Who do you purchase NOS tubes from?
With vintage glass prices fetching $50-$600+ per tube, under powered test equipment, and Counterfit Silk Screening. It leaves me uneasy to just google and buy for this order.
good , or bad experiences?
Which years or tubes are the golden era for Wrecks?
long or short plates?
Tubes of interest
Preamp
Mullard, Telefunken, Siemens, Amperex Bugle Boy, Pre-war Ei (telefunken clone)
Power
Mullard XF2, Seimens EL34/El84, Amperex Bugle boy EL84
Power Rec
Mullard, Brimar
buying NOS tubes
Moderators: pompeiisneaks, Colossal
buying NOS tubes
My Daughter Build Stone Henge
Re: buying NOS tubes
A real tough question really.And i know what you mean. So many to choose from.
And i have found quite a few i like. The main thing is. When it comes to wreck amps its much different. And its hard to make people understand. For example say you pick a NOS [pick a name] tube. Its supposed to be "The" best of all. Its super expensive. So you buy it.
You put it in V1 of your wreck amp,and before you get the volume barley cracked you find it squeals and is very microphonic. Simply unuseable in the amp. So back to the main thing. Deal with someone that checks the tubes,and you know they will work ok in these type amps before buying them. Now, unless they are used,and not much money,then if they don't work your not out hundreds of dollars.
I like the Bugle Boys,RFT old EI, some Mullard M8137. And what you might find, pick one type tube,go through 10 of them,you may find some are better than the others of the same brand,type etc.
The day you find that one tube,thats an eye/ear opener. I'm sure many will have some great suggestions. And their are good tube dealers out there.
Many tubes of years past were relabeled. You may find a RCA label, made by mullard. Here is a link that explains some tube stuff.
but yes, if buying expensive NOS make sure you buy from someone that you can deal with and tests the tube in amps,not just tube testers.
http://reviews.ebay.com/Who-Made-My-Amp ... 0007946831
And i have found quite a few i like. The main thing is. When it comes to wreck amps its much different. And its hard to make people understand. For example say you pick a NOS [pick a name] tube. Its supposed to be "The" best of all. Its super expensive. So you buy it.
You put it in V1 of your wreck amp,and before you get the volume barley cracked you find it squeals and is very microphonic. Simply unuseable in the amp. So back to the main thing. Deal with someone that checks the tubes,and you know they will work ok in these type amps before buying them. Now, unless they are used,and not much money,then if they don't work your not out hundreds of dollars.
I like the Bugle Boys,RFT old EI, some Mullard M8137. And what you might find, pick one type tube,go through 10 of them,you may find some are better than the others of the same brand,type etc.
The day you find that one tube,thats an eye/ear opener. I'm sure many will have some great suggestions. And their are good tube dealers out there.
Many tubes of years past were relabeled. You may find a RCA label, made by mullard. Here is a link that explains some tube stuff.
but yes, if buying expensive NOS make sure you buy from someone that you can deal with and tests the tube in amps,not just tube testers.
http://reviews.ebay.com/Who-Made-My-Amp ... 0007946831
Re: buying NOS tubes
I'll probably need to go with a major tube depot so I can have the tubes matched and balanced, tested for noise. Do you know of any that also test in circuit? I think Eurotubes does voicing but only sell JJ/tesla tubes. I've notice a lot of sellers of NOS tubes revoking the guarantee of silent or great sounding tube if used in a guitar amp.
I'm all for trying out multiple tubes my thought was since I'm ordering enough tubes for 4 amps I hope to be able to voice at least 2 really well and then swap around tubes in 3 and 4 until they are all happy. At ~$50 a tube I may pick up a dozen pre-war Ei for backup/ voicing, but I'd like to keep the end cost of investment per amp under $5k after all they are clones
I have a hard time buying NOS or vintage "tested tubes" cause more times then not my testers are far better then what the seller used. Nothing sucks more then to buy a "good" tube and have it test, noisy, or gasey, or low. I've even had one "good" tube test with 7% life. Turns out the "good" test was it lit up. lol sorry I'm gun shy.
TIP- If you want to end a conversation with a Tube dealer that might have a nice stash of tubes but not honest results, Just ask for documentation of the tube ratings/test specs to be included with the sale, and then ask about a return policy if the tubes don't test the same on the amplitrex. They back pedal so fast... Most just cancel the transaction. I'm pretty much black listed from Ebay lol... Forgive me but what exactly does "GOOD" mean? when and who calibrated the tester? I'm not asking for new or trying to give anyone a hard time. I just expect the tube to have the same results as advertised in the sale.
I think these should be considered fair questions when tubing one amp is going to be ~$1000 and I need to tube 4.
It's funny you can become a tube dealer for Ruby, JJ/tesla, Sovtek, Groove Tubes for $1000 (all inventory at dealer prices) To bad those tubes don't do the circuit justice.
