Tube Amplifier Manufacturing Over?

[@theoriginalbingchilling]

Too bad that our Hungarian tube factory, Tungsram shut down their tube manufacturing plants in the 1990s and a couple years later in the 2000s the sold their brand name to a Turkish company. Tubes getting obsolete really hurts my heart. Long live the vacuum tube!

[@AMStationEngineer]

@Bálint Vörös; I recall staying at hotels in the U.K., Ireland, the area around Amsterdam, and one other central European location, all of which had "end table radios" which were made in Hungary, they were all tube-type amps, with solid state front ends. Nice radios! Gotta love that Paprikash!

[@ellsworth1956]

I will never forget in 1974 My Grandfather had an old tube TV that he was having issues with. I pulled all the tubes and went to the local RadioShack tested all the tubes and bought new tubes to replace the bad tubes I found. I went back threw the tubes back in and threw the switch and it sprang back to life.

[@benkeysor7576]

Three words- Fair radio Sales. They are still going strong in Lima Ohio and while they they may not have every tube you may need, you can still get all the common audio tubes for your radio, amplifier or possibly linear amplifier. They have used, NOS and some that are even new all at very reasonable prices and they will ship what you order from them. Also keep in mind they are a Surplus Military Electronics store which means they have SO much more than tubes. While I'm local, it's still worth a trip there if you're not or you can find everything on their website.

[@MIKROWAVE1]

I got lost in a cornfield outside New Knoxville and ended up at lake St. Mary's - never found it. Ha just kidding. Been there.

[@MirlitronOne]

Been there, but shipping is kinda expensive to the UK.

[@TheGuitologist]

Also, there is at least one other tube manufacturer in the United States I know of. It's in Chicago. They focus on industrial tubes for stuff like microwaves, etc.

[@ComputerHistoryArchivesProject]

Very informative and educational. Thank you for taking the time to make and share this video! I learned much from this. Tubes have such a valuable place in our technology history, and still have a place going forward. Besides, were we have been without our tubes for the ENIAC, UNIVAC, BIZMAC and SAGE. : ) Thanks again!

[@christophernetherton9389]

Thank you for continuing to cover a wide range of topics. I always find your channel interesting!

[@MIKROWAVE1]

Thanks for watching. My next series will be on pulse width modulation and I flip back to solid state.

[@douglasstrother6584]

Worked on travelling wave tubes (TWTs) for 20+ years for space applications. For high-power stuff, good ol' vacuum electron devices are still the thing!

[@peterlundskow4061]

I agree with the last comment. Of all the videos I have seen about tube availability this is the most balanced & informative. Thank you!

[@competetodefeat4610]

Tubes are available left and right... this whole "situation" has been blown entirely and completely out of proportion.

[@andykirby9616]

Take a look at Brimar in the UK and The Great British Valve Project which is refurbishing and re-commissioning equipment to manufacture valves/tubes in the UK. They have a range of new valves/tubes for sale on their website.

[@MrTubeamps]

This is an excellent overview of what's going on in the tube industry today. It's worth mentioning the industry suffered an additional loss 9 years ago when the Winged C (formerly Svetlana) plant in St. Petersburg closed. They made arguably the best mass produced EL34's from the 1990's until their closing. New old stock Winged C (and older Svetlana tubes made by them) have skyrocketed in value, in part because they were durable, relatively affordable, and people loved their sound. If I could wish one recently closed manufacturer back into existence it would be the Winged C plant.

[@downhillblur708]

I just installed a matched quad of NOS SED =C= EL34 to replace the stock KT88s in my Willsenton R8 integrated amp. I concur with Mr Tubeamps assessment. They are lovely tubes.

[@chrisfranco6603]

Hi. I have an old VTL TL-2 pre amp that needs repair. The volume dial does not work properly. There may be other issues as well. Do you repair these or can refer me to someone in the Carolinas that might be able to help me out?

[@MIKROWAVE1]

Chris, I don't do repairs as I have little time beyond work and putting out a few videos each month! Try some contact cleaner on the control - then look at the soldering around the control and look for cracked solder. May may just need a touch up with the soldering pencil.

[@preiter20]

Great review and summary! Thank you!

[@toltec13]

I restore tube radios. As I write this, I'm listening to a Zenith 10S464 tube radio console from 1940 that I electronically restored about 8 years ago. Still runs like a champ! There's something romantic about the glowing tubes. It does have a 6u5 tuning eye tube. I just love the woody sound that comes through the speakers. On this particular console, the 6X5 rectifier tube was and still is notorious for shorting out. I did experience this and luckily I installed a fuse and it prevented damage to the transformer. I do run the console on a variac at 110 volts and the transformer is warm to the touch. It catches attention from people that visit. I just love these old radio sound!

