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When the Power Tubes Run Out

A lot of you have nice amps that essentially require quality NOS tubes. Do you have any plans about what you are going to do when you get cut out of the diminishing tube-trade loop? Or are you like Dubya?...By the time tubes run out someone will have thought of a substitute. I don't see a sub of equal quality on the horizon. No one is insane enough to spend the money in order make them like they used to for such a small market. And even if they did, the price of those tubes would make the NOSes look like a dime a dozen. But maybe i'm wrong.

So SS for you, then? *Cringe*, i'm sure:) Any idea if or how the industry (e.g. high-end tube amp manufacturers and/or SS companies) will respond when the supply becomes critically low?
ohlala
10 responses Add your response
nitewulf
422 posts
 
Um, KT 150s are a new design, as are KT 120s....
wolf_garcia
6,695 posts
 
Yeah…people forget that…I've used tube guitar amps since the mid 60s and they do dwarf the hifi tube usage by many, many multiples. I also note that people who are concerned with the gentle care of tube amps should think about what many tube guitar and bass amps go through during professional use. I should issue a blanket apology to all the tube amps I've abused over the years.

atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,794 posts
 
We design our equipment to only use tubes that are in production. That makes life a lot easier :)

Additionally, as long as guitar amp manufacturers are using tubes, there will be a supply as they use far more tubes than home consumer audio! So 12AX7s, 12AU7s, 12AT7s, 6L6s, KT-88s and EL-34s should remain easy to find. 
wolf_garcia
6,695 posts
 
I have enough spare tubes, both new and NOS, to last for a decade or longer. I assume many other tube heads also have a stash much larger than mine, but without intentionally hoarding I think curiosity just gets more tubes in the drawer.
lilmsmaggie
273 posts
 
A lot of you have nice amps that essentially require quality NOS tubes.

  • NOS tubes are not a necessity --they are desirable.  
  • Do NOS tubes sound better? -- that depends on the tube and the source from which they came. 
  • Are you into tube rolling? -- that can get expensive. 

There are plenty of good, newer production tubes available, e.g  JJ/Tesla in Czechoslovakia,  Svetlana in Russia, Shuguang, China.  

I don't see production shortages any time soon.

I have an EL84 based integrated amp (2 EL84's per channel), 3 ECC83's, 1 ECC82 and 1 6DJ8 -- that's 9 tubes total. 

None of them are NOS tubes.  
buellrider97
387 posts
 
You guys are scaring me . I just pulled my GEC KT-66 smoked glass and put them away . And I will only take out my NOS Gold Lion KT-88’s  on holidays . So let’s see , I have a shoe box full of SED Winged C’s 6550. Over there , I have new GL, Tung Sol, JJ. Oh look , on the bottom , NOS Tung Sol 6550 3 hole . I’m 60 and I’ll be dead before I run outta tubes . Woo hoo! But I’m considering a First Watt , just in case the sky falls . Have fun , be kind , Mike.
mwalsdor
94 posts
 
My Moth s45 SET amp uses five (5) tubes: Two 2a3 or 45 output tubes, one 5ar4, 5y3 or 5r4 rectifier and two 6an4 input tubes. At last count I have 47 input, rectifier and power tubes. I've pretty much settled on the 45 power tube, I have three pairs of "ST" and one pair of "globes". Vaic is currently manufacturing a killer 45 that I hope to add to my collection, not cheap ($330) but supposed to be superior to the famed globes which NOS will cost you even more - for a 70 year old tube! Right now is still a great time to collect some wonderful tubes.
natalie
404 posts
 
A great portion of Military gear was MFG with cream of the crop tubes.Mill Spec.
Very little use on some of it.Great opportunity.
zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
Check out the recent thread titled "Your choice of EL-34" from 4/16 for some relevant discussion of related topics...
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