Tube inventory question

[Fret-Shredder]

Hey guys... those of you who are stashing tubes for future use. What percentage are preamp tubes compared to power tubes and why.

 

[Rick Lee]

If you stockpile power tubes, the warranty on them will run out before you end up installing them. Lots of places have 90 day warranties on them. I've bought matched quads years in advance and had a bad one blow on day one. No more warranty. I've only had one or two NOS or ANOS preamp tubes go bad soon after install. But since I got them from eBay sellers, who happened to be cool they took care of me.

 

[Fret-Shredder]

If you stockpile power tubes, the warranty on them will run out before you end up installing them. Lots of places have 90 day warranties on them. I've bought matched quads years in advance and had a bad one blow on day one. No more warranty. I've only had one or two NOS or ANOS preamp tubes go bad soon after install. But since I got them from eBay sellers, who happened to be cool they took care of me.

Ok that makes sense. Thanks for the reply.

 

[skullfxr]

I have probably well over a hundred press. And at least 80 power tubes. I have a lot of NOS/VOS stuff, but I am kind of savoring it.


I don't worry about the warranty on the power tubes. I stock up when there is a sale and get them cheap. I have only had one major premature failure on a JJEL84, I paid $8 for it. I sucked it up.

 

[Racerxrated]

I have WAY more preamp tubes than power...like 10-1. But that's because I find the biggest tonal change by trying different pre tube combinations. Most of what I have are ANOS or NOS, the only current production are a few JJs. The Chinese 6N4s are NOS military I think, but may be current production. I get them straight from China for 7 bucks a tube. Killer in Marshalls and Mesas. Power tubes are mostly vintage. KT88s I have are current but don't have an amp that uses them. My EL34s are Winged Cs and Siemens, some Mullard XF2s. 6L6 are Mesa 415s with some Winged C. 6550s are GE and Winged C. I'll never go through all of them. At some point I'll start selling.

 

[panhead]

All the nos supply has been depleted years ago. Beware of forgery these days regardless of where you purchase.

 

[skullfxr]

I bought out all of the tubes a really small old mom and pop store for $10 a pop. Everything from JAN, to Telefunken to Mullard. I got about 30 tubes mostly preamp. They were thrilled.

 

[Racerxrated]

All the nos supply has been depleted years ago. Beware of forgery these days regardless of where you purchase.

Wrong.

They’re out there; just have to buy from a reputable seller. You’ll pay more today than 10 yrs ago, but there are NOS.

I always buy ANOS, used strong tubes. Worked well so far. The only NOS tubes I buy are the Chinese Military 8/9th gen 6N4s. Great tubes and still cheap.