Was a little surprised to find RS Components no longer sell thermionic valves.
I have used RS for many years for 12ax7, 12au7, EL84 and EL34's.
Looking elsewhere the prices seem to have gone up a bit since I last looked.
I have used RS for many years for 12ax7, 12au7, EL84 and EL34's.
Looking elsewhere the prices seem to have gone up a bit since I last looked.
Just guessing, but the RS valves / tubes came from China and since the manufacturing plant burned down the supply would have stopped. The proposed new facility has yet to be set up, if ever?
Then the war in Ukraine has put limitations on the other large manufacturing plants in Russia, Sovteck, EH, Gold Lion, Mullard etc. So you end up with a reduced supply and up go the prices to whatever you will pay...
That leaves JJ valves which are made in Slovakia and the more specialist (expensive) Chinese types.
There are several threads here and elsewhere about the supply situation. A sad state we are in.
Alan
Then the war in Ukraine has put limitations on the other large manufacturing plants in Russia, Sovteck, EH, Gold Lion, Mullard etc. So you end up with a reduced supply and up go the prices to whatever you will pay...
That leaves JJ valves which are made in Slovakia and the more specialist (expensive) Chinese types.
There are several threads here and elsewhere about the supply situation. A sad state we are in.
Alan
I've found 12A*7 to be expensive for years... That's why I use 6N*P. EL84=6P14P but when I need a small tube like that I use 6P1P or 6P43P if I want better triode performance, and EL34 aren't that hard to find online... A quad of Shuguang for 105$ shipped: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004318720910.html
I've used Tubedepot, Vivatubes, and Vacuumtubesinc - all were fine.
I avoid thetubestore simply because they are based in Canada but sell everything in USD at high prices.
I got a set of KT88 from a store on eBay for 200$CAD that worked fine.
I'm still able to buy tubes from Ukrainians even during the incursion, too.
I've used Tubedepot, Vivatubes, and Vacuumtubesinc - all were fine.
I avoid thetubestore simply because they are based in Canada but sell everything in USD at high prices.
I got a set of KT88 from a store on eBay for 200$CAD that worked fine.
I'm still able to buy tubes from Ukrainians even during the incursion, too.
It looks like PSVane is stepping up with sanely priced non-exotic tube types. Some of the JJs that got all bought up are due to come back into stock. It looks like the shortage may be over soon.
JJ is producing and delivering. So far they have not slipped quality of product. Yeasterday i received a
shipment of 6V6 and every tube was within tight spec (+-10%) . Same with KT88 in the same shipment.
shipment of 6V6 and every tube was within tight spec (+-10%) . Same with KT88 in the same shipment.
Same here, received a whole box of tubes last month from Ukraine, speedy as ever.
I ordered from this guy if anyone needs a shop which is confimred to be still operational. The owner is at the front fighting Russians but his assistant/wife is still running the shop.
https://www.ebay.com/usr/g_titov?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2754
Wonder if eBay was pulling auctions? One of my saved sellers was in Russia and all of a sudden his store went from 1000 components to 0.
This is very good news, indeed! I've been afraid that after we've paid in advance the seller will ship, but the goods don't leave Ukraine. So we've lost our money and the seller has lost his tubes in the end.
Best regards!
Affected people always tries to find a way to beat sanctions.
A couple years ago, when Trump applied extra 20-25% Tariff on Chinese goods, there was a significant amount of them which were re-labelled as "Made in Vietnam", go figure.
So much so that Vietnam Government complained.
Here I wouldn´t be surprised at all at seeing new EBay or similar sellers who "just found they had a few Russian tubes in stock" .... and just in case, the NOS label protects them from modern sanctions.
There´s also "Yuriy", an Ukrainian based seller of Russian-Soviet-Ukrainian? tubes who regularly mails me his monthly price list, last one less than 2weeks ago, so evidently he´s very much in activity, no doubt there´s more like him.
A couple years ago, when Trump applied extra 20-25% Tariff on Chinese goods, there was a significant amount of them which were re-labelled as "Made in Vietnam", go figure.
So much so that Vietnam Government complained.
Here I wouldn´t be surprised at all at seeing new EBay or similar sellers who "just found they had a few Russian tubes in stock" .... and just in case, the NOS label protects them from modern sanctions.
There´s also "Yuriy", an Ukrainian based seller of Russian-Soviet-Ukrainian? tubes who regularly mails me his monthly price list, last one less than 2weeks ago, so evidently he´s very much in activity, no doubt there´s more like him.
