Where to get good TUBES

[schturlan]

I am sorry if i am posting this in a wrong place.

Anyway, as a guitar player and owner of a couple of tube amps, also a repair tech and searching for a good tube, i would like to hear your experiences.

I am currently setting up a some kind of tube amp clone (don't know the make nor the model) which was a gift from a colleague of mine. He said it is a Marshall clone but i am not sure, as i searched through many schematic and did not find a design that would fit. I can post the details in a seperate topic if anybody would like to see those.

Anyway, it holds 4xEL34 and 4xECC83 which is very strange since it has only a master volume and 3 EQ controles (no gain stage pot).

I am also searching for a set of lamps for a amp in repair which is a Marshall 1979 model 2202. So totally i am searching for
8xEL34
7xECC83 or 12AX7

I prefer NOS tubes, there was a factory in Serbia which produced tubes but very little EL34 and there are nowhere to be found. Preamps and EL84 can be found, and those i use in my Blues Junior and are great.

Please share your thinking on this topic and how much would you pay for tubes

[Latole]

Where do you live ?
From Canada I bought my tubes from The tubes store, Tube Depot or Antique Electronics Supply
I don't buy NOS tubes

[Rontone]

The prices are going up and up on ebay, I think the ECC83 types are getting snatched up for Hifi use also, everyone loves those Mullards

I use this place in the UK https://watfordvalves.com/search.asp?search=EL34

[dpm309]

Check out Antique Electronics (www.tubesandmore.com). They carry a lot of NOS tubes but unfortunately no EL34s. They do carry a few new EL34s in the $20 to $40 range. They also have complete tube sets for Marshal amps.

[acheld]

You're asking where to source tubes, and how much to pay? 

It depends on your location (I don't have access to your IP address or location).

For North America, TubeDepot and Tubesandmore are both trustworthy; there are others.  I've had both good and bad luck with eBay.  For Europe, I'll defer to our colleagues there to give you advice.

Tube prices have ascended into outer space since the Covid, and now with the Ukraine war there is a supply disruption from Russia -- you couldn't pick a worse time for buying tubes.  You will pay what you will pay . . .

LOL, we all like good NOS tubes.   How much better they are is in the ear of the beholder.  I personally can't tell much difference between identically spec'd tubes.   But, everyone has their own thoughts about this.

[thetragichero]

often i'll purchase on ebay or reverb from reputable sellers. can certainly be risky but there are deals to be had (i haven't purchased tubes in about a year, besides some new jj 12ax7 from ce dist/antique electronics supply)

[tubeswell]

Please share your thinking on this topic ...

This is a never-ending quest.


But remember, he who dies with the most tubes... wins.

[schturlan]

Please share your thinking on this topic ...

This is a never-ending quest.


But remember, he who dies with the most tubes... wins.

 

[valvetones]

I’ve got matched pairs of no’s Amperex EL34s
And a huge stash of NOS Amperex ecc83s

How much money do you want to spend?

[valvetones]

I think it’s unfortunate that due to the current situation, it’s likely that the tubes produced in Russia will no longer be made.
Leaving only China as the major producer.
Western electric started making the 300B in the USA again using the old equipment, and tooling.
Maybe if every member of EL34 world begged/lobbied them to make 12AX7s , we could have a better option. Until then our options are diminishing. Fortunately, I’ve got a pretty good stash.

[tubeswell]

Shuguang EL34Bs are actually quite good at handling highish plate voltages (~500V) in my experience. Last time I bought a Quad of those (for a Marshall 1959 SL100) it was still about 100 bucks IIRC.

JJ 6V6S is pretty reliable and is still hard to beat for a modern production '6V6'.


I think EHXs preamp tubes are top-notch. I want Putin's war to end and I wish it had never started. Mike Matthews is probably beside himself right now from having invested in tube manufacturing in Russia. Even so, the day-before yesterday, he was holding out for resuming some sort of BAU in 12 month's time, but I see there's a rumour from EHX in the last few hours that they will resume taking orders for new tubes https://www.guitarworld.com/news/electro-harmonix-tube-supply-resolved. So who knows what's happening?

[tubeswell]

Tube Amp Doctor announcement from 16 March about their new source of tubes from a new Chinese factory:

"CURRENT SITUATION REGARDING THE SUPPLY OF AMPLIFIER TUBES(As of 16 March 2022)
Without a doubt, the current situation on the tube market can be classified as dramatic. In any case, for years, there have been only three noteworthy manufacturers of audio amplifier tubes such as 12AX7 / ECC83, EL84, EL34 and 6L6GC.
In August 2019, the largest manufacturer Shuguang closed its factory in order to move to a larger and more modern location. Unfortunately, the new production facility has not been granted permission for two years now. In the meantime, leading employees have left or have been compensated. This probably means the end of the Shuguang Electron Tube Factory.
The second major manufacturer in Russia, known mainly for the Sovtek, Electro Harmonix, Tung-Sol and Gold-Lion brands, can no longer export tubes since the Russian sanctions came into force.
This leaves only JJ as the smallest of the three big manufacturers. And their delivery time was already up to 18-20 months, even before the Russian sanctions.
REDBASE®
As we anticipated the development with Shuguang at a very early stage, we had already intensified a new cooperation with a small manufacturer in China in 2020. We knew that they had acquired the production facilities of another tube manufacturing plant that had been closed in the early 2000s, but had not yet used them for the types of tubes we required so urgently after Shuguang ceased production.
Working closely together, we facilitated a massive expansion and modernisation of the production facilities and started with the TAD 6L6GCM-STR REDBASE in spring 2021. This was followed by the TAD 6L6WGC-STR, the TAD EL34-STR, the TAD 12AU7A / ECC82 and the TAD GZ34-STR.
Currently, we are expecting the start of volume production of the new TAD ECC83WA, 7025WA, 12AX7A/7025, 12BH7A-STR and KT88-STR right now, followed by more models such as the 6V6GT-STR, 6550A-STR, 12AT7 / ECC81 and EL84-STR REDBASE series in the near future.
All REDBASE® tubes are individually tested, listened to and, if necessary, matched at TAD in Germany, thus replacing the obsolete TAD-STR and TAD-BLACKPLATE tube models.
[/color]The TAD REDBASE® series is manufactured independently of the three previous manufacturers and will significantly ease the supply situation for the mentioned tube types within the next few months."

