Russian tube supply issues

Breaking news. Thanks.

Scored some nice JJ tubes at my local music store..... a quad of Apex matched EL34 , a quad of matched 6l6gc, a matched pair of EL84,several 12ax7 and 12au7, 12At7.....  going back tommorow for another quad of EL34......ordered a set of tubes for my pre from Tube Depot,   the oem set is a pair of JJ 12ax7 gold and JJ 12au7 gold.    Ordered them with balanced triode sections, low noise, matched pairs..... they sound so good I ordered another pair of each today.....   ordered 8 e180f yesterday.    

Got them all at good prices compared to what I'm seeing.   I am heavily invested in tube gear, there is no way I am going to fall victim to price gouging. 

Shout out to Tube Depot for super fast shipping 

 Got a new amp coming in a month or two,  I have a total of 8 pairs of premium NOS e180f / 6688 tubes from Mullard and Amperex.    6 JAN CRC 5r4gy ST bottle rectifiers  date coded 5-56 and 10-56....   a Westinghouse (RCA) and a Raytheon 274b.     If my math is correct , I should have enough til I die or longer.   Once I have the amp for a little while  I will most likely buy another pair of WE 300b to have on hand.   

Just adapt circuitry to use tubes outside the classic 12A**, 6S**, ECC**, KT**, EL**, 5R**, 2A3, 45, 300B & Russky milieu and there is still plenty of NOS out there to keep going for decades. Lotsa great TV tubes (including cheap damper diodes) just waiting to be discovered. Only takes a little imagination.

it’s far from the end of the world and might actually spark a little innovation..

Russia may sell to China and they on to the West, at a price.

Meanwhile

As China’s covid outbreak expands, whole cities and provinces are sealed off and key industries closed

Then there is the fact of their committing genocide against the Uighers among other things which is normal to any country run by tyranny

georgesallit325

 

 

Russia may sell to China and they on to the West, at a price.

I don’t think you will simply be able to buy Russian tubes from other countries, as customs is likely to reject them due to the embargo. Cuban cigars ring a bell?

I think this all will also have an impact on NOS prices...

Interesting times.

It’s not an full-bore embargo yet; this was a retaliatory export ban by Russia on a list of goods that includes vacuum tubes. Here are the points for optimism:

• Peace talks could bear fruit and de-escalate this situation
• Everyone is holding their Russian tubes tight right now, waiting to see what happens. There will be a period of panic (now). But there should be a lot of this product already on our shores. Folks with amps designed for KT150 or KT170 tubes (only recently released) are in the toughest spot.
• Manufacturers and hobbyists have been building up stocks for the past 2 years due to the unknowns posed by covid. Companies like VAC have already announced their preparedness, and that it’s (mostly) business as usual for the foreseeable future, as far as producing new product and servicing existing amps goes. I would hope they are very careful controlling disbursement of replacement tubes - e.g. provide proof of ownership and then exchange old tubes for a new set on that amp.

And yes, I think this will put additional pressure on an already tight NOS/used vintage market, due to the loss of an affordable alternative. The big vintage power tubes above 6550 were pretty much gone anyways, though.

Instead of bragging about finding Russian tubes to buy, you could always support Putin’s horror show in other ways. I for one won’t knowingly purchase any Chinese products either since reading they have between 1 to 1.8 millions Uighurs in concentrations camps, among other acts of outright and horrifying oppression towards them. Not to mention their dictator supports Putin's sickening war.

Google what the Chinese government is doing against the Uighurs. It hardly hits the news here.. We should show some solidarity against evil like did in WW2 or have we forgotten what it means to be American,

Mike

Most “Russian” tubes these days are actually made in an Americaan factory owned by an American company. At least it used to be their factory.

Did any of you that rushed out to buy tubes actually need them?

Instead of bragging about finding Russian tubes to buy, you could always support Putin’s horror show in other ways.

Yeesh.

Most of us purchasing Russian tubes right now (or right before they became unavailable) are purchasing from the usual western or local tube vendors. (E.g. I live near The Tube Store).

These vendors had already purchased the tubes - most of them before any invasion occurred - so we aren’t sending money to Russia. We are actually supporting western vendors who would be stuck with product they couldn’t sell (if everyone went "Proud American" like you) and who need to make a living, the same vendors we have supported up until now.

Think this through a little more before the virtue signaling, ok?

On the topic of the thread:  After over 20 years of owning my CJ Premier 12 monoblocks I only got in to tube rolling in the past 5 months or so.  Previously if I had to retube I'd just go straight to the Tung Sol 6550s recommended by CJ.