[@thomasoliver5095]

Not only the glowing tubes-but the smell of dusty hot glass!and the warm wood smell of tubed radios and amps in wood cases!

[@angusorvid8840]

I've played and owned many great tube amps. But I also love where solid state is headed. It's only getting better. I've been through tube shortages before. I remember the shortage of the late 80s. I had a plexi that ate tubes like potato chips and I got tired of hunting down tubes and the exorbitant price of tubes created by that shortage, real or imagined. This was the time when Sovtek tubes got popular. I never used them. I eventually stopped using the Marshall and got a Boogie combo that was very efficient with tubes. In the decade I used that Boogie I changed tubes twice, and I played the hell out of that amp.

[@MIKROWAVE1]

It is true that a great awakening on helping solid state to emulate what players want has occurred recently. The tube sound is real.

[@LordSaberwolf]

Always loved tubes growing up, Mostly used them in old radios and amps. Will love to see someone in the USA start making them.

[@624radicalham]

Would you buy them? If not, that's the problem right there. You can love tubes all you want and wax nostaligic for an era gone by, as you are doing, but would you buy a bunch of tubes for your linear today in 2022?

[@Audiorevue]

Well actually there is US production of tubes. Check out Western electric in Georgia, they're making their 300b again and using it in a newly released tube based integrated amplifier

[@goodun2974]

@@Audiorevue , at $650 per 300B tube, it isn't exactly helpful to the guy who wants to retube a Fender or Vox guitar amp, or a Dynaco, Scott, Fisher or McIntosh hifi amp, with something other than Chinese or Russian tubes. It has been reported that Western Electric is going to be building some less esoteric audio and guitar amp tube types,, but will musicians and Hifi buffs who aren't rich be able to afford them?

[@Audiorevue]

@@goodun2974 that wasn't necessarily the point I was making, the guy simply said that I wish somebody would start making tubes in the US, and I said that hey guess what they are making tubes in the US. I mean he didn't say anything about cost.

[@gorkushka]

In another note, replacement JFETs and MOSFETs for 70s and 80s audio are also now unobtainium for replacement parts. i.e. 2SK134/2SJ74 is a classic example of a needed replacement part to keep high end amps repaired and running. In 2003, I build a super 845 based amplifier for audio. That project that got transplanted to a custom wood and CNC milled metal chassis in 2008. At that time I bought 6 pairs of spare Shuguang 845s when they were inexpensive. I am still running the original pair of 845s from 2003! Also still running the NOS pair of 6P5G's that I have. My spares will outlive me. The trick to taking care of these tubes? HV standby switch for B+. My driver tubes dont see full plate voltage until they are warmed up. The 845s? How I got to make them last? I don't thermally cycle the tungsten filaments. Instead, I run them at 5V at standby to keep them dull red and work - and then only turn them on to full filament voltage when the amp is in use. The combination of using HV standby and filament standby can eliminate alot of wear and tear.

[@chipper20]

Very interesting perspective. I appreciate the fact that you avoided the subjective "Religion" of vacuum tube sound reproduction and focused on the objective situation involving the current and future of tube manufacturing. I too am an engineer and have been restoring, repairing, designing and building tube equipment for over a half century. The future availability of vacuum tubes is of great concern to me, so I thank you for this well-done video. I have subscribed to your channel.

[@MIKROWAVE1]

Thanks for watching and keeping those tubes lit!

[@иванепифан-к8ж]

Я помню СССР 1990 год в радио магазине большой выбор уцененных радиоламп по совершенно смешным ценам ( даже с учетом тогдашней инфляции ))))). Их продавали за копейки ! Например, если до этого цена электронной лампы была к примеру 5 рублей, то после уцененки лампа стоила 5 копеек ! ))). Но тогда они не были никому нужны ! Даа не знали мы тогда, что пройдет 20 лет и эти лампы будут стоить очень дорого ! Насмешка судьбы ))

[@chipper20]

@@иванепифан-к8ж Если бы вы знали тогда, насколько ценными станут вакуумные лампы, вы могли бы купить каждую лампу в магазине. Если бы у вас было, то сегодня вы были бы очень богатым человеком.

