Where's the best place to buy tubes online?

[Tonecap]

I'm looking to put some new preamp tubes in my metro plexi. Probably go with JJ's Ecc83's unless anyone has some better suggestions. Also, do I need to be concerned with making sure they are matched? I've heard some mention it more for the Phase inverter but does it really matter that much? Thanks

[jbever]

Mike at KCA NOS Tubes will do you right and get you all set up.

www.kcanostubes.com

[supergenius365]

Mike at KCA NOS Tubes will do you right and get you all set up.

www.kcanostubes.com

:agree

Just ordered tubes on Friday. Got them Monday.

[steve f]

You don't need matched tubes (meaning the different tubes measure close to each other), but a balanced tube is good to use in the phase inverter position (12ax7s have two tube structures inside, so balanced means matching internally).

JJs are good tubes, but you might want to buy a couple of different brands and swap them around in different positions and see if you hear a difference. As mentioned, check with Mike at KCANOS Tubes and see what he recommends.

[RockStarNick]

I've had the best results, so far, when I mix and match tubes from V1 to V2, etc.

Mike will be the very first to confirm that you need to listen with YOUR OWN EARS to see what you like... but...

The closest analogy I can think of is:
Bright maple top on a warm mahogony body = great multidimensional tone.
For me, kinda of the same way with tubes. Mixing and matching is yeilding better results for me, currently.

[wsaraceni]

are you looking for NOS or new?

either way go to mike @ kca. he is the best.

for new tubes, i really like the tung sol reissue. use them in my bad cat hot cat. i liked the mullard reissue soundwise more, but ended up getting helicopter noises from my amp. this was early in their production so im not sure if this has changed or not. mike at kca not only has a ton of different tubes, he also knows them well enough to make a suggestion.

[Derwood]

I have had good luck with price and delivery from tubedepot.com.
But I'm not a tube connoisseur, and I do believe that kca has a lot of knowledge to offer and an informative website.

[Tonecap]

are you looking for NOS or new?

either way go to mike @ kca. he is the best.

for new tubes, i really like the tung sol reissue. use them in my bad cat hot cat. i liked the mullard reissue soundwise more, but ended up getting helicopter noises from my amp. this was early in their production so im not sure if this has changed or not. mike at kca not only has a ton of different tubes, he also knows them well enough to make a suggestion.

Well I'm fairly new to buying tubes so I hadn't considered NOS. Probably just leaning towards new JJ Ecc83's or I see KCA has some JJ Ecc803's that sound interesting. Anyone use them? They sound like they might be a higher gain version of a ecc83 which would be alright considering they'll be going into a plexi.

[cheetah77]

I've heard great things about Mike at KCA, and have had good transactions with Antique Electronic Supply.

http://www.tubesandmore.com/

[VanR]

I've heard great things about Mike at KCA, and have had good transactions with Antique Electronic Supply.

http://www.tubesandmore.com/

+1 I've used several tube dealers thetubestore.com, dougstubes.com, tubedepot.com. all with good results.
But lately I've been ordering from tubesandmore.com because they are only 125 miles or so from me. Usually get my tubes the second day Priority Mail. I have to pay state tax, but I don't mind since my tubes aren't bouncing in the back of a mail truck all the way from the east coast somewhere.

[stratman_el84]

Another excellent supplier of thoroughly-tested hard-to-find NOS tubes at very reasonable prices by a very knowledgeable guy is VTS (Vintage Tube Services). Here's the URL to the stock page, but also check out the link to the VTS testing laboratory at the top of the page. Cool stuff.

http://vintagetubeservices.com/page18a.html

Mike at KCA NOS Tubes is also very good.

Good luck!

Strat

[FenderBigot]

Tube Depot (www.tubedepot.com (http://www.tubedepot.com)) just sent me two new matched power tubes for $22.95 (on sale) and no tax. Shipping was only $3.95 and I got the tubes in 3 days via Fed-Ex ground. The average price for these tubes on any other site was $30 to 35. So I'm pretty happy... installed them today and the amp sounds awesome.

[DGDGBD]

KCA has excellent customer service. I will always use them if they have what I need in stock.

[TweeDLX]

Mike at KCA always thoroughly tests and burns in his tubes. Not all suppliers do this. Great service...nuff said!http://www.thegearpage.net/board/images/icons/icon14.gif

Mike

[Mutley]

+1 for Mike @ KCA NOS

[jay42]

Right now, I need one tube and one tube only...and I really need it. (I will not entertain the Evil Empire...so don't go there. ;) )

[edit] In that case, bombs away.

[Blue Strat]

Right now, I need one tube and one tube only...and I really need it. (I will not entertain the Evil Empire...so don't go there. ;) )


Evil empire? ;)

I've been known to waive the minimum order for orders that just show up online without any presales assistance. Time = money.