Where Do you buy TRANSISTORS?

A couple years back, I needed Toshiba MOS-FETs to repair a Hafler 9505.  Bought a bunch of them from an eBay seller in Israel.   Brand new, perfect and in the original packaging.  One must know how to shop, on the Bay.   This is the guy's store: http://stores.ebay.com/AudioFET?_rdc=1

That’s another reason I prefer tubed equipment over SS. Both types of gain devices wear out/go bad, but tube designations and availability have historically been far more consistent than the ever-changing and constantly obsolesced plethora of sand-based devices.

"Yes for the better nearly every time, it’s called evolving." What good is, "for the better", if the, "evolving" SS transistors are so hard to locate and OEM replacement parts are virtual unobtainium(the OP’s and my point)? The crappy, new production valves you refer to will still be easily available decades from now, which can(at least) quickly return a tubed component’s functionality. Further, EAT is currently manufacturing a few popular tube designations that sonically compare to their better quality, original counterparts (at a price). BTW- Flick any of my 70’s, welded-plate GE 6550A’s(or two 40’s, tall bottle Sylvania 6SN7W’s, two 40’s, Tung-Sol Round Plates or six early 60’s, Siemens grey plate CCa’s) and you’ll get virtually nothing(outside of maybe a broken hand). Cheers......=8^)