How Many Spare Tubes do You Have??

FullRangeMan · « **on:** 20 May 2011, 04:47 am »

I have no one tube amp, except a sole 12AX7 in a Hartke head amp, but I have eight power tubes saved, looks I am prevented.
How many spare tubes do you have??

ltr317 · « **Reply #1 on:** 20 May 2011, 05:16 am »

Several hundred.

SlushPuppy · « **Reply #2 on:** 20 May 2011, 05:26 am »

Quote from: ltr317 on 20 May 2011, 05:16 am

Several hundred.

Wow

Seriously?

ltr317 · « **Reply #3 on:** 20 May 2011, 05:32 am »

Quote from: SlushPuppy on 20 May 2011, 05:26 am

Wow Seriously?

Yes, I had several hundred more, but sold a bunch (mostly here on AC and on Audio Asylum) in the past few years.

SlushPuppy · « **Reply #4 on:** 20 May 2011, 05:48 am »

Quote from: ltr317 on 20 May 2011, 05:32 am

Yes, I had several hundred more, but sold a bunch (mostly here on AC and on Audio Asylum) in the past few years.

Holy smokes! That's pretty cool

Do you have a variety of tubes, or one type in particular?

cujobob · « **Reply #5 on:** 20 May 2011, 05:50 am »

I generally keep two backup sets for whatever I own at minimum.

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #6 on:** 20 May 2011, 05:54 am »

Quote from: ltr317 on 20 May 2011, 05:32 am

Yes, I had several hundred more, but sold a bunch (mostly here on AC and on Audio Asylum) in the past few years.

It seems good have a dear friend as tube broker!

SlushPuppy · « **Reply #7 on:** 20 May 2011, 06:03 am »

Quote from: FULLRANGEMAN on 20 May 2011, 05:54 am

It seems good have a dear friend as tube broker!

My thoughts exactly

Pez · « **Reply #8 on:** 20 May 2011, 06:09 am »

I have very few. One set of KT88 treasures and a few sets of shugaung standard issues for testing alterations to my equipment to make sure things don't blow up. Some KT66s, a few EL34s and probably a dozen or so 12AT7s and 12AX7s. Oh and about 50 other tubes out of some old equipment. Wait... Did I say I only had a few?

ltr317 · « **Reply #9 on:** 20 May 2011, 06:26 am »

Quote from: SlushPuppy on 20 May 2011, 05:48 am

Holy smokes! That's pretty cool Do you have a variety of tubes, or one type in particular?

I have a lot of different small signal tubes like every variation of the 12A family. I also have a bunch of 6SN7 types, 5U4 rectifiers, and at least a dozen other driver type tubes. Several AC members have bought from me repeatedly. Ericus Rex tops the list though, since he buys tubes from me even when I don't have an ad. To date, he's bought several dozen from me. I usually sell them much cheaper than the established online tube vendors. Since I keep a spreadsheet, I have sold 270 tubes in the past four years, and have over 300 remaining in my stash.

Elizabeth · « **Reply #10 on:** 20 May 2011, 06:31 am »

I am tube poor. I cry because i have no tubes except for what is inside my stuff.
If ONLY I had known how valuable tubes would be to me back in 1965... I could also have a warehouse full of tubes all to myself.
Too bad i did not realize back then what i know now.

i could own thousands of Telefunken, Mullard, Westinghouse, GE ... pinched waisted, gold pinned... I weep over it.
ADDED: I do have a few tubes.. I got them with a SinglePower headphone amp. They are all unknown quality 6SN7s the previous owner had as a stash. So I DO have a few tubes. I am lucky.

ltr317 · « **Reply #11 on:** 20 May 2011, 06:47 am »

Quote from: Elizabeth on 20 May 2011, 06:31 am

I am tube poor. I cry because i have no tubes except for what is inside my stuff.
If ONLY I had known how valuable tubes would be to me back in 1965... I could also have a warehouse full of tubes all to myself.
Too bad i did not realize back then what i know now.
i could own thousands of Telefunken, Mullard, Westinghouse, GE ... pinched waisted, gold pinned... I weep over it.
ADDED: I do have a few tubes.. I got them with a SinglePower headphone amp. They are all unknown quality 6SN7s the previous owner had as a stash. So I DO have a few tubes. I am lucky.

Yes, who knew vintage tubes would become somewhat valuable. My older brother got me started on high end audio when I was a teenager, and I used to wonder why he bought so many spare tubes. Now I realize he could forecast the future.

dangerbird · « **Reply #12 on:** 20 May 2011, 10:41 am »

too many.

zybar · « **Reply #13 on:** 20 May 2011, 11:32 am »

Dozens and dozens (ok...probably around 60-80 tubes).

I have different options and backups for my existing tube products, plus I have been keeping all of the NOS tubes for the gear I no longer own. Since it is clear that NOS tubes are only getting more expensive, it seemed silly to sell the NOS tubes just because I can't use them right now.

George

Ericus Rex · « **Reply #14 on:** 20 May 2011, 12:11 pm »

Quote from: ltr317 on 20 May 2011, 06:26 am

I have a lot of different small signal tubes like every variation of the 12A family. I also have a bunch of 6SN7 types, 5U4 rectifiers, and at least a dozen other driver type tubes. Several AC members have bought from me repeatedly. Ericus Rex tops the list though, since he buys tubes from me even when I don't have an ad. To date, he's bought several dozen from me. I usually sell them much cheaper than the established online tube vendors. Since I keep a spreadsheet, I have sold 270 tubes in the past four years, and have over 300 remaining in my stash.

I'VE BEEN OUTED!!!!!

I admit I'm a bit of a tube hoarder. Most of what I have are different flavors to put into my current setup; different power tubes that work in my amp, different brands/nationalities of signal tubes. I even have some tubes that I don't have equipment for! But that doesn't mean I won't need them in the future. And tubes ain't gettin' any cheaper.

That's my rational. If you still think I'm nuts that's fine.

woodsyi · « **Reply #15 on:** 20 May 2011, 02:16 pm »

I have a few and a tube tester.

jtwrace · « **Reply #16 on:** 20 May 2011, 02:17 pm »

I have more then I'd like to admit.

Gopher · « **Reply #17 on:** 20 May 2011, 02:21 pm »

Fewer than I should. I used to have maybe 40 scattered tubes, but I thinned down to almost nothing wanting to free up idle hobby funds to do other stuff. Its fun in theory to have the variety, but most of that stuff I hadn't revisited in years.

Phil A · « **Reply #18 on:** 20 May 2011, 02:29 pm »

I have far fewer than I should. I have 3 pair of back-ups for one component (which uses them all) and not what I would live with long-term if something happened to what I have. They are just there for emergency. I will probably acquire some more after I take care of other stuff. I'd like at least replacements that I would plan on living with long term if something happened to what I'm using.

AVnerdguy · « **Reply #19 on:** 20 May 2011, 02:53 pm »

2 sets of every tube in my system - 12AT7, 6CJ7. From different manufacturers - one NOS (various Telefunkens, RCA, Mullards etc.) and a new backup set of whatever the units came with - EH and JJ typically. Total count 30. I just bought a MP-301 MK2 so I am on the hunt for backups for that.