Verellen Octal: The Solid-State Tube Revolution

Vacuum tubes are the beating heart of our favorite guitar amplifiers, but let's face it: they are fragile, they go microphonic, and over the last few years, they have become increasingly difficult to source. Enter Ben Verellen.

With over 20 years of experience building custom tube amplifiers, the mastermind behind Verellen Devices has unveiled a radical solution born out of the pandemic-era tube shortage. Meet the Octal—a self-biasing, solid-state power-tube alternative designed as a direct drop-in replacement for traditional 8-pin push/pull glass tubes.

What is the Verellen Devices Octal?

The Octal is a robust, solid-state electronic component designed to replicate the behavior, feel, and fidelity of classic power-amp tubes. Because they are completely self-biasing, they offer true "plug-and-play" functionality. For most push/pull amplifiers, swapping out your old glass tubes for a pair of Octals is an instant process that requires no trips to the amp tech.

Ditch the Glass: Verellen's Solid-State Octal

According to Verellen, the Octal can directly replace the following tube types in most applications:

• 6L6
• EL34
• 6V6
• 6550
• KT88, KT77, and KT66

Visually, they mean business. Housed in a durable black casing with rear heat sinks to manage temperature, the front features a glowing Verellen "V" logo so you still get that satisfying stage glow when your amp is fired up.

Will It Ruin My Amp's Tone?

For the tone purists and cork-sniffers out there, the idea of putting solid-state technology into the power section of a beloved valve amp might sound like heresy. However, the initial consensus suggests otherwise.

In a comprehensive A/B demo by the Tone Wars YouTube channel, the Octals were tested in both a PRS MT15 (replacing 6L6s) and a 90s Mesa Dual Rectifier (replacing EL34s). The verdict? The solid-state Octals felt and sounded virtually identical to the traditional glass tubes across both clean and high-gain channels. The only notable difference was a slight bump in volume and up to a 50% increase in clean headroom, depending on the amplifier circuit.

Ben Verellen didn't rush this to market, either. The Octal underwent a full year of prototyping, followed by two rigorous years of live touring and stage testing to ensure they possessed the exact dynamic "sag" and feel that guitarists demand from a tube power section.

Built for the Road

If you regularly gig or tour, the Octal solves the biggest headache of playing a tube amp: reliability.

Because they lack the delicate internal filaments and glass housing of traditional tubes, the Octals are effectively immune to the vibrations of a tour van. You will never have to worry about a tube going microphonic or shattering mid-set. Unless they are heavily abused, Verellen claims these solid-state units should last a lifetime.

Solid State Tubes?

I've previously seen Jet City make solid-state, analog Retro Valve preamp tubes, which were available in various gains: low (blue), medium (yellow), and high (red), but I don't believe those are available anymore. Plus, Korg NuTube technology exists, but it isn't applicable to real tube amps and is known to have reliability issues and high-frequency roll-off.

Both of these designs were preamp tubes, not power amp tubes, so not exactly the same as Octals.

These could be perfect for players who require something robust, and if they do last a long time, then that is a distinct advantage as well.

Price and Availability

Innovation comes at a premium, and the Verellen Octal is no exception. A matched pair of Octals will set you back $299.

While that is certainly more expensive than a standard pair of JJs or Ruby tubes, it’s a classic "buy once, cry once" investment. When you factor in the cost of spare tubes, biasing fees, and bench time over the lifespan of a gigging amplifier, the self-biasing Octal quickly pays for itself.

Currently, the Octal is strictly available for 8-pin push/pull applications, though Verellen has noted that EL84 variants and other specific modifications are planned for the future.

The first limited batch of Octals is expected to ship in Early October. You can secure a pair directly from the Verellen Devices website.

Let us know what you think about these on our Reddit channel. Would you like to try some out in your amp?