[@иванепифан-к8ж]

О да ! Если бы знать, что я потом заинтересуюсь любительским радио и электрогитарой )). Я наверное бы их все скупил . Да такой смешной ( уже) исторический факт . )) 73 !

[@mohabatkhanmalak1161]

I was wondering about that, which manufacturers are left still making these tubes. Watching your clip answered that, thank you. About the special glass, it would mean the single manufacturer in Germany would be supplying all the remaining tube factories around the world! I am guessing they would be in the form of small cylindrical lengths or balls, which would be re-melted at the other end and fashioned into the finished tubes. Looking at the boutique tubes, the prices are just out of this world.

[@fredflintstone8048]

When you look at the cost of high end audiophile equipment around the world this comes as no surprise. Dedicated audiophiles will pay tens of thousands of dollars for specialty power cables, and speaker cables alone let alone what they'll pay for amps, DACs and the rest. It is a business that deals in a lot of 'snake oil'. As such there are certain 'bragging rights' when owning and operating certain brand tubes, and they'll always swear that there is an incredible difference between them, and if you can't hear it yourself, it's because your knuckles drag on the ground.

[@gregoryclemen1870]

@@fredflintstone8048 , you really hit the head on this one!!!!!, it is so bad that our "GUITAR GODS" are worried about where the "GETTER" is located on their "12AX7" tubes "STUPID"!!!

[@EdgarsLS]

Fun fact, the KT in KT88 and other tubes means Kinkless Tetrode, which points towards them not having the tetrode kink of secondary emission caused by the lack of a supressor grid. but some (esspecially early ones) beam tetrodes still have the kink, but newer designs have perfected the design and have effectively gotten rid of the kink.

[@MIKROWAVE1]

The entire story of the Williamsons and Ultra Linear is a great topic to explore.

[@palipixel]

Yes, by forming the beam of electrons as they're heading to the plate, the designers can create the effects of the suppressor grid (g3) between the screen (g2) and the plate. All that moving charge (electrons) is loosely focused to be concentrated in flight where an actual suppressor grid (g3) would normally be positioned. The screen grid (g2) should fall in the electron shadow created by the control grid (g1) for this to work out for the best. Also, if you have disassembled some three-grid audio power pentodes over time, you may have noticed that the suppressor grid in some of those devices consist of a few turns of very widely spaced wire. The need for a formal suppressor grid is almost gone in those designs, but are included to ensure maximum undistorted voltage swing (power output) for the given tube type.

[@EdgarsLS]

the are actually tubes that do the opposite: theyre called secondary emission tubes, there was 1 hifi amp I know that was made with them

[@josepheccles9341]

I saw an article about Western Electric. I am VERY happy to hear about that.

[@alexannal]

Spot on, if someone needs them, some one will supply them.

[@russbetts1467]

Thank you for a very interesting and informative video about valves. I have been a Valve lover since the 1970's and over the years, have had several valve amplifiers. I currently have a 25 year-old World Audio Design K5881 Mk 2 Power Amp, courtesy of Noel Keywood and Hi-Fi World. These were designed by Noel and sold in Kit Form, for those of us who are into self-build. The Front End are four NOS Mullard 12AX7/EEC 83's. My output Power Valves are SOVTEK 5881 valves, which were the valves which came with the kit. Some years ago, I replaced them with Tung-Sol 5881 valves, but they weren't as transparent to the music, so I bought some more Sovteks. The Amp is rated at 21 Watts of Pure Class A. This is fed by a Valve Phono Stage, also by World Audio Design, their KLPP1. These feed a matched pair of QUAD 57 Electrostatic Speakers, of 1962 Vintage. I have considered modifying the K5881 to use the EL-84 power valves, as I've heard several amps which use them; especially the LEAK Stereo 20. I'd also like to use KT-66 vales, but they require 1.5 Amps to power them and the WAD Power transformer is only rated at 1 Amp and there isn't room to install a larger transformer. I could build another amplifier, but at my age - 74 - it hardly seems worth the time; effort, or expense, especially as there's nothing wrong with the WAD K5881. Nice to know, that I'm still going to be able to get Valves for as long as I live. Maybe the next time I replace the 5881's, I'll try some JJ's, to see if they are an improvement. Thanks again.

