[NoahH]

Random note I came across I thought I would repeat for the community here:

Sovtek, Svetlana, and other Russian tube makers are now not sources we will get new shipments from in the US. Tube supplies are now yet another supply chain issue.

If you need them, you might stock up now...

[Tyson]

Good thing the Chinese tubes have sounded better than the Russian tubes for a while now...

[opnly bafld]

Random note I came across I thought I would repeat for the community here:

Sovtek, Svetlana, and other Russian tube makers are now not sources we will get new shipments from in the US. Tube supplies are now yet another supply chain issue.

If you need them, you might stock up now...

Too late, many of the larger vendors are already out.

[vrao81]

Don't forget Gold Lion tubes are also made in Russia

[Tyson]

Don't forget Gold Lion tubes are also made in Russia

I just listed some Gold Lion 300b tubes and some Sophia Electric 300b/n tubes in the AC For Sale section, if anyone's interested...

[bacobits1]

I see KT120's doubling in price to $105+ each.
Spoke with Jim McShane during the week he had 4 quads , $218 for a quad not going to get better than that.
Still some at $67 each out there at some places, soon to dwindle obviously.
I use KT120's, I'm backed up for now.

[Woodsage]

Here I was wondering how I could afford filling my gas tank. Then I remembered the 6 GL KT77’s in my tube stash… I’m rich!!

[Tom Bombadil]

Here I was wondering how I could afford filling my gas tank. Then I remembered the 6 GL KT77’s in my tube stash… I’m rich!!

I've seen those going for over $100 per tube.   

[DannyBadorine]

Good thing the Chinese tubes have sounded better than the Russian tubes for a while now...

For real?  Which ones do you recommend?

[vrao81]

I think he means PSVane.

[Tyson]

For real?  Which ones do you recommend?

Psvane is the best I've heard, especially the Western Electric line, the Philips line and the Acme line.  Ah, and their tubes with titanium glass coatings are all quite good as well. 

Shuguang used to be at a similar level, but a fire at the factory took them out so very low availability and much higher prices for the stuff that is left make them not competitive anymore. 

I haven't heard the new Linlai tubes but they are supposed to be as good as the best of the Psvane tubes, so that's a pretty high bar.  Maybe this summer I'll spring for something from them.

[Norman Tracy]

Alas I fear Tyson's assertion the Chinese sources like Psvane are sufficient to fill the loss of Russian tube factories is a bit of whistling past the graveyard. Granted those of us who tend to hang out in the power triode world where a couple of 2A3s or 300Bs is sufficient can squeak by suffering the 25% cost increases that are the defining trait of 2022. The world of hurt will be the large scale users of audio power pentodes like 6550, KT88, KT66, and new designs like KT150s. Companies (and owners of) amps that specialize in big tube amps using 4, 8, or more pentodes like Audio Research, VTL, and Valve Amplification Company are in for a rocky road. They depend on using a stream out of the river of power pentodes the Russian factories supply to the guitar amp industry.

[DannyBadorine]

A friend of mine makes Omega Guitar Amplifiers, which I highly recommend for any guitar player.  We just had a conversation about the tubes and he is definitely feeling the supply chain hurt.
https://omegaampworks.com

[Norman Tracy]

Quoting from https://shop.ehx.com/russian-tubes/ I believe this is the text of the email sent to all Electro Harmonix / New Sensor OEM customers.

ATTENTION ALL EHX TUBE CUSTOMERS
On March 11, 2022, Russia imposed a ban on the export of some 200 goods in response to the sanctions imposed on it over the current conflict in Ukraine. We have confirmed that the ban applies to our seven brands of Russian tubes. Currently, the ban is set to remain in effect until the end of the calendar year.

Given this export ban, we will not be receiving any further tube inventory for these brands. A myriad of pressures — including continued strains on the supply chain, escalating internal expenses, mounting inflation, and an ever-evolving legal landscape (particularly in light of the Ukraine conflict) — have created a very fluid and ambiguous environment. Until we can properly assess the impact of these factors, we will not honor any new orders or ship any more Russian tubes on back order.

 

[Tyson]

Quoting from https://shop.ehx.com/russian-tubes/ I believe this is the text of the email sent to all Electro Harmonix / New Sensor OEM customers.

Good!  This will give people in the West a push to finally start using Chinese tubes instead.  There's these lingering ideas that Russian tubes are more reliable (they are not), and that Russian tubes sound better (they do not). 

[mlundy57]

Good!  This will give people in the West a push to finally start using Chinese tubes instead.  There's these lingering ideas that Russian tubes are more reliable (they are not), and that Russian tubes sound better (they do not).

Considering current relations with China stocking up might not be a bad idea

[rich121]

Good!  This will give people in the West a push to finally start using Chinese tubes instead.  There's these lingering ideas that Russian tubes are more reliable (they are not), and that Russian tubes sound better (they do not).

Would rather not give my $$ to China... you are supporting slave labor, genocide, organ harvesting and many other atrocities... It was pure greed that they are/were allowed in the WTO.

[Opus Flatus]

I'm surprised no one mentioned it there are a few other counties that manufacture tubes: For reasonably priced tubes, JJ (Slovakia) manufactures a wide range of signal and power tubes.

EAT is also manufacturing $$$ KT88 and 300B  tubes. EAT has taken over the former Tesla (Slovakia).

Not sure if ELROG (Germany) $$$$ producing DHT tubes; not sure if it is still in business.

Last but not least; Resurrected Western Electric making $$$$ 300B's in the USA.

[rich121]

https://youtu.be/vrXOXtQ7S3k

[Tyson]

Would rather not give my $$ to China... you are supporting slave labor, genocide, organ harvesting and many other atrocities... It was pure greed that they are/were allowed in the WTO.

I suppose you don't own things like an iPhone (or literally anything else made in China) either, cause you don't want to support slave labor, genocide, organ harvesting and many other atrocities.