Shortage of Vacuum Tubes From Russia

[st.bede]

Tubes will always be around but they will be more expensive. They will never reach the cost of “audiophile”, prices but might get into “boutique-ish”, price range.

Things tend not to disappear unless there is truly a much better alternative.

If SS stuff can fully sound and respond better then tube stuff, there is a possibility of tube amps becoming more rare. In other words, if it is super obvious that SS out preforms tube, then maybe tube amp will become “audiophile-ish”.

However, I know people who buy albums to play on super cheap turntables. Apparently not everything is about sound quality. This is a good example: records still exist but 8-tracks do not.

[RJVB]

Audiogon Discussion Forum

[2bornot2bop]

Time to go with the better alternative.

Solid state.

Nyet!

[2bornot2bop]

Ahhh. Happy I purchased my Svetlana Winged C EL34 reissues when I did. And they sound glorious!

Who cares about guitar amps!

[2bornot2bop]

Tubes will always be around but they will be more expensive. They will never reach the cost of “audiophile”, prices but might get into “boutique-ish”, price range.

Things tend not to disappear unless there is truly a much better alternative.

If SS stuff can fully sound and respond better then tube stuff, there is a possibility of tube amps becoming more rare. In other words, if it is super obvious that SS out preforms tube, then maybe tube amp will become “audiophile-ish”.

However, I know people who buy albums to play on super cheap turntables. Apparently not everything is about sound quality. This is a good example: records still exist but 8-tracks do not.

Sure, some have cheap turntables. But not all of us, for some of us care about quality sound.

[wintermoon]

Sure, some have cheap turntables. But not all of us, for some of us care about quality sound.

Which is why I use quality vintage tube amps and stereo w NOS tubes

[jads57]

When I was younger, guys who had these high end tube audiophile systems would have a record of just a snare drum, or such. Lol!

Funniest part is usually the musicians never could afford such a system!

[2bornot2bop]

When I was younger, guys who had these high end tube audiophile systems would have a record of just a snare drum, or such. Lol!

Funniest part is usually the musicians never could afford such a system!

Not me, I was playing Shaft on a turntable, and RtoR. Don’t laugh, it was a very hip soundtrack for a movie score.

Hear guitarist Michael Toles on Cafe Regio

[DRS]

I have a complete re-tube set for my Mesa MkV25 as well as about a dozen other assorted preamp and power tubes. I've had the Mesa for over 7 years and it's going strong. I bet the tubes in it will last another 7 and then I'll change what I need and go for another 14 years. I can deal with w.h.y. in 2033.

[TedBPhx]

Fender has its eye on the audiophile market. Swamp Ash, Jazz Bass Sunburst, $3,500

[floatingpickup]

EHX has just announced that the exportation ban on Russian tubes “has been resolved for now”. They will be announcing significant price increases to cover additional costs, including tarrifs levied by the US government. I don’t believe the amount of the US tarrif has been announced yet, but I have been told that Canada will apply a 35% tarrif in addition to the US tarrif, so Canadians will be paying a lot more.
Russian Tubes | Electro-Harmonix
Keith

[ruger9]

Fender has its eye on the audiophile market. Swamp Ash, Jazz Bass Sunburst, $3,500

That's actually pretty cool. But $3500? Somebody's smoking weed.

[Jabberwocky]

That's actually pretty cool. But $3500? Somebody's smoking weed.

My VPI turntable cost $3500...back in 1990. And the Wheaton Triplanar tonearm was an additional $2000...in 1990. The Lyra cartridge was about $1000 in 1990. No, I don't smoke weed and I still don't do drugs.

$3500 is entry-level in 2022. That Fender turntable looks well-designed, not gimmicky. Fender went to the right source for that. I bet it is a good audiophile turntable that can hold its own against the more venerable names.

[TedBPhx]

It’s made by MoFi Electronics. The Delrin platter was a surprise. I have guitar picks made of that.

Fender PrecisionDeck Turntable — Mobile Fidelity Electronics

[ruger9]

My VPI turntable cost $3500...back in 1990. And the Wheaton Triplanar tonearm was an additional $2000...in 1990. The Lyra cartridge was about $1000 in 1990. No, I don't smoke weed and I still don't do drugs.

$3500 is entry-level in 2022. That Fender turntable looks well-designed, not gimmicky. Fender went to the right source for that. I bet it is a good audiophile turntable that can hold its own against the more venerable names.

I didn't infer YOU were smoking weed, I inferred that Fender is smoking weed.