Can someone tell me more about RFT? I'm a bit confused how they fit in where they a sub contracted manufacture for Siemens to help fill orders or was it a brand like Phillips or Mazda? I've seen several companies selling the RFT el34 for less then Siemens but throwing the name around in the discription.
Sorry I would just like to get this order right the first time.
I'm all for trying out multiple tubes my thought was since I'm ordering enough tubes for 4 amps I hope to be able to voice at least 2 really well and then swap around tubes in 3 and 4 until they are all happy. At ~$50 a tube I may pick up a dozen pre-war Ei for backup/ voicing, but I'd like to keep the end cost of investment per amp under $5k after all they are clones
I have a hard time buying NOS or vintage "tested tubes" cause more times then not my testers are far better then what the seller used. Nothing sucks more then to buy a "good" tube and have it test, noisy, or gasey, or low. I've even had one "good" tube test with 7% life. Turns out the "good" test was it lit up. lol sorry I'm gun shy.
TIP- If you want to end a conversation with a Tube dealer that might have a nice stash of tubes but not honest results, Just ask for documentation of the tube ratings/test specs to be included with the sale, and then ask about a return policy if the tubes don't test the same on the amplitrex. They back pedal so fast... Most just cancel the transaction. I'm pretty much black listed from Ebay lol... Forgive me but what exactly does "GOOD" mean? when and who calibrated the tester? I'm not asking for new or trying to give anyone a hard time. I just expect the tube to have the same results as advertised in the sale.
I think these should be considered fair questions when tubing one amp is going to be ~$1000 and I need to tube 4.
It's funny you can become a tube dealer for Ruby, JJ/tesla, Sovtek, Groove Tubes for $1000 (all inventory at dealer prices) To bad those tubes don't do the circuit justice.
Can someone tell me more about RFT? I'm a bit confused how they fit in where they a sub contracted manufacture for Siemens to help fill orders or was it a brand like Phillips or Mazda? I've seen several companies selling the RFT el34 for less then Siemens but throwing the name around in the discription.
Sorry I would just like to get this order right the first time.
My Daughter Build Stone Henge
Re: buying NOS tubes
RFT (Rundfunk- und Fernmelde-Technik, also called Radio Fernseh Technik or Radio Funk Technik depending on who and when you ask) was the largest electronics manufacturer in East Germany.Can someone tell me more about RFT? I'm a bit confused how they fit in where they a sub contracted manufacture for Siemens to help fill orders or was it a brand like Phillips or Mazda? I've seen several companies selling the RFT el34 for less then Siemens but throwing the name around in the discription.
They had up to half a dozen of tube factories and produced gazillions of "Made in Germany" tubes for export or on an OEM basis.
Siemens *never* produced EL34s for general sales and rebranded various OEM versions, most were RFTs from the Mühlhausen factory.
RFT also supplied AEG, Telefunken, Valvo and other German brands, as well as numerous European and US companies, from Mazda to Westinghouse.
Good RFT EL34s are some of the finest EL34s ever manufactured.
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David Root
- Posts: 3540
- Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 3:00 pm
- Location: Chilliwack BC
Re: buying NOS tubes
My experience recently has been that there are three types of NOS tube sellers:
1) Guys that specialize in and buy tubes primarily or exclusively for guitar amps. Gregg Levy at HiTest Guitars springs to mind. Probably also Watford Tubes in the UK.
2) Guys that are primarily or exclusively audio tube types eg. Jesse at audiotubes.com, KCANOS tubes, and others.
3) Guys that don't really specialize or do both to some extent. EG vacuumtubesinc in Orlando.
I have bought NOS tubes from all of the above, except Watford. The best value are 1) and 3) in my experience, but 2) audiotubes.com has stuff that is extremely difficult to get but if you want it you have to pay the price. Gregg Levy has a lot of stuff he doesn't specifically advertize, (mostly rare and expensive), BUT he doesn't offer "NOS tubes in a white box" either, which is becoming a bit of an oxymoron.
1) Guys that specialize in and buy tubes primarily or exclusively for guitar amps. Gregg Levy at HiTest Guitars springs to mind. Probably also Watford Tubes in the UK.
2) Guys that are primarily or exclusively audio tube types eg. Jesse at audiotubes.com, KCANOS tubes, and others.
3) Guys that don't really specialize or do both to some extent. EG vacuumtubesinc in Orlando.
I have bought NOS tubes from all of the above, except Watford. The best value are 1) and 3) in my experience, but 2) audiotubes.com has stuff that is extremely difficult to get but if you want it you have to pay the price. Gregg Levy has a lot of stuff he doesn't specifically advertize, (mostly rare and expensive), BUT he doesn't offer "NOS tubes in a white box" either, which is becoming a bit of an oxymoron.
