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Western Electric 300b Tubes - Differences

So, sometimes I see these current production tubes for about $900/pair. Then I occasionally see some for around $400/pair. The less expensive ones come in the older style boxes. Was there a period where WE made crappy tubes? If so, when was that? How can you tell by looking at the tubes themselves.

Cheap:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?accstube&1150737895

Expensive:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?accstube&1149506422
pawlowski6132
bander's avatar
bander
504 posts
 
I've done a little research on this. Western Electric makes OEM tubes which come in a blue and white box. These are sold to manufacturers of amps which use the 300B's. The specs are the same but they don't come with a warranty. I don't think these are suspect. I'm still trying to get the final word on them.
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
AFAIK, what Bander says is exactly the case. Major problem is that most of the OEM tubes are not sold as matched pairs. But if your amp biases the tubes independently, that may not be much of a problem.
boa2's avatar
boa2
1,551 posts
 
We paid full pop for the serial numbered/cherry box types. After 8 months or so, we had to warranty one of our tubes, as it was a little microphonic. They replaced the pair with a brand new pair, sealed in their respective boxes, within a week.

You get what you pay for, IMO.
pawlowski6132's avatar
pawlowski6132 OP
592 posts
 
Aha, awesome info. Bander, eagerly awaiting the result of your research!!
bander's avatar
bander
504 posts
 
Pawlowski, I'll get back as soon as possible.
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