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If NOS pre or power tubes became unavailable altogether, what new tubes would you buy?

Hey tuberollers, 

I'm curious to see what happens if there's a gun to your head, or more practically all NOS tubes disappear (dread).  What would you do with your line/pre stage and/or power stage?  

I have tried 5 different NOS 12AU7s and only 1 new 12AU7 in my preamp section (Cifte, RCA black plates (late 50s), Sylvanias, Baldwin organ tubes, Amperex 70s orange globes, and new Chinese stock Primaluna tubes).  In my power section, I have not tried any NOS tubes and 3 types of tubes (stock Chinese Primaluna EL34s, reissue Mullard EL34s, and reissue Gold Lion KT88s).  

Side note: I haven't ventured into NOS power tubes because of the cost and availability/scarcity.  I need 8 of them!

Without having tried anything else, I would be lost on new or reissue 12AU7s.  On the power tube side, I'd be just fine with either the reissue Mullard EL34s or the Gold Lion KT88s.  
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Showing 1 response by bradf

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bradf
324 posts
 
Sophia Electronics are now carrying the 12AU7, 12AX7, EL34 and KT88.
I have not been able to find info on where they are manufactured or where they are sourced. Sophia does not answer my E-mails regarding theses questions. I can’t say whether they are good, bad or indifferent. The only Sophia tube I have owned was a 274B diode. It was a well worth purchase that made a very noticeable improvement in the SQ of a Woo headphone amplifier I once owned.
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