[@frankgeeraerts6243]

Stick with the tubes you relayed............JJ does not come close to the original Tesla manufacturing.......... the reason why sometimes nos does not give the results you may expect is mainly that the amps were conceived with at that time available current production tubes...........be it Sovtek at THAT moment ! To extend the usefull lifetime ( by several times ) of your tubes a very effective and simple method exist ! Warm up the filaments for about one minute or more before applying high voltage to the anodes and also cutt the high voltage before shutting down the filaments to drain the capaictors, so before shutting down the filaments...........( MIN 40 seconds ) Tubes worn out by excess use above their limits or close to their specifications ..if used so ................BUT they wrn out rapidly mainly at start up and shut off.................electrons should NEVER be pulled out of the cathode coating but ONLY out of the electron cloud generated by the heated cathode oxides............ The BBC never shut down their tube amplifiers......!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wish you pleasure as long as possible with your WAD............... NOS noval input tubes may never the less give better results in your amp..... All is in the eating of the pudding..........only the pleasure of listening to music will tell you the right from the wrong...

[@gregoryclemen1870]

I still have a good supply of "NEW/OLD STOCK". I never did leave the vacuum tube technology, however I am surprised to to this technology make a comeback!!!!. I have been repairing electronic equipment 50 years, and counting. I have an interesting collection of old radios, record players, and "C.R.T." type T.V. sets, thanks for posting, and have a great day!!!!.

[@johnkemas7344]

You had mentioned that there are tons of tubes that will get passed down from generation to generation. Only partly true. As a ham radio operator I have inquired about large collections of tubes from my friends who have become silent keys, and their wives and kids merely stated they through them out stating nobody wanted them, used them or would even buy them so without even trying to find them new homes they got pitched out. I should have asked them about them at the funeral home I guess but I don't want to seem like a ghoul!

[@MIKROWAVE1]

The SK ham radio widow chaser is one of the oldest mythical types. Have to admit I have been to a few of these gatherings! Many begged me to take more. Wallet emptied.

[@goodun2974]

Offer to help the family clean out dad's or grand-dad's junk for free; that might get you an invitation to claim some usefull stuff for yourself and save it from the dumpster. But yeah, I have encountered numerous people who just threw it all in a dumpster. Oftentimes, however, the ham operator or retired radio/TV repair man is his own worst enemy in this regard. I have met many guys with stashes of parts, tubes, radios, amplifiers, and whatever who just can't be convinced to part with any of their stuff no matter how much money you offer. You leave them your phone number in case they change their mind, and you call em up or swing by their house every 6 months or once a year and ask again, and the answer is always the same: " I might need it some day". And then one day you drive by and inquire, and the widow says "I threw it all out", or there's a "for sale" sign on the lawn, and the property looks newly cleaned and/or renovated, and so you track down the family and they tell you they hired some "junk monster" company to haul it away....

[@goodun2974]

PS, all those TV shows and company advertisements urging you to "declutter your house" have a lot to answer for. Mostly they're aiming to sell you a different kind of modern plastic junk or sell you on paying a service company to haul away your old "junk" so that then you'll go out and buy new junk. "Out with the old and in with the new". The ultimate loser is Planet Earth.

[@timmiller7338]

Electrons can move more freely in a vacuum!

[@8BitNaptime]

I stocked up on pencil triodes, Nuvistors, and ceramic planar triodes for my exotic test gear.

[@defaultuserid1559]

Great! I enjoyed this and sent the link to all my friends who use tubes for guitar, radio and hi-fi/stereo. I have an Elite 80 stereo amp that uses the 6AV5GA (6FW5) in push-pull and bought up several sets of these Sylvania-made tubes because I was worried about future supplies. Since this tube was supposedly developed for military applications, it will probably never go into production again.

[@MIKROWAVE1]

The 6AV5 is a small sweep tube designed for TVs and it's pretty indestructible when run at modest voltages and grid bias.

[@defaultuserid1559]

@@MIKROWAVE1 Good to hear since Elite Innovations stresses the conservative nature of the amp which has auto-biasing and is overbuilt and easy to service if it ever needs it. It uses 12AX7s for drivers so no supply problems there. It seems to be a lot more powerful than its 20 Watt/channel rating but that's subjective and off topic when discussing supply issues. Cheers!

[@gregoryclemen1870]

the "LOC-TAL" tube was designed for military use. I know that some people hate these tubes, however I do not see any problems with those tubes, they rarely fail. the tube sockets can give problems, and I replace those sockets.

[@defaultuserid1559]

@@gregoryclemen1870 The 6AV5GA tubes in my application are regular octal tubes in glass made by Sylvania.

