I'm shopping for used tubes online and finding many ads for NOS and OS/Used pulls. I'd like to know what everyone thinks is reasonable for pricing on high-quality tubes, if they are tested and coming from a reliable source.
Without giving up your sources... for obvious greedy tube-hoarding reasons, would you be so kind as to post what you have RECENTLY paid for the more desirable tubes we're all after.
Oh, and I don't sell tubes or have a hidden agenda, I'm just looking for some ideas as to the type of deals that are out there.
Poll - Prices for NOS and Used Pulls
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thelastleroy
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AustinTx
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Re: Poll - Prices for NOS and Used Pulls
Pres Pulled 12ax7:
If you are willing to gamble a little bit..pulls $5 to $10 each,
3 out of 5 will be better than a new production tube. You WILL get
some shorted and microphonic tubes. Vintage tubes are very durable
when compared to modern tubes so the good pulls are still very useful
and may last for years. A groove tube at GC will be about $20.00 so
good pulls are a real option.
NOS 12ax7 Pres:
Most ebay NOS tubes ...are not NOS! Vintage tubes test so much better
that most ebay sellers will tell you that a pull is NOS because it test the same
as a new tube. Exception: Military tubes can look used and still be new, in the
old days military testing and burning in process may have lasted for weeks,
so they may look a bit used and still be new. If it is really NOS expect the price
to reflect that.
Output Tubes:
Buying output tubes on ebay can be a nightmare.
Buying from sellers outside the USA may be the best bet for real NOS.
But...be careful of counterfits, ebay will back you up if you get stung,
the buyer protection system will get your $ refunded.
If you want matched NOS output tubes: Buy from a trusted seller.
Terry Kilgore ..aka Tube Tramp..Lord Valve...Sgt. Overdrive..
is a metro forum member and has all the output tubes you will ever need.
If you are willing to gamble a little bit..pulls $5 to $10 each,
3 out of 5 will be better than a new production tube. You WILL get
some shorted and microphonic tubes. Vintage tubes are very durable
when compared to modern tubes so the good pulls are still very useful
and may last for years. A groove tube at GC will be about $20.00 so
good pulls are a real option.
NOS 12ax7 Pres:
Most ebay NOS tubes ...are not NOS! Vintage tubes test so much better
that most ebay sellers will tell you that a pull is NOS because it test the same
as a new tube. Exception: Military tubes can look used and still be new, in the
old days military testing and burning in process may have lasted for weeks,
so they may look a bit used and still be new. If it is really NOS expect the price
to reflect that.
Output Tubes:
Buying output tubes on ebay can be a nightmare.
Buying from sellers outside the USA may be the best bet for real NOS.
But...be careful of counterfits, ebay will back you up if you get stung,
the buyer protection system will get your $ refunded.
If you want matched NOS output tubes: Buy from a trusted seller.
Terry Kilgore ..aka Tube Tramp..Lord Valve...Sgt. Overdrive..
is a metro forum member and has all the output tubes you will ever need.
Austin Texas
http://www.doug-morrison.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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thelastleroy
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Re: Poll - Prices for NOS and Used Pulls
Austin Texas,
Thanks first of all for the quick response. I'm beginning to learn that there are quite a few people in the tube "game" these days. The reason I am asking about used pulls is that I have found some old Mullard ECC83's for sale at $75 a pair. Apparently these are the real deal, Blackburn plant etc.
Does this seem reasonable?? A little steeper than the $5-$10 you were saying... but this guy is testing these tubes at 90% or better.
If I get some, I'll share the results, and maybe even my source!
Thanks first of all for the quick response. I'm beginning to learn that there are quite a few people in the tube "game" these days. The reason I am asking about used pulls is that I have found some old Mullard ECC83's for sale at $75 a pair. Apparently these are the real deal, Blackburn plant etc.
Does this seem reasonable?? A little steeper than the $5-$10 you were saying... but this guy is testing these tubes at 90% or better.
If I get some, I'll share the results, and maybe even my source!
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demonufo
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Re: Poll - Prices for NOS and Used Pulls
It all depends on the tester, and the normal results with that particular tester. On many testers, most tubes will show well over 100% good, and tubes showing 90% could all have considerable wear, but like I said, it all depends on WHAT tester.
Still sounds like a gamble to me, unless you know for sure that the seller is good for it.
Still sounds like a gamble to me, unless you know for sure that the seller is good for it.
So I like purple, okay!!!!!!
83.7% of all statistics are made up on the spot!
83.7% of all statistics are made up on the spot!
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AustinTx
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Re: Poll - Prices for NOS and Used Pulls
True! A Real NOS 12ax7 should test well over the modern 100%, a vintage tube testing at 90% is more than likelydemonufo wrote:It all depends on the tester, and the normal results with that particular tester. On many testers, most tubes will show well over 100% good, and tubes showing 90% could all have considerable wear.
to be very very used. I have a box of pulled 12ax7s that all test 100% or better. Just did a 12ax7 search on Ebay
and found a whole page of used tubes with no reserve. $5 a tube is a pretty painless way to try vintage tubes,
$75 not so much fun.
Austin Texas
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thelastleroy
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Re: Poll - Prices for NOS and Used Pulls
That makes sense to me now. I'm going to continue the search. Any ideas what these tubes are?? I pulled them from an old tube hi-fi radio that belonged to my wife's grandfather. He's the original owner, and he never changed the tubes, apparently.
The 12ax7 is labelled GE, but has that stop-sign octagon around the 12ax7 label, which I understand means it may be RCA.
The other is a 12AT7 labelled Marconi Radiotron, also with the stop-sign around 12AT7....
The tubes both say Canada on them, which makes sense as that's where I live.
Both of these tubes work and sound cool in my amp. I used the 12AX7 for V1 and the 12AT7 for the PI. Just wondering if these tubes are special, or just cool old tubes.
The 12ax7 is labelled GE, but has that stop-sign octagon around the 12ax7 label, which I understand means it may be RCA.
The other is a 12AT7 labelled Marconi Radiotron, also with the stop-sign around 12AT7....
The tubes both say Canada on them, which makes sense as that's where I live.
Both of these tubes work and sound cool in my amp. I used the 12AX7 for V1 and the 12AT7 for the PI. Just wondering if these tubes are special, or just cool old tubes.
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AustinTx
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Re: Poll - Prices for NOS and Used Pulls
Those tubes are just what I am talking about, nice well built vintage tubes.
If you lowball the ebay price, you may score those for very low prices.
American tubes are nice for V2 & PI...(great everywhere in a Fender type build)
Euro tubes have a nice tone in V1..Brimar, Mullard, RSD-RFT, Amprex...etc
Canadian and Japanese tubes also sound great for a lower price.
Mix them up any way it sounds good!
If you lowball the ebay price, you may score those for very low prices.
American tubes are nice for V2 & PI...(great everywhere in a Fender type build)
Euro tubes have a nice tone in V1..Brimar, Mullard, RSD-RFT, Amprex...etc
Canadian and Japanese tubes also sound great for a lower price.
Mix them up any way it sounds good!
Austin Texas
http://www.doug-morrison.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.doug-morrison.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;