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AES tube brand mixing..

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wicked1

wicked1

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Joined 2008
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#1
URG this is getting frustrating...

I ordered 2 12sl7's from AES.. Both were different. This is one of the usual amp designs we make w/ exposed tubes, so I want them to be the same.
I ordered 4 more. EVERY ONE IS A DIFFERENT BRAND! Brands Ive never even heard of! (cunningham)
Am I having really bad luck, or is this their policy? I could see some people wanting different tubes, if they were tweaking a guitar amp or something, but this is not working out for me! I think they specify on their site that you should NOT request brands (but maybe that was a different tube store).
have other people noticed this?
 
#2
Tube manufactures used to buy tubes from other companies and put their label on them. Sears bought tubes and labeled them; Radio Shack; Military surplus "Standard Brand".

I gave up buying tubes from AES in the 90s, unless I was in Phoenix and could stop by their store.

They changed ownership a few times since then.

Best from Tucson
Bob
 
#3
yeah, Im not concerned about it being a brand I haven't heard of. It's just almost funny like they are going out of their way to do this..

Well I wrote AES to ask them, and the reply was that the puller just grabs whatever he feels like. I can request they be the same brand for an extra dollar per tube! I can see charging for internal construction matching or something, but the outside of the boxes are labeled w/ the brand! It doesn't cost them anything to grab a few of the same brand..
owell.. I haven't had any better luck from tubedepot or the big florida one.. It's like a mean joke the packagers pull... (or maybe they don't understand the tube hobby and are thinking the purchaser really does want as many different types as possible)
 
#5
Ohhhh that's where it gets even better.. only 2 out of the 6 Ive gotten match! and they're the ugly two...
and I just noticed they don't even really match! they're both coated glass, but still totally different
 

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#7
wicked1 said:
Ohhhh that's where it gets even better.. only 2 out of the 6 Ive gotten match! and they're the ugly two...
and I just noticed they don't even really match! they're both coated glass, but still totally different
Click to expand...

Ohhh wow, I see your point, that does suck! I buy enough from AES to get chocolates at christmas, but then again I only buy new tubes from them. Outside of paying the extra for tube matching, there can only be so many different types of that tube. Maybe they'll take some back??

Edit: But then again, they can't be SOOO busy that picking matching pairs would take to much time...
 
#8
6 out of 6 DIFFERENT tubes.. That can not be luck.. Unless there are hundreds of brands/constructions of this tube, which I know there aren't.
it's got to be either the person picking them thinks they're doing us a favor by mixing them (like were not using them, but collecting them) or they're literally out to make a buck.. They charge $1 per tube to match them.
It's not worth sending them back (cheap tubes). I'll just order more, and be confident this is one tube I'll never run out of 🙂
 
#11
ARG I dislike people, sometimes..
My wifes friend is staying here, and her schooling and career is in marketing/advertising stuff (She's not the one I dislike!).
I b_tched about this situation to her, and immediately she ASKED (I didn't mention the matching fee) if they charge extra for that... And says OF COURSE they send you different tubes..
Silly me.. not being a d_ck to everyone...
 
#15
I usually order in batches of at least 10 pieces, and they come usually all of one brand, or most of one band, and a few oddballs of another brand. Having said that, most of the tubes I order are of unpopular type numbers, so there are likely large blocks of same-brand tubes in stock. For a popular tube (and well-gleaned) like the 6SL7, it's likely to be catch-as-catch-can. If you want them to all look the same for a tube like that, you may need to buy a Russian "equivalent".
 
#16
I usually order in batches of at least 10 pieces, and they come usually all of one brand,.....most of the tubes I order are of unpopular type numbers
Click to expand...

I ordered batches of 10 or more (sometimes a lot more) during their half price feeding frenzy last year. None of the batches were all of the same brand. The 6BQ6's were several different brands and construction, and some were obviously used and a few were defective. There were a few brands that I hever heard of too. At 98 cents each, who cares. The 6CB5's were all different, but there are only about 4 different kinds internally.

Brands Ive never even heard of! (cunningham)
Click to expand...

Cunningham was one of the oldest tube manufacturers. They became part of RCA when RCA formed. RCA tubes were sold under the Cunningham brand until WWII. I have some tubes and boxes that carry both brands.

If I want something specific I usually call Stan at ESRC. I have managed to get him to call me back and tell me just what he has and let me choose. I bought two different orders from his $1 menu (no choice here). Both orders included some 6GV5's. The first batch of 10 were "Sterling" brand. Ever hear of those? They are rebranded GE's. The second batch were GE brand.
 
#19
I've been trying different 12at7s lately and ordered 2 different skus from AES. One was for RCA brand and the other for the random brand. Twice the price for the RCAs. They shipped all RCAs. Seems that they pick the opposite way of common sense. I suspect a conspiracy.
 
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