[@gregoryclemen1870]

@@defaultuserid1559 , I am aware of what a "6AV5" tube is( beam power tube, primary use in horizontal deflection amplifier circuits for television receivers. requires octal tube socket. tube basing= 6CK, same as 12AV5, 25AV5

[@MuzixMaker]

One important reason to keep producing tubes is their hardness to EMP. Side comment, I like how Takatsuki’s logo has built-in pronunciation. Very clever.

[@EngineeringVignettes]

A cousin to the tube amp is the nixie tube. Dalibor (Chech) is doing the good work in that niche. And when you get a new tube amp project started, where do you get the output transformer? A big manufacturer in the US has recently closed its doors. Delatsch (Poland) does some custom winds but, other than Hammond, not much left in North America (not counting the generic tube amp alternatives).

[@curtwuollet2912]

Tubes were still mainstream when I went to school in 71. But we learned transistors as well. I made tube guitar amps for a while, and have lately thought of making them again. I remember paying $3.55 for GE 6L6GC by the dozen, tested and guaranteed. You could get surplus 5881s for a buck. Those days are gone.

[@MIKROWAVE1]

Yes our generation were taught both as equal technologies to be understood as evolution and reuse of circuits simply with new devices.

[@hbengineer]

In all these discussions I’ve seen about vacuum tubes, especially with guitar amplifiers, I have not seen anyone do a no-kidding quantitative engineering analysis of their performance. I agree that as long as there is demand, businesses will find a way to keep producing them. I also believe that this is an artificial market created and perpetuated to keep charging more money than necessary to solve the problem. I’m an engineer and I’m also a guitarist. I buy solid state gear because it’s affordable, performs incredibly well, and it’s reliable. Like so many other pieces of our history, tubes belong in a museum. And someday the transistor will belong there too…

[@russbetts1467]

Are you seriously trying to tell me, that my 25 year-old World Audio Design K5881 Mk2 Valve Power Amp, is unreliable and doesn't perform well; nor that it's affordable? Sorry, but you are clearly talking from a point of ignorance. I've had valve and transistor amps and I've had more problems with Power Transistors burning out, than with Power valves; especially when driving Electrostatic Speakers. That's personal experience. Here in the UK, there are still lots of guitarists using VOX - and other valve speakers - from the 1960's. Unreliable? B*ll*cks!

[@hbengineer]

@@russbetts1467 no need to get butt-hurt about it. If anything you make my point. Your reply is good as an anecdote but it’s just that. Everyone has opinions. I’d like to see some quantitative data on the performance characteristics of tubes versus semiconductors. Valve amplifiers exist because that’s the technology that was available at the time. Technology moved on. I get absolutely amazing guitar sounds out of my quad cortex, calling up any number of classic amp & cabinet models, blasting out through my 100W solid state amp. That’s my experience… I’m not telling you to replace your favorite amp-I’m saying that the market for tubes exists to feed your appetite for them and the only way that market will succeed is to convince other people to have the appetite for them. I’m asking why? Show me the data…

[@joelcarson9514]

@@hbengineer Guitarists are looking for "tone" and what "tone" is varies from person to person. Audiophiles (Some, at least) are looking for the same thing from their equipment, a "sound" that they like, it isn't necessarily accurate or identical to what came out of the recording studio. While I dropped vinyl and eventually my own home recorded cassette tapes (Cassettes for mobile listening, CDs were too expensive and records too fragile to risk carrying around) for CDs, Vinyl at least has limitations that prevent the stupid @$$ Loudness War that has ruined a lot of CD releases. And I do still prefer AB Class transistor amps to Class D gear, electrical efficiency and heat output be damned. Besides, in the next few years, sophisticated DSP gear controlled by well trained Expert System Software (A.I. but I don't care for that designation, sure, it's Artificial, but Intelligent it ain't, it's not going to become Skynet, but the technology could still be misused by the stupid and greedy) is going to be able to make a guitar amp or well designed audio system sound like just about anything you'd want it to.

[@vylbird8014]

@@joelcarson9514 If the computer outputs a mass of equations that some human can figure out, it's a regression analysis. If the mass of equations has grown too complex for any human to understand, then it's AI.