$3500 for a turntable is entry-level? I guess the "vinyl people" are as cork-sniffery as the "vintage people" LOL

[RJVB]

I guess the "vinyl people" are as cork-sniffery as the "vintage people" LOL

Yep, but you need to cough up if you want to approach the audio quality of those 192kHz FLAC files and get a Hi++Fi rendering of the sound of a diamond running through a vinyl groove on a comfy cushion of nanodust

EDIT: what's this about the US government levvying extra cost? Punishment for buying Russian goods or is this tube-specific? And why is Canada concerned, they can't import themselves? Sounds like the makings of a bootleg circuit! (as suggested in an earlier post)

[pingu]

My VPI turntable cost $3500...back in 1990. And the Wheaton Triplanar tonearm was an additional $2000...in 1990. The Lyra cartridge was about $1000 in 1990. No, I don't smoke weed and I still don't do drugs.

$3500 is entry-level in 2022. That Fender turntable looks well-designed, not gimmicky. Fender went to the right source for that. I bet it is a good audiophile turntable that can hold its own against the more venerable names.

wow whats speakers are you using
with your system ?
i think speakers are so important ....

[floatingpickup]

Yep, but you need to cough up if you want to approach the audio quality of those 192kHz FLAC files and get a Hi++Fi rendering of the sound of a diamond running through a vinyl groove on a comfy cushion of nanodust

EDIT: what's this about the US government levvying extra cost? Punishment for buying Russian goods or is this tube-specific? And why is Canada concerned, they can't import themselves? Sounds like the makings of a bootleg circuit! (as suggested in an earlier post)

EHX would have to explain how the ban was resolved and why the USA is going to levy a tariff on the importation of Russian tubes. The USA puts lots of tariffs on various imports (remember Trump announcing tariffs on Chinese goods, Canadian steel and aluminium, etc.?). As far as Canada’s additional tariff goes…yes, if a Canadian could import tubes directly from Russia they would pay only one layer of tariffs. The problem is, when a Canadian orders tubes from EHX in NYC, they were already imported by EHX to the USA and subsequently exported to Canada. That results in double tariffs. It may be possible for Canadian dealers to have tubes shipped directly from the EHX Russian warehouse to Canada and only pay the Canadian tariff, but that option would probably only be available to dealers placing bulk orders. I don’t think a consumer could just order a pair of tubes that way.
Keith

[RJVB]

I don’t think a consumer could just order a pair of tubes that way.
Keith

I don't know if US or Canadian citizens are allowed to order from a Russian vendor who's not under some kind of explicit ban (aka a known friend/supporter of P) and who can actually be paid nowadays. But they could probably order from a neutral country. Remains to be seen if that would be cheaper overall, of course (but if I do have to pay a government I prefer to pay only my own).

[339 in june]

FYI, mail received today (newsletter) from Tube Amp Doctor :

CURRENT SITUATION REGARDING THE SUPPLY OF AMPLIFIER TUBES (As of 16 March 2022) Without a doubt, the current situation on the tube market can be classified as dramatic. In any case, for years, there have been only three noteworthy manufacturers of audio amplifier tubes such as 12AX7 / ECC83, EL84, EL34 and 6L6GC. In August 2019, the largest manufacturer Shuguang closed its factory in order to move to a larger and more modern location. Unfortunately, the new production facility has not been granted permission for two years now. In the meantime, leading employees have left or have been compensated. This probably means the end of the Shuguang Electron Tube Factory. The second major manufacturer in Russia, known mainly for the Sovtek, Electro Harmonix, Tung-Sol and Gold-Lion brands, can no longer export tubes since the Russian sanctions came into force. This leaves only JJ as the smallest of the three big manufacturers. And their delivery time was already up to 18-20 months, even before the Russian sanctions. REDBASE As we anticipated the development with Shuguang at a very early stage, we had already intensified a new cooperation with a small manufacturer in China in 2020. We knew that they had acquired the production facilities of another tube manufacturing plant that had been closed in the early 2000s, but had not yet used them for the types of tubes we required so urgently after Shuguang ceased production. Working closely together, we facilitated a massive expansion and modernisation of the production facilities and started with the TAD 6L6GCM-STR REDBASE in spring 2021. This was followed by the TAD 6L6WGC-STR, the TAD EL34-STR, the TAD 12AU7A / ECC82 and the TAD GZ34-STR. Currently, we are expecting the start of volume production of the new TAD ECC83WA, 7025WA, 12AX7A/7025, 12BH7A-STR and KT88-STR right now, followed by more models such as the 6V6GT-STR, 6550A-STR, 12AT7 / ECC81 and EL84-STR REDBASE series in the near future. All REDBASE tubes are individually tested, listened to and, if necessary, matched at TAD in Germany, thus replacing the obsolete TAD-STR and TAD-BLACKPLATE tube models. The TAD REDBASE series is manufactured independently of the three previous manufacturers and will significantly ease the supply situation for the mentioned tube types within the next few months.

TAD REDBASE PREMIUM TUBES

6L6GCM-STR REDBASE TAD PREMIUM Selected Unsere Antwort auf den Anspruch die beste 6L6GC der Welt zu entwickeln!... ab 19,26 € * 6L6WGC-STR REDBASE small bottle TAD PREMIUM Matched TAD 6L6WGC-STR REDBASE clear top - small bottle - absolut vintage style!... ab 21,97 € * TAD EL34 - STR REDBASE TAD PREMIUM Selected Der neue EL34 Standard! Die TAD EL34-STR REDBASE wurde im... ab 21,97 € *

[RJVB]

I won't complain about having a German source for this!

