Hi,
I am after some 12AX7WA Philips Jan NOS valves, and ideas of good places to look. I bought my initial stock from Watford valves in the UK, but they no longer have any left.
I am always a little cautious about eBay.
Thanks,
Rich
I am after some 12AX7WA Philips Jan NOS valves, and ideas of good places to look. I bought my initial stock from Watford valves in the UK, but they no longer have any left.
I am always a little cautious about eBay.
Thanks,
Rich
In the UK there's Langrex - no Philips but they're reliable and honest and good people.
https://www.langrex.co.uk/?s=12AX7WA+&post_type=product
https://www.langrex.co.uk/?s=12AX7WA+&post_type=product
For common types like 12ax7 it will probably be only new production (Sovtek/Electro Harmonix). I'll ask next time I'm there. If I remember..
<< I'll ask next time I'm there. If I remember.....>>
Wow! A tube dealer you can actually drop in on, like a shop...
I live just round the corner from Brook Green in Kensington, London, where the MO (Marconi-Osram) factory was. I used to drop in regularly to the trade counter, where you could buy all those priceless rarities like new KT66s and all kinds of 12AX7s. Back in the day nobody thought they'd ever reach the prices they have today.
Wow! A tube dealer you can actually drop in on, like a shop...
I live just round the corner from Brook Green in Kensington, London, where the MO (Marconi-Osram) factory was. I used to drop in regularly to the trade counter, where you could buy all those priceless rarities like new KT66s and all kinds of 12AX7s. Back in the day nobody thought they'd ever reach the prices they have today.
Radio Twenthe is indeed a real shop, it has been a real shop since the 1950's.
Tubes.rs on Ebay is a reliable seller but the prices for ECC83 / 12AX7 NOS are.... not small
Askjanfirst is good.
Langrex.... well I bougth quartet of 807 recently, payed additional 2 Pounds per tube for "matching/testing", waiting to get them tested locally since one tube does not inspire confidence ( looking at the picture of the tubes delivered to contact in UK ). Some years ago also bougth ECC82 Sylvania's which were excellent but ECL82 Siemens were not usable at all due to a noise in a regulator circuit. So admitedly i have some mixed feelings about them.
P.S. Just some of my expirience with NOS tubes and those sellers.
Askjanfirst is good.
Langrex.... well I bougth quartet of 807 recently, payed additional 2 Pounds per tube for "matching/testing", waiting to get them tested locally since one tube does not inspire confidence ( looking at the picture of the tubes delivered to contact in UK ). Some years ago also bougth ECC82 Sylvania's which were excellent but ECL82 Siemens were not usable at all due to a noise in a regulator circuit. So admitedly i have some mixed feelings about them.
P.S. Just some of my expirience with NOS tubes and those sellers.
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If you can get the train down to Billingshurst, there are three large warehouse based tube dealers near the station. They accept visitors, and Langrex showed part of the warehouse. The other is Billington's, and there is a third, maybe Watford valves?
Attached is an old Billington's catalogue showing the extent of their range. If one is prepared to use different heater voltages, wire ended valves, or different pin-outs, then there are a lot of the classic type NOS tubes to be had at reasonable prices. 6BS7 for an EF86, for instance.
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They don't sell JJ...
But I know I'm lucky, I jump on my bicycle, and 15 minutes later I'm at a physical tube (and other old electronics) shop. An old fashioned one. No computer anywhere 😀
Just an update as FYI, and to say thanks 🙂
I went to Langrex and tried a number of 12ax7 variants RCA 12AX7A, Sylvania 12AX7WA, Raytheon 12AX7 Long black plate and a GE JAN 5751
The only one that was comparable to the Philips JAN 12AX7WA in my system to my ears was the 5751, which did not seem any less gain in use in either V1 or V2, and was different but comparable to the Philips Jan.
Dan who helped me let me try them for a quick test and return the next day if I did not like them, he also tested my existing valves for performance so a great service.
I have also contacted AskJan and I am trying another 5751 variant from Jan too
I have also found a lot of the Philips Jan 12AX7WA on eBay in the US, for a fair price, BUT I am cautious as they come in Philips retail boxes not the white military ones I see normally see and they look a little worn out on the printing in photos, so I am not sure they are really NOS, or just good condition sold as new
I went to Langrex and tried a number of 12ax7 variants RCA 12AX7A, Sylvania 12AX7WA, Raytheon 12AX7 Long black plate and a GE JAN 5751
The only one that was comparable to the Philips JAN 12AX7WA in my system to my ears was the 5751, which did not seem any less gain in use in either V1 or V2, and was different but comparable to the Philips Jan.
Dan who helped me let me try them for a quick test and return the next day if I did not like them, he also tested my existing valves for performance so a great service.
I have also contacted AskJan and I am trying another 5751 variant from Jan too
I have also found a lot of the Philips Jan 12AX7WA on eBay in the US, for a fair price, BUT I am cautious as they come in Philips retail boxes not the white military ones I see normally see and they look a little worn out on the printing in photos, so I am not sure they are really NOS, or just good condition sold as new