Tube Vendors

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Mightyburner

Re: Tube Vendors
« Reply #20 on: 7 Jan 2007, 07:55 pm »
Does anyone have any experience with these guys?

http://www.tubedepot.com/index.html

TheChairGuy

Re: Tube Vendors
« Reply #21 on: 8 Jan 2007, 06:00 pm »
If it's new tubes, this fella' on ebay (ID:jspht8338) is highly recommended:

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfrppZ25QQfrtsZ0QQsassZjspht8338

He has a very large selection of Sovtek, Electro Harmonix, JJ, and EI tubes....and often has Gold Pin versions of several I don't often see readily in the market.  His prices are very fair (I just bought Gold Pin EH12AU7's for $1.00 less per tube than above mentioned Tube Depot price), his communication and shipping is crisp and excellent.  He's in the Los Angeles area...particularly appealing to me here on the Left Coast.

I'm not a NOS guy, to many hits and misses, I generally find that replacing NOS for new takes a tired tube out of the sonic scene.  I really think the new sellers make a lot of great stuff nowadays...and by 'great' I mean well made: thick glass, low noise, low microphony, consistency, etc.  I think many of them have copied the best construction features and bested the best designs of yore at a fraction of rare NOS pricing.

Wholly my opinion, of course  :roll:   

EDIT: I didn't realize until today, but this fella' is one and the same as New Quest Sound...a long time vendor over at Audiogon.  Seems they have many more items on ebay (US) tho (the EH12AU7's I bought weren't listed on Audiogon) ...it might be too costly to list all of his wares on Audiogon these days:

http://www.newquestsound.com/
« Last Edit: 8 Jan 2007, 10:48 pm by TheChairGuy »

mcgsxr

Re: Tube Vendors
« Reply #22 on: 8 Jan 2007, 06:39 pm »
I found Jim McShane's website, after searching my emails from last year.

Highly recommended guy, I really enjoyed his honest responses to my noob tube queries, and his packaging was just silly overkill...

http://pages.prodigy.net/jimmcshane/

bacobits1

Re: Tube Vendors
« Reply #23 on: 8 Jan 2007, 06:49 pm »
Purchased from Tube Depot last week. Very good!
ASTI and the Tube Store all very good.
Of course Jim McShane is highly recommended too.

D

TjMV3

Re: Tube Vendors
« Reply #24 on: 10 Jan 2007, 04:26 pm »
This past Saturday and Sunday,  I ordered 11 tubes from the ....... www.thetubestore.com,  in two seperate orders.


A matched pair of the new Tungsol 12AX7 (New Sensor Corportation, not NOS).

And a pair of NOS Tesla E88CC/Saber 6922 (1960s era).

A matched pair of Electro-Harmonix 12AX7.

And then 5 more of the new Tungsol 12AX7 (New Sensor Corportation, not NOS)

Monday morning I received an e-mail from Jon,  telling me they have combined the two seprate orders into one,  which eliminates an extra shipping charge and that they have upgraded the shipping to Next Business Day Express at no extra charge,  due to the quantity (or size) of my order.

Now that's awesome customer service and a real nice gesture on their part!!!!

The tubes arrived last night via UPS.  All eleven tubes are in beautiful, brand new condition.  But more importantly.............they sound awesome in my gear!!!   Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!

thetubestore.com provided me with fantastic customer service,  fast shipping,  great sounding tubes and Jon is a great guy! 

I plan on shopping there, again!!

Product:  :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

Service/Price:   :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:


TheChairGuy

Re: Tube Vendors
« Reply #25 on: 11 Jan 2007, 05:40 am »
I'm surprised at myself for not previously mentioning the excellent services of the Tubeman, Ken Chaite.

A nice selection of new, NOS and even cryo tubes at reasonable prices.  Shipping is fast and communication has been very good.

 :beer: http://tubeman.com/  :drums:

Buddy/ SET Man...I think he has the grade of Ei 12AX7 you're looking for: http://tubeman.com/item299.htm

jt1stcav

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Re: Tube Vendors
« Reply #26 on: 14 Jan 2007, 01:49 am »
Looks like Jim McShane and Brent Jesse have already been mentioned...both get  :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: in my book for availability, decent pricing, and friendly service. Highly recommended!

bacobits1

Re: Tube Vendors
« Reply #27 on: 21 Jan 2007, 05:04 pm »
Also for newer tubes especially the Ei Elites if you are after these
try here >> http://www.tube-shop.com/usa/prod_eielites.asp
I have ordered from here because no one else had Ei 6DJ8EG in stock and they are very good, $ and shipping. They are in Great Britain.