I have been blown away by the sound of the Tung Sol KT120s.   Great timing to get in to these tubes, huh?

It's been wild seeing all the tube vendors raising prices and then ultimately closing shop for now.   I sure hope they (and other manufacturers of tube equipment) come out of this ok.

Fortunately I was able to grab a spare set from a vendor who hadn't raised his prices yet.   Also grabbed some spare NOS GE input tubes, and at the VERY last minute snuck in an order at The Tube Store for EH 6922s late friday night for my CJ preamp (the only tubes I like in that preamp - recommended by CJ).   Then the store went down.  Luckily I was told today my tubes had shipped so...whew...just under the wire!

I hope to have my premier 12s running well in to the future.

@jea48 ....Waaay too ostentatious to my tastes...better to buy dirt since that's not being made at all anymore....discounting land mass moves, all that...

Better: ;)

Announce plans to move said 'yacht' to an 'impound area', but have an unfortunate incident that sends it to the bottom...

...since it was 'in for repairs', after all....

*tsk*

Prof, if you purchase Russian tubes and they are restocked via China, as mentioned in a post above, you should consider if you might be supporting the Russian economy by doing so. All our government and European allies are presently willing to do to stop Putin’s horrific invasion is economic sanctions or supply weapons, So I feel we all individually need to do our part to support Ukranians being victimized in every little way we can, right down to boycotting Russian tubes or vodka if need be. Personally I wish we’d do a lot more as a nation, but that’s another issue. I hope I’m wrong and the economic sanctions do succeed.

Secondly your statement, "Think this through a little more before the virtue signaling, ok?" is patronizing, Try that on someone else.

This is a time when we can all stand up together, left and right. I feel strongly that’s what we should be doing. Heck, I never thought I’d be agreeing with anything that came out of Lindsey Graham’s mouth, but there’s a first time for everything.

Mike

@skyscraper +1

Prof, if you purchase Russian tubes and they are restocked via China, as mentioned in a post above, you should consider if you might be supporting the Russian economy by doing so.
 

So the plan is to punish the Russian citizens into abject poverty instead of their government? I have a problem with that considering they have no real choice in who to vote for in their elections. This will do the exact opposite of what they are hoping for. 

@artemus_5

     The Falun Gong, in China, only WISH they had it as good as the Uyghurs!

https://www.jpolrisk.com/is-the-persecution-of-falun-gong-in-china-tantamount-to-genocide/

     Anyone that would consider supporting such a repressive government, is truly deplorable.

https://www.healtheuropa.eu/forced-organ-harvesting-one-of-the-worst-mass-atrocities-of-this-century/97035/

@femoore12

So the plan is to punish the Russian citizens into abject poverty instead of their government?

And here is the unintended consequence of such a move. When you use the monetary system as a weapon, it’s likely to have consequences. Meanwhile, China is loving this idea. I hope this goes no further than Saudi Arabia.

saudi-arabia-considers-accepting-yuan-instead-of-dollars

@artemus_5 

Meanwhile, China is loving this idea. I hope this goes no further than Saudi Arabia.

I believe this was the plan all along. Africa, South America, Central America, and all of Asia will agree to trade in non-US currencies. Europe and Canada will fall in line after that happens. America will be isolated. 

Prof, if you purchase Russian tubes and they are restocked via China, as mentioned in a post above, you should consider if you might be supporting the Russian economy by doing so.

No, the Russian tubes simply won't be getting to our shores at this point.  Purchasing the existing Russian tubes from local vendors does not mean you have supported Russia or that Russian tubes will be restocked.  It's supporting local vendors who are STUCK with that product!   We'd only be hurting local vendors and that's it.

It seems you also want us to not purchase any Chinese tubes either?  Well that's pretty much it for tubes then.  I guess you are fine with many of the long time tube vendors going out of business?    Nobody can use their tube amps anymore?

Should we boycott everything from China?  (Good luck).  Boycot everything from anywhere that is doing ANYTHING wrong?  (That will be almost every country).

It makes more sense to focus actions during ACUTE emergencies on that which will actually have some direct effect.   Not purchasing the current local vendor stock of Russian tubes may make you feel better, but it wouldn't do ANYTHING to help Ukrainians. 

@femoore12 

You are probably right. Prime reserve currency gives this country (or any other) a LOT of advantages.

Bad news/good news: Looks now like China may help Russia complete their current military project. The only possible motivation is their dislike of the USA.

The good news? I think JJ tubes come from Slovakia.

Nobody should feel bad about acquiring tubes for personal use in their expensive tube gear. I honestly don't care where they came from, or who gets the money. Good grief. 

