What's going on at the St. Petersburg plant?

organ

I was just checking out some EL34 and noticed the =C= EL34 is a lot more expensive now. The price has nearly doubled since I started using them almost 10 years ago. Other EL34's did go up in price but nowhere near as much as the =C=.
Did they stop production and online stores are only selling what's left? This is not looking good. They make one of the best sounding EL34 imo.

heiney9

Yep about 9 months ago they skyrocketed in price. Good thing I already have a stash of them.

H9

organ

Do you know why? I better get a few more pairs before they start going close to $100/pr.

george daniel

I'd give McShane a shout if you want any.

heiney9

Here's a couple links after Googling the subject.

http://www.seymourduncan.com/forum/showthread.php?t=208673

http://www.rig-talk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=83988&start=0

Tube Depot had this to say earlier in the year regarding SED tubes.

"World monetary markets, coupled with higher energy and labor prices in Russia, have fueled price increases for SED tubes here in the USA. TubeDepot.com is working to stabilize price levels and we want you to know that SED tubes still are the finest glass power tubes on the planet."

H9

heiney9

If the above is true I'd rather they raise the cost than cut corners and make an inferior product to keep the cost the same. Personally based on other tube prices and what I've read there is a bit of greed going on as well as the energy, labor and exchange rates. etc that all combine to make the St. Petersburg tubes cost more. I still think they are among the top 2 best most relaible NEW production tubes around.

They are easily the equal to Gold Lion and no one (on the internet, not the OP) seems to complain about their pricing. It's been higher from the get-go. No one complains about the Shungung PSvane tubes costing even more. It's supply and demand and what type of "mystic" or track record you can create around your product.

H9

organ

Thanks guys.
I hope things improve in the future. It is good to hear they didn't stop production. They are still worth their current asking price imo.

I agree, H9. I'd rather pay more to keep the quality the same than have them cut corners. Even though I like all the other current EL34/6CA7/KT77, there is something about the =C= that I really like. I think this tube has the most "tube magic" with that super smooth and warm mids and colorful highs.

cnh

I'm going to need some of those myself. Perhaps it's time to buy, develop a stash?

Thanks!

cnh

organ

So far I don't think we need to worry too much at the moment. They're still being produced. If they suddenly produce a lesser tube due to whatever reason (to lower price, lower labor cost, etc), then we should start buying off whatever remaining stock of the old version left from our tube vendors.