
Legendary amp-maestro Aspen Pittman, who founded Groove Tubes up in the San Fernando Valley in 1979, is quietly clearing out the GT factory, including some of his personal collection of amps, mics, speakers and electronic equipment, after selling the brand (and "certain assets" as they say in corporate-speak) to Fender Musical Instruments Corp. back in June. People all over town are whispering about the everything-must-go sale, but now that I personally scored the 1940 Astatic Model 30 Y-series bullet mic, I can let the cat out of the bag and spoil the fun for L.A. tone fetishists.
This is like the shuttering of Aron's Records in Hollywood or the demise of Tower Records on the Sunset Strip, a headstone carved by the herd-thinning of the digital age. But unlike the sales at those expired landmarks, this sale is not for the tourist; if you don't know what a pre-Rola Celestion speaker is, or why 1965 was a pivotal year for Fender fans, stay home and play Rock Band.
Once a floor salesman for Guitar Center, Pittman started GT when most amp makers were rushing headlong into transistors and circuit boards. His after-market tubes were swapped into a lot of famous amps, among them, Fenders. Groove Tubes went on to sell amps, processors, mics and many other products.
Pittman also penned "The Tube Amp Book," considered a Bible of tube technology, mainly to keep from spending all his time advising techs. The fusion with Fender Musical Instruments was a long time coming. A decade ago, FMIC entered into a joint agreement with Groove Tubes to equip Fender’s tube amps with GT tubes. It took another 10 years for Fender to gobble up Groove Tube’s assets and its brand. That move was announced in June. Pittman stayed on as a consultant, and operations moved to Ontario and Scottsdale, Ariz.
The sale started Thursday and ends Saturday, with 50% off all marked prices. A lot isn't marked, and you'll make your deal with Aspen. The factory is at 1543 Truman St., San Fernando, and is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
-- Geoff Mohan
RELATED See more on Groove Tubes sale at Live and Buy in L.A. blog
