Tubes....did I pass up a good deal?


I have an ARC PH3 SE and want to re-tube it. It has 3 6922 tubes. I called Andy at Vintage Tubes awhile back and have not heard from him since.
I was at an audio flea market today and someone had a pair of "very little" used Amprex 6922 with gold pins. The cost was $60 for the two. He would add one more Amprex from another pair (he says this one was not "private stock" for and cost of $20. Total $80.
I passed......
I simply felt unsure of the match, age, and quality.....

Did I pass up a good deal?
rwd

Showing 1 response by ed_sawyer

Without knowing more it's hard to say if it was a good deal or not. If they were NOS, then yes of course it would have been a good deal.

RE: Upscale - unless you have bought gear there, dont' bother - the 6DJ8/6922's (anything other than old russian tubes) are limited to the so-called cookie jar and only sold to customers who have bought gear there.

Andy did call me to mention he had 6DJ8s. Of course, it was about a year ago that I had inquired! Such timeliness. ;-)

Valvo = Phillips = Amperex = Mullard. All were brands/companies owned by Phillips, so yes, it's possible Valvo and Amperex were made on the same lines. Check the date codes for plant of manufacture. Good luck finding Amperex PQ's for that cheap ($10), even used they still easily fetch 20-35/ea if test-as-new, gold pin, 6922s, etc.

FWIW,
-Ed