you can find good tubes when buying used or from stock that is inconsistent.
for example, the EI or yugo 12ax7 tubes. Used to be $3 each. You could buy 20, and maybe 5 or 6 were ’perfect’ and a VERY good 12ax7. Keep the rest as useful scrap.
Trying to ace one single used tube batch buy, is a waste of time. Average it out over lots of buys. You’ll be strongly in the positive that way.
the second thing, is you needed a tube tester and the ability to hear the tube.
Specialization, or skill increase in these areas is not that difficult to come by.
You can sub in thought and effort --for money..., if you put in the effort and time. Caution: learning curves apply. There's a whole world of tube lore....
New tubes are finally coming on line and working out fairly well. They are starting to get pretty good.
But some classics are pretty well the best, like NOS Telefunken diamond bottom. When you hear them, you know it. Those are in the "f-me!" category (when you hear it).
We used to be able to pull them out of old dynaco PAS preamps, like welcome candy on a good day.
for example, the EI or yugo 12ax7 tubes. Used to be $3 each. You could buy 20, and maybe 5 or 6 were ’perfect’ and a VERY good 12ax7. Keep the rest as useful scrap.
Trying to ace one single used tube batch buy, is a waste of time. Average it out over lots of buys. You’ll be strongly in the positive that way.
the second thing, is you needed a tube tester and the ability to hear the tube.
Specialization, or skill increase in these areas is not that difficult to come by.
You can sub in thought and effort --for money..., if you put in the effort and time. Caution: learning curves apply. There's a whole world of tube lore....
New tubes are finally coming on line and working out fairly well. They are starting to get pretty good.
But some classics are pretty well the best, like NOS Telefunken diamond bottom. When you hear them, you know it. Those are in the "f-me!" category (when you hear it).
We used to be able to pull them out of old dynaco PAS preamps, like welcome candy on a good day.