D

Pez

Re: Tube Vendors
« Reply #28 on: 2 Feb 2007, 07:27 pm »
You know this is the great thing about this site. I was going to start a new thread and ask "Where should I buy tubes from" Good lord! It's all right here. You guys rock!!!

Pez

Re: Tube Vendors
« Reply #29 on: 2 Feb 2007, 07:31 pm »
I think I'm going to try the Winged "C"/S.E.D. EL34.  I'm looking for something with all the warmth and detail of an EL 34, but with the extra power and dynamic transience of an e34l.  Or maybe Electro-Harmonix 6CA7EH??

Any suggestions?

JoshK

Re: Tube Vendors
« Reply #30 on: 2 Feb 2007, 07:47 pm »
From what I've read on various forums, including many tube diy'ers forums, some really like the Winged C EL34 for a bit more "body/warmth/whatever" and some like the JJ KT77s which are a bit higher power, more punchy and clear. 

tull skull

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Re: Tube Vendors
« Reply #31 on: 2 Feb 2007, 08:03 pm »
I would like to mention Brian Cherry from DIYhifi supply. he carries a decent selection and has good relationships with the manufacturers he represents. Tube are tested. He is a good guy but his biggest problem is he is just too darn busy. He will answer your email but it takes a while sometimes. He is a sponsor over at AA and has a forum there where you can ask questions and get follow up. He is located in HK so take that into consideration

diyhifisupply.com.

I also noticed on Mapletree's site in his link section a tube vendor but I have no knowledge of the company. Perhaps the good Dr. could chime in?

I wonder if Mr. Hagerman also might have 2 cents to spare?

zacster

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Re: Tube Vendors
« Reply #32 on: 2 Feb 2007, 09:30 pm »
I'll be a naysayer about the winged "c" tubes.  Not that they were bad in any way, I just couldn't hear any difference between them and the Valve Arts that I had.  Maybe the Valve Arts are better than expected, I don't know. 

Pez

Re: Tube Vendors
« Reply #33 on: 2 Feb 2007, 10:37 pm »
hmm where did you get the valve arts from? how much?

JoshK

Re: Tube Vendors
« Reply #34 on: 2 Feb 2007, 10:58 pm »
Isn't VA just rebranded Shuguang tubes?  I don't think they cost anymore I just think they rebrand them.  Anyway Shuguang supposedly makes good tubes.  I just have read a ton about how good, consistent and reliable JJ (from Czech Rep, used to be Tesla) are.

Pez

Re: Tube Vendors
« Reply #35 on: 2 Feb 2007, 11:33 pm »
I agree Josh, I've been using JJ's on my amp for years now.  What I don't like about them is that they are a little boring dynamically, at least on my system.  I have both el34's and E34Ls.  I'm thinking it may be something other than these tubes, I pretty much have to retube my whole system at this point, but I wanted to see what other options are out there.  Honestly I can probably get a few more months out of the JJ's before they drive me nuts. Maybe I'll look at my preamp and output tubes on my amp before I change out my JJ's.

mjosef

Re: Tube Vendors
« Reply #36 on: 3 Feb 2007, 12:46 am »
I am thinking of trying JJ EL34L's in my 3205(Response Audio), and am leaning toward a cryoed quad from Cryoset. I have been using TungSol 6550's but these doesn't seem to keep the bias stable, I have been having to keep checking and adjusting the bias every few hours or so with some fuse blowing results on occasion. Pain in the ass. At least I think its the tubes not the amp, using the stock  Sovtek tubes I haven't experienced the bias being erractic. The TungSols(when they behave) beat the Sovtek soundwise in this amp.
Will report back my experience with Cryoset.

Pez

Re: Tube Vendors
« Reply #37 on: 3 Feb 2007, 02:12 am »
You may also be having a problem with your power. If you get fluctuation with your AC coming in your bias will go up and down as a result. Do you have or know somebody who has a multimeter?

Befuddled

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Re: Tube Vendors
« Reply #38 on: 3 Feb 2007, 03:39 am »
I've purchased from the Tubemonger with good success. You haven't seen packaging till you receive tubes from them.  http://www.tubemonger.com/ They have some good finds in small signal tubes. Not the cheapest though.
Joel

Pez

Re: Tube Vendors
« Reply #39 on: 3 Feb 2007, 04:17 pm »
ugh! this site is so convoluted! I hate trying to buy from a disorganized list like this! http://pages.prodigy.net/jimmcshane/tubes.htm