Funny, one of my aunts' manfriend was German and worked as an engineer at the Philips TV plant in Krefeld; this was at the time I got old enough to play with old tube radios and open them after he told me a thing or two. I doubt they were still using tubes at the time (early-mid 70s) but somehow I still have an association between "tubes" and Germany.
(Possibly also because we call them lamps in Dutch and French, same word as for lightbulbs, which is of course what Philips has always been most known for.)

[Gabor]

Do you really think guitarists will pay $300 plus for new USA made tubes for their guitar amps?

There is a company making a particular tube for audiophiles here in the USA and the price probably means that only those with serious disposable income are buying them.

Western Electric - Maker of electron tubes and high fidelity

why would guitarists so special to not influenced by "made in US, so it is superior" belief? Also, those guitarist pay multi $1000s to an overused US made kitchen cutting board (I mean Fender) which is literally a industrial mass product full of screws... :-)

[RJVB]

overused US made kitchen cutting board (I mean Fender)

I think the appropriate term is "chopping board", given that axes are involved

[ruger9]

FYI, mail received today (newsletter) from Tube Amp Doctor :

CURRENT SITUATION REGARDING THE SUPPLY OF AMPLIFIER TUBES (As of 16 March 2022) Without a doubt, the current situation on the tube market can be classified as dramatic. In any case, for years, there have been only three noteworthy manufacturers of audio amplifier tubes such as 12AX7 / ECC83, EL84, EL34 and 6L6GC. In August 2019, the largest manufacturer Shuguang closed its factory in order to move to a larger and more modern location. Unfortunately, the new production facility has not been granted permission for two years now. In the meantime, leading employees have left or have been compensated. This probably means the end of the Shuguang Electron Tube Factory. The second major manufacturer in Russia, known mainly for the Sovtek, Electro Harmonix, Tung-Sol and Gold-Lion brands, can no longer export tubes since the Russian sanctions came into force. This leaves only JJ as the smallest of the three big manufacturers. And their delivery time was already up to 18-20 months, even before the Russian sanctions. REDBASE As we anticipated the development with Shuguang at a very early stage, we had already intensified a new cooperation with a small manufacturer in China in 2020. We knew that they had acquired the production facilities of another tube manufacturing plant that had been closed in the early 2000s, but had not yet used them for the types of tubes we required so urgently after Shuguang ceased production. Working closely together, we facilitated a massive expansion and modernisation of the production facilities and started with the TAD 6L6GCM-STR REDBASE in spring 2021. This was followed by the TAD 6L6WGC-STR, the TAD EL34-STR, the TAD 12AU7A / ECC82 and the TAD GZ34-STR. Currently, we are expecting the start of volume production of the new TAD ECC83WA, 7025WA, 12AX7A/7025, 12BH7A-STR and KT88-STR right now, followed by more models such as the 6V6GT-STR, 6550A-STR, 12AT7 / ECC81 and EL84-STR REDBASE series in the near future. All REDBASE tubes are individually tested, listened to and, if necessary, matched at TAD in Germany, thus replacing the obsolete TAD-STR and TAD-BLACKPLATE tube models. The TAD REDBASE series is manufactured independently of the three previous manufacturers and will significantly ease the supply situation for the mentioned tube types within the next few months.

TAD REDBASE PREMIUM TUBES

6L6GCM-STR REDBASE TAD PREMIUM Selected Unsere Antwort auf den Anspruch die beste 6L6GC der Welt zu entwickeln!... ab 19,26 € * 6L6WGC-STR REDBASE small bottle TAD PREMIUM Matched TAD 6L6WGC-STR REDBASE clear top - small bottle - absolut vintage style!... ab 21,97 € * TAD EL34 - STR REDBASE TAD PREMIUM Selected Der neue EL34 Standard! Die TAD EL34-STR REDBASE wurde im... ab 21,97 € *

I JUST received my TAD shipment. 1 set of EL34s. Should have made it 2.

[2bornot2bop]

My VPI turntable cost $3500...back in 1990. And the Wheaton Triplanar tonearm was an additional $2000...in 1990. The Lyra cartridge was about $1000 in 1990. No, I don't smoke weed and I still don't do drugs.

$3500 is entry-level in 2022. That Fender turntable looks well-designed, not gimmicky. Fender went to the right source for that. I bet it is a good audiophile turntable that can hold its own against the more venerable names.

The MMF9.3 isn't bad, and it's $2k. But today there aren't many contenders for a quality turntable for $2k. Sad story, but that's the state of affairs. You've got to be willing to spend to get real quality gear. And same for guitars. What will $2k buy you in an arch top? A used Eastman perhaps. Sad.