Tube supplier and cross reference thread

treitz3

I have recently updated my list of tube suppliers and other tube related websites that I have gathered over the years and figured I'd share it with all of you. Just so you know, I have no affiliation with any link provided. Happy hunting!


http://www.tubeaudiostore.com

http://www.emissionlabs.com

http://www.jacmusic.com

http://www.vacuumtubes.net/

http://www.kcanostubes.com/

http://www.dougstubes.com/

http://www.vacuum-tube-shop.com/

https://www.watfordvalves.com

http://www.natubes.com

http://www.shuguangtube.com/

http://www.mafaudio.com/pro/propage.aspx

http://www.jjyaudio.com/products.asp?menuid=161&menuid1=255

http://www.brimartubes.com/

brentjes@audiotubes.com

http://www.tubemonger.com/

http://www.cryoset.com/

http://tctubes.com/

www.analogtubes.com

http://www.tubedepot.com/

http://www.thetubestore.com/

http://www.tubemuseum.org/

http://www.triodeelectronics.com/


http://www.electron-tubes.com/

http://www.house-of-tubes.com/home/hot_home.asp

https://www.tubeworld.com/index_high.htm

http://www.starkelectronic.com/tubes.htm

http://www.tube-shop.com/

http://www.mullardtubes.com/

http://psvanetube.com/wordpress/

http://www.upscaleaudio.com/

http://www.vacuumtube.com/

http://www.valves.uk.com/ [UK site]

http://www.vacuumtubesinc.com/

http://www.vacuumtubes.com/price7.html

http://www.r-vac.com/tubes.htm

http://www.tubedata.org/

http://stores.ebay.ca/SaleRCS

http://www.vac-amps.com/homepage.htm

http://members.aol.com/etetubes/

http://www.audioasylum.com/scripts/d.pl?audio/faq/joes-tubes.html

http://www.audiotubes.com/

http://radiodaze.com/

http://hktubeaudio.homestead.com/files/tubecode.html

http://www.musicdirect.com/

http://classic-tubeshop-kunisch.de *You can email Annette Kunisch in English.

http://www.tube-and-valve-electronics.co.uk/

http://www.mcshanedesign.net

http://www.partsconnexion.com/ Scroll down for preference

http://tubemaze.info/

http://www.hifitubes.nl/catalog/tubes-c-21.html

http://www.chelmervalve.com/


And tube tweak links


http://herbiesaudiolab.net/

http://www.thetubestore.com/tuberings.html

http://www.vintagetubeservices.com/Dampers.htm

http://www.jenalabs.com/ [Tube Cryo-ing service - JenaLabs]

http://tubeman.com/ [Tube Cryo-ing service]

http://www.elusivedisc.com/prodinfo.asp?number=MHEATDAMP


Tube Guide - http://hktubeaudio.homestead.com/files/tubecode.html

Weird tube numbers/letters - http://pax-comm.com/rcadates.pdf


Date codes for RCA - http://mysite.verizon.net/tubetronic/PDF_FILES/RCA DATE CODES.pdf [RCA date codes]


Quick reference to Amperex, Mullard, Philips, and Valvo Tube Codes - http://www.audiotubes.com/mullcode.htm


Foreign substitutes list for American type tubes [research thoroughly before any tube purchase!!!] - http://www.tubedata.info/usa2for.html



Feel free to add any tube supplier or tube information website you have ran across that might help someone else find what they might be looking for. Thanks and have a good day!

Tom

pitdogg2

http://www.shuguangtube.com/

This one above blacked by both Malware bytes and McAffe for TROJANS proceed with caution if you must visit.


http://www.house-of-tubes.com/home/hot_home.asp

this one dead link. ^^

Alton T

Thanks Tom..
Bookmarked to "My Favorites List" for quick references.
Thanks for the research, time, and posting.

treitz3

Ivan, thank you sir for the feedback. Much appreciated!

[EDIT:] You are welcome, @McInPolk!

Tom

GlennDog

Thanks Tom!

JayCee

Nice reference. Bookmarked. Thanks.

xsmi

This needs to be a stickie. Nice work. Thank you sir.

TEAforONE

That is great! Thanks Tom!

brgman

Does anyone have a recommendation for getting tubes tested?
I see that tctubes offers this service but I have never dealt with them.After being out of the game for 4 years I now look at a hodgepodge of tubes that I once knew what was what and now I’m having to start over.Any suggestions on a trusted source is appreciated.

pitdogg2

A trusted source to test tubes you already have?
How's it going Mike?

brgman

Yes sir.Im trying to clean up the stock I have that I lost track of during my sabbatical.Find out what’s good/bad/weak/strong.
As they say,use it or lose it.I am digging into all these boxes and boxes of parts and spares that SOMEBODY bought and put in my basement.
I know most if not all are good but how good I no longer remember.

pitdogg2

Well I know a few here have tube tester's. Hopefully they chime in.
Nice to see you back man

brgman

Thanks.
I have looked for a tester but not worth the money not knowing what I will get.
Besides I am not planning much tube rolling for now.

mhardy6647

So -- the thing about tube testers is that -- to do it right, one needs a good transconductance type tester that is properly calibrated. That's actually a pretty high (read: expensive) bar, which is why I use a serviceperson grade emissions tester (Sencore Mighty-Mite) which will answer basic good/bad questions (emissions, grid leakage, shorts, and, with a tad bit of finagling, a "life" test) -- but cannot tell one anything about the actual in circuit performance of any tube, nor can it match tubes.

