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If NOS pre or power tubes became unavailable altogether, what new tubes would you buy?

Hey tuberollers, 

I'm curious to see what happens if there's a gun to your head, or more practically all NOS tubes disappear (dread).  What would you do with your line/pre stage and/or power stage?  

I have tried 5 different NOS 12AU7s and only 1 new 12AU7 in my preamp section (Cifte, RCA black plates (late 50s), Sylvanias, Baldwin organ tubes, Amperex 70s orange globes, and new Chinese stock Primaluna tubes).  In my power section, I have not tried any NOS tubes and 3 types of tubes (stock Chinese Primaluna EL34s, reissue Mullard EL34s, and reissue Gold Lion KT88s).  

Side note: I haven't ventured into NOS power tubes because of the cost and availability/scarcity.  I need 8 of them!

Without having tried anything else, I would be lost on new or reissue 12AU7s.  On the power tube side, I'd be just fine with either the reissue Mullard EL34s or the Gold Lion KT88s.  
128x128jbhiller
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soundwatts
221 posts
 
I recently found out that New Sensor Corp. In Russia purchased some of the old European tube machines that some of the legendary tubes were built on. 

That being said I was using new production Mullards for a few years on my el34 based amps with a lot of failures. 

Purchased the new production tungsol, not only do they sound better but have no failures. Supposedly made on the NOS machines. Review below. 

EL34-family Tube Comparison! | Wall of Sound | Audio and Music Reviews
http://wallofsound.ca/audioreviews/tubes/el34-tube-comparison-with-tubes-supplied-by-www-thetubestor...

Same with a pair of new production  genalex gold lion 12ax7 that I purchased from Jim McShane. Superb sounding and supposedly made on old machines. 


ElectroHarmonix 6922's as well



schubert
7,386 posts
 
None .
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Don’t forget, all you NOS tube people and other people, too. You really must have at least one Herbies tube damper on those 6SN7 output tubes; one on the glass where the getter is located, the other one on the base of the tube. Whoa, Daddy!
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