Re: buying NOS tubes
Some tubes were packed in bulk, you need white boxes..."NOS tubes in a white box" either, which is becoming a bit of an oxymoron.
Re: buying NOS tubes
Most of the OEM tubes and Military Spec tubes where sold in bulk divider boxes. Without individual boxes, since it was considered wasteful to take the time to box something that would be removed and thrown away.
A white box is fully exceptable as long it houses what you purchased.
A white box is fully exceptable as long it houses what you purchased.
My Daughter Build Stone Henge
Re: buying NOS tubes
I've bought tubes from Terry Kilgore and from Tina on ebay (248tina40).
I got my Saratovs, some Amperex and Valvo from Terry, and my Sylvania EL34s from Tina. I have some Ei, Raytheon black plates, and Brimar 12AX7s also; don't remember where those came from. I also have a couple of Telefunkens. My first Marshall (the Super Lead) came with RFT EL34s and Brimars, and my Tremolo came with Mullard EL34s, 2 Brimars, a Phillips, and a Siemens 12AX7s
I got my Saratovs, some Amperex and Valvo from Terry, and my Sylvania EL34s from Tina. I have some Ei, Raytheon black plates, and Brimar 12AX7s also; don't remember where those came from. I also have a couple of Telefunkens. My first Marshall (the Super Lead) came with RFT EL34s and Brimars, and my Tremolo came with Mullard EL34s, 2 Brimars, a Phillips, and a Siemens 12AX7s
Where gators roam the backyards; keep your kids and dogs inside!
Re: buying NOS tubes
Terry's a great guy to buy tubes from. A truly unique character but he sells great tubes!
Re: buying NOS tubes
The Tramp is great to buy from. Although I wish he had a website but no big deal their. Will buy from him in the future.Good prices,wide selection,knowledgeable and fast turn around being I'm in Mi. and he's in Ca. took a couple of days. Chad
Re: buying NOS tubes
Sometimes you can luck into the Baldwin labeled tubes.
These are pulls from old organs, most dating to the 50's and early 60's.
I was fortunate that a guy gave me a paper sack full of old Baldwin tubes.
A large majority of them were 12AU7's but I got about a dozen nice 12AX7's out of it.
The Green labeled tubes appear to be Sylvania's.
I got about 4 or 5 of those.
The Yellow labeled ones are Raytheons.
I have more of these than any type and they are black long plate tubes and sound very good.
Reportedly the white labeled ones are RCA but I haven't seen any of those.
I don't have a great tube tester and in reality the best tube tester is the amp you are tubing.
I only had one 12AX7 out of this group that was obviously bad as it crackled and popped.
Many of these tubes have very few hours on them so a lot of life left.
Sure a tube with RCA or GE or Sylvania printed on it is sexier than Baldwin but, if you can get past that, there are a lot of great tubes still out there.
Before this I bought several preamp tubes from Brent Jesse, he seems very knowledgeable and he will work hard to find you what you need and what your budget will allow.
These are pulls from old organs, most dating to the 50's and early 60's.
I was fortunate that a guy gave me a paper sack full of old Baldwin tubes.
A large majority of them were 12AU7's but I got about a dozen nice 12AX7's out of it.
The Green labeled tubes appear to be Sylvania's.
I got about 4 or 5 of those.
The Yellow labeled ones are Raytheons.
I have more of these than any type and they are black long plate tubes and sound very good.
Reportedly the white labeled ones are RCA but I haven't seen any of those.
I don't have a great tube tester and in reality the best tube tester is the amp you are tubing.
I only had one 12AX7 out of this group that was obviously bad as it crackled and popped.
Many of these tubes have very few hours on them so a lot of life left.
Sure a tube with RCA or GE or Sylvania printed on it is sexier than Baldwin but, if you can get past that, there are a lot of great tubes still out there.
Before this I bought several preamp tubes from Brent Jesse, he seems very knowledgeable and he will work hard to find you what you need and what your budget will allow.
Tom
Don't let that smoke out!
Don't let that smoke out!
Re: buying NOS tubes
I've noticed that although a lot of things Musical have takin a hit during this recent economic period, NOS Tubes have continued to increase in value. Looks like they are a good investment, as well as a lot of fun to try, anyway. Now if I can just get my wife to beleive this. 
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smokin' tone
- Posts: 89
- Joined: Wed Jun 14, 2006 6:07 pm
Re: buying NOS tubes
In addition, and some people will think I'm crazy but I'm a believer in using tube dampers on V1 of a Wreck. I've tried lots of different nos glass and found a few that worked well in v1 but after a few days they went micro-phonic. I started putting a couple of o-rings on since then and have not had another go bad. I think it helps stabilize the vibration somewhat. Even if I'm wrong it's cheap enough to do it.
Last edited by smokin' tone on Mon Nov 15, 2010 3:32 am, edited 1 time in total.