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When the Power Tubes Run Out

A lot of you have nice amps that essentially require quality NOS tubes. Do you have any plans about what you are going to do when you get cut out of the diminishing tube-trade loop? Or are you like Dubya?...By the time tubes run out someone will have thought of a substitute. I don't see a sub of equal quality on the horizon. No one is insane enough to spend the money in order make them like they used to for such a small market. And even if they did, the price of those tubes would make the NOSes look like a dime a dozen. But maybe i'm wrong.

So SS for you, then? *Cringe*, i'm sure:) Any idea if or how the industry (e.g. high-end tube amp manufacturers and/or SS companies) will respond when the supply becomes critically low?
ohlala
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,894 posts
 
We design our equipment to only use tubes that are in production. That makes life a lot easier :)

Additionally, as long as guitar amp manufacturers are using tubes, there will be a supply as they use far more tubes than home consumer audio! So 12AX7s, 12AU7s, 12AT7s, 6L6s, KT-88s and EL-34s should remain easy to find. 
wolf_garcia
6,723 posts
 
Yeah…people forget that…I've used tube guitar amps since the mid 60s and they do dwarf the hifi tube usage by many, many multiples. I also note that people who are concerned with the gentle care of tube amps should think about what many tube guitar and bass amps go through during professional use. I should issue a blanket apology to all the tube amps I've abused over the years.

nitewulf
425 posts
 
Um, KT 150s are a new design, as are KT 120s....
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