When NOS is NOT NOS

[pula58]

Bought two 5U4GB rectifiers sold as "NOS."
One of them was clearly used.
I call the seller, they say that if a used tube tests as fully meeting its specs, they sell it as "NOS."

Well, I was surprised about that!

Shouldn't the tubes have been called ANOS? But certainly not NOS?

What do you folks think about this?

[M Fowler]

Should be sold as used tested as good. Or at least that's how the used tubes I buy are listed and test results are given for each tube I buy.

I agree with you NOS is not used but tested as good.

[Firestorm]

NOS means never been sold, might have been used/played a little. But no, emphatically, it does not mean tests like new.

[Blackburn]

On Fleabay, when I see "NOS" in the title, I just count on that being bullshit and that the tube has very likely seen previous use. I can count the number of tubes I've bought on Fleabay on one hand. However, I'd be more inclined to buy rects on there from reputable sellers or maybe even tetrodes or pentodes for single ended stuff. No twin triodes. There are many nice brands listed for cheap.

[Mark]

NOS = New Old Stock

That is a brand new valve that was made years ago.

I've noticed used but tested good comes under the acronym ANOS.

I'm not sure the benefits of NOS tubes are what they once were, there is a finite amount of these NOS tubes and surely the real good ones have been measured, sold, used and binned by now.

I remember Groove Tubes selling great NOS tubes in their heyday, but they don't sell any NOS tubes now. I suspect it is hit and miss now.

[vibratoking]

Whether it's true or not, I assume there is no tube made before 2010 that has not already been used in some form or another. It avoids a lot of disappointment.

[David Root]

First thing I look at in a tube pic on Ebay is the pins, then the flashing. Often you can tell if it's true NOS or not.

However, even if it looks new, but does not come in an original looking and matching box, that is a telltale, unless the seller specifically says it is from a bulk pack, AND shows a pic that proves it.

Lately I have been trying to buy "NOS NIB" listed tubes, but I have been buying some oddballs lately that are not too hard to find in that condition and not expensive either.

If I want guaranteed NOS NIB in a 12A*7, 6L6GC etc. and am willing to pay for it, I generally go to Gregg Levy at HiTestGuitars.com. No surprises there.

[Teleguy61]

I highly recommend Chris Stoddard:
clumpster@earthlink.net
No BS, honest tubes, good value.

[Aurora]

Whether it's true or not, I assume there is no tube made before 2010 that has not already been used in some form or another.

There's still a lot of real NOS stashed away - some geeks keep on hoarding them......
I do have a fair amount myself that I plan to use - I aslo have a fair amount of 7-pin sinle triodes - strange that you guys haven't looked that direction....

[cbass]

I got some el34s off ebay last year they were definatly nos but not advertised as nos so it can happen

[Bob S]

Ebay is a crapshoot at best.
Gone are the days when you could buy an old chassis for $20 & find it's got Mullard ax7's.
And as for new production tubes on there...
I wonder where all the returned / noisy / defective tubes end up ?
Unless you are prepared to gamble - beware.

[martin manning]

Bought two 5U4GB rectifiers sold as "NOS."
One of them was clearly used.
I call the seller, they say that if a used tube tests as fully meeting its specs, they sell it as "NOS."

This is blatant misrepresentation. Used in any condition is not new. If this was an e-Bay sale I'd provide appropriate feedback.

[Richie]

They should tell all the details in the listing.

Like if you sell tubes to most places that buy the tubes,they list a buy sheet. and what they expect if you send tubes for them for them to be accepted they have to be in the original box. And also test as new.
They have to be in good shape as no bent or corroded pins. No claw retainer markings on the tube base etc. Smuged logos to whatever.And really NOS USA made or country of origin. Not standard tubes. Although now, I see some of the current made tubes that are listed on some places going for high dollars.

I agree with most of the others that have posted. I've seen people spend a lot of big money on tubes that's unuseable. I guess mostly, but from a dealer that backs what he sells or his word. Others can just be a gamble. Sometimes you may get a bargin, sometimes a dud. And if matched, don't mean they all have the same box..

- I aslo have a fair amount of 7-pin sinle triodes - strange that you guys haven't looked that direction....

shhhhhhhhhh quiet... everyone over look this.

I like a lot of not only 7 pin, but many that are not your everyday talked about tube.

[Aurora]

shhhhhhhhhh quiet... everyone over look this.

I like a lot of not only 7 pin, but many that are not your everyday talked about tube.

Oh-Oh... forget I saud that...
just a middle aged geezers ramblings...

[dorrisant]

NOS isn't supposed to be used at all. If they listed as NOS then they should be responsible for a false advertisement. I have better luck with people just giving me tubes... Bags or boxes of them. I expect used from eBay always, then I'm pleasantly suprised when I'm wrong.

I got a box of tubes from an old radio transmission guy here in town... Sleeves of five Amperex 6SN7s, a bunch of other RCA and GE octals, new RCA 5Y3s, 12AY7s, Two Mullard 5881s, GZ34s, 6L6s... The list goes on and on. There are a few labled as used or weak but the rest are all new. No marks on the pins at all. Makes me wonder if they used some type of zero-insertion-force socket or something for testing. Then he says "you need a tube tester too, don't you?" He GAVE me a Western Electric KS-15874-L2!! Sure it needed a little tlc (pronounced "money") but works like a champ now. In retrospect, I should have bought a lottery ticket that day.

He said "give me a while and the next time you come out I will have some output TXs for you." It was a Peerless... I couldn't see using it but someone on eBay did.

Tony