NOS tubes

One thing is certain. Most mass produced items today are made a cheaply as possible, and many times quality is allowed to suffer for the sake of profit.  There was a time in the U.S. and other nations when cost was factored in but also balanced with quality being the driving force. 
Does this apply to all old production tubes?  Probably not, but it surely applied to many of them, and the results speak for themselves.  I collect, use and sell a lot of vintage gear from tubes to guitars to amplifiers.   I use NOS tubes in my Engl Fireball 100, Mesa Rocket 4Forty and my brownface Fender 6G3. 

When I was younger I tried all the modern 12AX7 12AT7, EL84, 6L6GC, and EL34 types.   JJ, Sovtek, EH and Ruby always performed pretty solidly.  Mullard and Tungsol performed terribly.   Even the Chinese high gain Shuguang tubes were better IMO.  But I have had the best experience with the various NOS units I've had the pleasure of owning, and after 11 years of research and forum hopping as well as experimenting, I've happily persuaded others to give old production a chance.  Most people are very happy with the results.   I use a custom DIY curve tracing kit in combination with a Hickok 600A serviced and calibrated by Radiola Guy, who sadly no longer performs those services. 
I can tell you that Brent Jesse is one of the greatest guys to talk to and work with.  Anyone who values his opinions and knowledge is ok in my book.   If I don't have what someone is looking for or think he could help them in any way I can't, I would refer him in a heartbeat. 

cerecords"One thing is certain. Most mass produced items today are made a cheaply as possible..."

That is not certain at all it sounds like you shop only at your American WalMart store.

Don't forget: The Military used to use tubes in its field equipment. You don't use cheap stuff in this application. The 6H30 DR "super tubes", touted by Balanced Audio Technology, were made for Russian fighter jets.

I think everyone who uses tubes should send a note to Western Electric, who is currently building a production facility in Georgia, and express their desire for their favorite tubes (I've already done this). Who knows, maybe they will build tubes, other than just 300Bs, with super-high quality.

Nobody can match the construction quality of the 1950  tubes e.g. Amperex.Todays tubes don't come close.Jump on nos Amperex from 1950s.

dweller
Don’t forget: The Military used to use tubes in its field equipment. You don’t use cheap stuff in this application. The 6H30 DR "super tubes", touted by Balanced Audio Technology, were made for Russian fighter jets.

>>>>The US used tubes in its commercial and military aircraft radios, too. But tubes went the way of the dinosaur a long time ago in the 80s. Now pilots and air traffic controllers have to suffer the sterile sound quality of solid state radios. That’s progress for ya! Tubes were resistant to nuclear bomb EMP but that threat went away 35 years ago. Or did it? 😳
in the 70s I had a direct line to military 12AX7WAs and other goodies through by bud in maintenance at Goddard Space Flight Center. Sweet! I also had a line on regulated power supplies taken from dismantled US Navy communications centers.