There are plenty of UA sellers in e-bay with very recent positive feedback. They are definitely working hard to get the tubes coming, I can confirm 🙂
No the postal system is still quite operational, things just get shipped to Poland and distributed from there. I think the EU even did away with import duty last month. This is a great moment to buy because you preserve tubes and it helps the Ukrainian economy a tiny bit, and of course the sellers livelihoods
Sounds like you are in UK. Try this one. https://web211.secure-secure.co.uk/tube-and-valve-electronics.co.uk/default2.asp Not had a dud from them.
The way things are going I´m getting stock of my favourite types, even though the electric running cost in Europe is going through the roof, O´h well, Bang goes that triple parallel P_P amp project that was on the cards when the heater power alone was 140W min with others added as well.
China to Vietnam, free trade zone, no duties.
Vietnam to USA, and India, also free trade zones.
If I buy Chinese plastic processing machines, duty is 70%.
If I buy from a Chinese owned entity that makes the machines in Vietnam, even if a bare minimum of work is done in Vietnam, there is zero duty.
Honda cars come here from Thailand in parts kits, also free trade with that country.
Not a surprise if Chinese valves come with a different country of origin on the packaging.
Vietnam to USA, and India, also free trade zones.
If I buy Chinese plastic processing machines, duty is 70%.
If I buy from a Chinese owned entity that makes the machines in Vietnam, even if a bare minimum of work is done in Vietnam, there is zero duty.
Honda cars come here from Thailand in parts kits, also free trade with that country.
Not a surprise if Chinese valves come with a different country of origin on the packaging.
Almost every company out there does that. If you tax imports at 70%, then it gives companies a huge incentive to get creative. The same happens with capital gain, company taxes. They find the way to legally (or not!) pay the minimum possible 🙂
My hearing aid claims Made In Vietnam.
It seems a little precious to be made there but hard-drive makers set up sealed buildings in unlikely places (Thailand?) so maybe.
But "parts kit" makes even more sense. Once the microscopic bits are on the PCB, there's only about 7 parts (mike, speaker, battery, switch...) and a small girl would not even need a magnifier.
Oh, stuff IS being made there, big time.
Full modern and well equipped factories are being transplanted from China 😱 or plain built from the ground up.
It looks like early China expansion, or even faster, it has been called "explosive growth" by analysts, limit being that it´s only 95 Million people, 15 times smaller than China.
In any case, on the path of becoming an Industrial heavyweight on its own:
https://www.vpic-group.com/blog/6-r...ufacturing-supply-chain-from-china-to-vietnam
Full modern and well equipped factories are being transplanted from China 😱 or plain built from the ground up.
It looks like early China expansion, or even faster, it has been called "explosive growth" by analysts, limit being that it´s only 95 Million people, 15 times smaller than China.
In any case, on the path of becoming an Industrial heavyweight on its own:
https://www.vpic-group.com/blog/6-r...ufacturing-supply-chain-from-china-to-vietnam
The lower end, monkey stuff, is moving out of China due to labor costs, wages are lower in Vietnam than China.
Also less intellectual piracy, which is part of the reason for the Western or Japanese plants in Thailand and Vietnam.
Suzuki learned their lesson long back when a factory across the road in China started making copies of their bikes, their suppliers switched to supplying the new factory, which had links to the Army there. No one would hear complaints.
Kawasaki did not bother to put a factory there.
Mitsubishi, Panasonic, and other top makers have A/c component plants mostly away from China, partly due to these reasons.
Also less intellectual piracy, which is part of the reason for the Western or Japanese plants in Thailand and Vietnam.
Suzuki learned their lesson long back when a factory across the road in China started making copies of their bikes, their suppliers switched to supplying the new factory, which had links to the Army there. No one would hear complaints.
Kawasaki did not bother to put a factory there.
Mitsubishi, Panasonic, and other top makers have A/c component plants mostly away from China, partly due to these reasons.
Rapid Electronics sell some, otherwise I find watford valves to keep a good range and reasonable prices.
Another vote for Billington and don't forget Langrex another big supplier in the UK. I've used Langrex premium EL34's in a few amps with good results. Their matched sets off Ebay though aren't my cup of T, that said if you ring Langrex they'll match valves to your spec or in my case sent me another 6 EL34's to match myself just asking to send the others back when done; great service.
Andy.