@notlistening - Yes, JJ tubes are from the Slovak Republic.... 

It appears that Upscale Audio has suspended tube sales from their website. I suppose you have to call and speak to a sales person. But my sense of things is that unless you have a really good story you may only be able to get only a replacement tube. 
 

TubeDepot’s website shows many tube types unavailable. Some of the more expensive tubes are available but only in very small quantities. 
 

valvesnmore as of last night, seemed to have more tubes. But certain types might be available in small quantities or unavailable. 
 

Good luck. 

Prof, I have to disagree with you, I feel anything we can do to help stop the atrocities going on in Ukraine, including bringing the Russian economy down to stop it, is the least of what we should be doing, Even if it’s only a symbolic gesture like stopping purchasing Russian vodka or buying Russian tubes.

As for the Chinese government having concentration and slave labor camps for Uighurs, I don’t feel like that’s much different than what the Nazis were doing during WW2, except they haven’t resorted to mass executions yet, far as I know anyway. I read an interview with a woman who had been released from one of the camps and then escaped to Kazakhstan,. She told of the gangs that pulled her and other women out of their cells at night on a regular basis to rape them. It was pitiable. I also listened to an interview on NPR how Chinese police have installed cameras and listening devices in Uighurs living rooms in their homes, and regularly spend overnights with Uighur families as part of their oppression of them..

That and other atrocities are nothing I want to support with dollars I use to buy things here at home. I can’t stomach turning a blind eye to that. As Americans we are fortunate enough to be free enough to stand up to pure evil, and should be doing that no matter what side of the political fence we are on.

Go to the trouble of finding Slovak tubes. It’s a small sacrifice, And In my estimation, which will sound harsh to you, you shouldn’t try to rationalize dong otherwise which sounds to me like what you are doing. The Ukranians want to be in the free world. They need every bit of help they can from everyone including us Audiogoners while they and their families are being massacred, and their homes, schools and hospitals are being blown to pieces by that paranoid despot and Hitler wanabee Putin. I don’t feel we’re doing near enough. and I feel we all need to do our part no matter how small. That’s my opinion anyway. Others may not agree and I won’t belabor it anymore in this small corner of my world,

Mike

mike, sometimes it's not easy to see when you are being fed a narrative

Fredfung2021, please clarify who is seeing what narrative and what you think might be actually going on. I’m all ears. Thanks,

Mike

the uighur genocide conspiracy manufactured by NED

Would gladly pay more for tubes made in Poland or another eastern / central European country, which already have plenty of audio manufacturing infrastructure

I would be buying shares in JJ right now..

@kingbarbuda - Kevin from Upscale put up a video yesterday concerning this that you might want to check out if you haven't done so yet.... 

@larsman I have watched that video. Thanks. 

If you can use them how about buying some old Soviet Tubes being sold by a few Ukrainians, on eBay.

Here ya go!

@skyscraper 

"That and other atrocities are nothing I want to support with dollars I use to buy things here at home"

Good luck with that because without a doubt you and the rest of us are as China exported $453B of products to the US in 2020. Go to

tradingeconomics.com/china/exports/united-states and you'll see every category from food, clothing, furniture, electronics, etc etc etc - 97 line items listed

you can stop buying Apple and Nike for starters…

Facten, you are exactly correct. It’s difficult to do, but way less difficult than what the people and families of those being victimized are enduring. Since very few people are even aware of, much less standing up for them, they are screwed. For that and some other reasons, I try and do what l little I can, which is not much.

If more of us good people joined in, like we seem to be doing in some ways for the people in Ukraine, maybe it would help curb despots from being able to continue to commit the worst atrocities. As the world’s biggest market, as a country we have some real say so if we wield that power for the good. That’s even if we’re unwilling to fight for the victims, like my Dad did as a seventeen year old U.S. soldier in WW2.

My father told me, and it made a big impression, there were concentration camps all over Germany. He said you could tell you were coming up on one from miles away due to the stench. Sadly things like that are apparently still going on in with nobody lifting a finger to stop them, I’m not a religious person, but when it comes to the worst and most horrific excesses, like the current situation in Ukraine, we should be our brothers keeper and stop sick despots from doing what they are doing.to people just like you and I.

Mike

I thought this headline and story was a scream and shows what regular folk are doing to pitch in on their own:

Russian oligarchs superyacht stuck in Norway because no-one there will sell it fuel.

"NRK spoke with several supplies of fuel in Norway, none of whom said they wanted to deliver to the Ragnar."

"They can row home," an oil service said.

Pesky_wabbit, will do.