[Willabe]

This from Mike Matthews;

Electro-Harmonix resolves export issues for Russian tubes – but prices will go up | Guitar World

[bmccowan]

Maybe I am overly optimistic, but I think the tube thing will sort itself out, but certainly at higher prices. The resurgence of tube Hi Fi is also helping to fuel demand. But what we really need is a 3D printer that can print tubes Till then, as the NOS supply grows thin, somebody here or abroad will see the opportunity to produce new tubes and sell them at 3 times what we have all been paying, and we will pay it. I look at today's bicycle and motorcycle parts prices compared with just a few years ago. I close my brain and hit the buy-it-now button.

[Willabe]

I've read/heard that the main/largest tube factory in China (Shuguang?);

1. Had a fire and were rebuilding.
2. Burned to the ground.
3. Closed to relocate and have still not reopened.

Anybody know the real story?   

[Willabe]

Maybe I am overly optimistic, but I think the tube thing will sort itself out, but certainly at higher prices. The resurgence of tube Hi Fi is also helping to fuel demand. But what we really need is a 3D printer that can print tubes Till then, as the NOS supply grows thin, somebody here or abroad will see the opportunity to produce new tubes and sell them at 3 times what we have all been paying, and we will pay it.

I don't know/not sure if they could open a mid sized tube factory in the US because of the chemicals and materials used to make them?

[shooter]

the chemicals and materials used to make them?

It's gotta beat the MSD(?) sheets for an EV car + battery + Energy source

[bmccowan]

Do any of you know what happened to the tube mfg facilities in Mexico? I have some RCA tubes that were made in Mexico and they are good. Did their tooling go overseas?

[Willabe]

the chemicals and materials used to make them?

It's gotta beat the MSD(?) sheets for an EV car + battery + Energy source

Yes maybe so, but you can't knock that EV car pet project.

Tubes, huh, that's not on the greenies favorites list. 

[66Strat]

Mike Matthews is probably beside himself right now from having invested in tube manufacturing in Russia.

And probably kicking himself for a lack of contingency planning for disruptions such as now, given the problems he had with the Russian mob some 20 odd years ago. The lack of a manufacturing facility, is a big problem; but an even bigger problem, IMO, is the lack of people with hands on tube manufacturing experience.

[jordan86]

Not to derail...but the issue in Russia is just exporting, correct? I’ve not looked it up personally. I’m a simpleton but I imagine the people working there like having a job and will continue to produce tubes as long as some future path of selling still exists. I’d hope that large stashes of Russia. tubes would become available once this gets settled. Or if it gets worse and worse, the need for tubes might just be moot.

[RadioComm]

Fortunately, I’ve got a pretty good stash.

Ditto. Did my share of hoarding over the years from HamFests. Pre-internet days, the hype or prices didn't get around like today...

[AmberB]

I can see that I picked a really crappy time to be needing to restock my 12AX7 tubes...
I'm almost out of them.

[AmberB]

I might have to start using my stash of Bogan 6EU7 tubes...

[frankenxtein]

I was buying some tubes from Ukraine  and the last two I bought were ef86.
Wish I had bought more 6p14p's.
Nesstone still has a few tubes left but , the prices are steadily going up.
Being kind of ignorant , I bought quads instead of pairs over the past few years.
Actually waiting on two quads of Sovtek el84's right now from

https://nesstone.com/product-category/new-production-tubes/new-vacuum-power-tubes/

That word quads reminds me of a movie   

[shooter]

That word quads reminds me of a movie

in farm country Quads have replaced the wranglers horse for most applications

[tubeswell]

That word quads reminds me of a movie

in farm country Quads have replaced the wranglers horse for most applications

  I want a quad for fishing at the local beach

[frankenxtein]

  Round em up
Maybe , let Western Electric know if you'd like them to make the tubes we use.
https://www.westernelectric.com/expand

[frankenxtein]

10k for a pair of 300b's 

[SoundmasterG]

Here's an interview with some people from Western Electric about their new tube production in US plans. Seems like good news if they can make a good quality tube and they aren't too expensive.


Greg


https://guitar.com/features/interviews/exclusive-western-electric-confirms-plans-tube-georgia-factory-crisis/?fbclid=IwAR0sBXPH9wsdvWdx8ZvciDgcCHe-Iz6h5vjP5HcpWA8hECeePzPcAk0dIqQ

[j_bruce]

10k for a pair of 300b's 

I saw a pair of NOS for 10k,

new production is 1500 for a matched pair. Still a lot but I have a hunch that they are well aware of the price sensitive nature of the guitar amp market. Still $40 tubes are better than no tubes at all which is where things are heading.