As in most things in life: ya gets what yez pays for.

I'd actually love to have something like a Hikok TV-7, but to find a good one that's rehabbed, calibrated and ready to go isn't a trivial quest.

The cool thing about my little Sencore? It was my father's daily driver in his TV repairperson days. The ol' girl's got some miles on her.

DSC_7526 (2) by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

PS The best test of a tube is always the in-circuit use test.

brgman

Yep i looked at the Hickok and as you say even if I get one that LOOKS good it doesn’t mean it’s calibrated to work correctly and that’s not a rabbit hole I plan to venture down.
I looked at the orange but don’t know enough to be confident it can do what I have.
KT120,6sn7,5ar,12ax and au,etc.

mhardy6647

jeepers, and I do even know how to spell Hickok correctly. I just can't type for...well, you know...

Sorry! Yeah, as @brgman typed it. Hickok. Hickok.

invalid

It would be nice to have a good tube tester and a curve tracer.

Faustin

@brgman - what is your goal with the tubes you have? Make sure they are good or dead? I have a couple of testers. Nothing high end or fancy. One is a Sencore Mighty Mite. Don't recall the other one I have. Too lazy to go look. That being said, if you want to send me your tubes, I would be happy to test them for you. Bruce

brgman

Bruce I have a possible tester that is fairly local but if that doesn’t pan out I will contact you.
I very much appreciate the offer.
Yes it’s just to see what’s good or bad,strong or weak so I can eliminate the bad and replace them.I like to have at least one complete set of strong spares on hand.

mhardy6647

brgman wrote: »

Bruce I have a possible tester that is fairly local but if that doesn’t pan out I will contact you.
I very much appreciate the offer.
Yes it’s just to see what’s good or bad,strong or weak so I can eliminate the bad and replace them.I like to have at least one complete set of strong spares on hand.

His Mighty Mite would allow you to do that with (EDIT) "modern" tube types* -- besides emission and shorts, it's actually quite good for grid leakage, especially.. A long incubation can even "out" a weak output tube, the grid leakage will start very low & drift upwards as the tube warms up.

Plus they're supremely easy to use (although still a bit of careful knob-twistin' effort required with multi-section tubes like the 12A*7 twin triodes or, heaven forefend, Compactrons!)

_________________
* No four pin sockets, or old school 5, 6, or 7 pin sockets on any Mighty Mite morph I'm aware of to check old radio/audio tubes -- e.g., 45, 2A3, 300B, 76... that kind of thing.

treitz3

So, ladies (Russ) and gentlemen....

Just following up here. If anyone has any new tube supplier or tube related source (informative or otherwise)?

Please post it here. I am STILL keeping a master list, updating, blah, blah, blah.

I'll give it a week or three and post the latest and greatest. Thanks all. Every tidbit of information may help someone you may not know (or do know) out with tube related gear/stuff.

Tom

invalid

"Vintage Tube Services – Tubes you can trust! Providing vintage audio tubes (new old stock) to audiophiles around the world. Celebrating 28 years of technical knowledge, experience, expertise, and tubes you can trust. For a free phone consultation call 616.454.3467." http://vintagetubeservices.com

pitdogg2

Nice vintage tube link !!

invalid

This guy is about 25 minutes from my house

tonyp063

https://tubes-store.com

Russian equivalents, as long as you know them.
More than just tubes also.

pitdogg2

tonyp063 wrote: »

https://tubes-store.com

Russian equivalents, as long as you know them.
More than just tubes also.

Problem is most Russian tube "equivalents" have a different pin out and you must rewire the product to use them. Kind of makes rolling tubes much more difficult.

tonyp063

True. Hence my disclaimer.

But a 6П3С-Е or a 6P14P-EB from a good source at decent prices are nice.
And there's no pinout issue on those.

Again. As long as you know them.

treitz3

http://vintagetubeservices.com

When I click on this, all I get is some pharmacy prescription link. So, I looked it up manually....same thing. One every link I tried to access, I get an ED site or a pharmacy site.

Tom

GlennDog

I clicked on the link as well just minutes after it was posted and it went to the proper location.
Andy’s site has been hijacked and I will call him and let him know

I posted before about Vintage Tube Services… Andy’s a phenomenal resource

ty Tom

invalid

It has been hijacked, but the site is only to reference tubes, I wouldn't order from the site as Andy is old school and will get your order out with a phone call. That's actually the only way to really order from him.

GlennDog

I just spoke to him. He’s been having problems for about the last 10 days . . . says his IT guy fixes it and some knuckleheads in Cyprus take it back down…

FWIW, He’ll be getting some Amperex 5AR4s in about a month.
I’ll be checking back in with him to see what this barn find brings 😎