[@russbetts1467]

@@hbengineer "Technology moved on"... More correctly, technology has gone Full Circle. The Kids/Teenagers of today, have discovered their Grandfathers Record Collections and Portable Record Players - the 'Dansette' as it was known, here in the UK - are going for silly money on everyone's favourite Online market. The attraction, is as much to do with the cover artwork and the content of the LP, than the sound quality, although the early Valve record players still sound better than the later Transistorised players. If you read your Music Press, you will know that during the last couple of years, there has been a resurgence of the LP, along with the 45 RPM 7-inch discs, whilst at the same time, CD's have seen a significant drop in sales, along with CD players. The trouble with Transistors, is that with few exceptions - Sugden Class A - they all have cross-over 'switching nasties', especially the high powered amplifiers, which is why Valve amps are nearly all low powered, because most of them work in Class A, even when Push-Pull. Please note, this has been an ongoing hobby of mine for the past 50 years of my life and I've listened to a lot of amplifiers, both Valve and Transistors and have always preferred Valves. As I'm not a Rock Guitarist, I don't need big 100 Watt amps, nor big speakers, capable of pumping out high decibels. Even 4 Watts of valve power, with efficient speakers, can fill your average sized room, without destroying your hearing. It's all a case of Quality over Quantity and I know which I prefer... and don't fall for the widely held belief, that you can't get quality out of valves. Since the first Stereo valve amplifiers came on the markets, back in the 1960's - Leak Stereo 20; Quad 2 Monoblock and Williamson - the technology has progressed and improved, with better understanding of how eddy-currents in valve circuits can effect the sound, which has resulted in improved circuitry; especially the use of 'Star Earthing'. There have also been improvements in the materials used for making Output Transformers. The thing about Valves, is that they lack 'Tone', as perceived by guitarist using PA systems, with all those Wah-Wah Pedals and 'Flangers' and other electronic gizmos. As for showing you the Data... The Human Ear is Analogue, as is Music, which is why Vinyl is still popular, despite its shortcomings. You can't prove anything with Graphs or Surveys. Back in 1982 - had you even been born then? - Phillips advertised CD as 'Perfect Sound Forever' and they tried to prove it with Graphs and 'DATA'. Those of us who listened to music with our ears, weren't fooled... and still aren't. Please note, I have this same problem with my brother, who is also a guitarist and all his kit - mainly 1980's Transistor stuff - has a 'hard edge' to it, which he perceives as 'better', but he also has a VOX AC30, with EL-84 valves in it, which is his favourite amp, above all others... but don't ask him why, because he can't explain it. He also believes Valves are Inferior. Bias is Bias and we are probably ALL wrong.

[@clambeaker17]

I wish someone would manufacture the tuning eye tube

[@JCWise-sf9ww]

I second that!

[@PapasDino]

@@JCWise-sf9ww There's a guy who is making them with LEDs...can't remember where I saw it, may have been on HackaDay.

[@juslitor]

@@PapasDino Yup, Hackaday

[@russbetts1467]

I've got a stack of them, scavenged from a number of old reel-to-reel tape recorders which died. I've been wondering if they still had any use. Clearly, there is still a need for them, for old tape recorders.

[@goodun2974]

@@russbetts1467 , Real to real tape recorders very rarely used the same type of eye tube that you would find used in an antique radio or a collectible vintage Hifi receiver or tuner. The ones that most people want for antique gradios would be a 6E5 or 6U5 tube with old style 6 pin base, and in some vintage audio gear and tuners you would see an EMM801 or similar mini 9-pin type used for a tuning indicator. Reel to reels often used a short-bottle octal base 6AF5, or octal 1629 with 12 volt heater, or some other non-compatible eye tube. Some, not all, vintage capacitor testers did use a 6E5 or 6U5 and so radio collectors would buy the cap checkers cheap just for the eye tube.

[@frankgeeraerts6243]

Using tubes and build tube amps since my childhood ( more than 60 years ).............I hear so much BS about tubes today ............finaly someone who is telling facts and no BS.......thanks!

[@G5STU]

loved the video, and the channel, very informative. I especially loved your videos on loops, i'm now following in your footseps. Thanks.

[@Tsudkyk]

Vacuum tubes are still considered a vital part of aviation, I hope this is a viable that keeps the manufacturing alive.

[@NeverTalkToCops1]

No. Tubes are NOT a vital part of anything, especially aviation.

[@chrisscott1547]

Most high power Aviation radar uses Magnetrons. @@NeverTalkToCops1

[@georgepbriles696]

Wow awesome video! And a great rundown on the world of tubes thank you!.. yeah my guitar amplifier is a hybrid, a 12ax7 in the preamp, signal and impedance kept near perfect through all the tuning arrays with 8 pin dip operational amplifiers straight to the power stage dual bipolar in push-pull arrangement slamming 4 ohm output impedance perfectly matched to my cabinet!.. it sounds incredible!

[@MIKROWAVE1]

The ability to move back and forth and wrangle the best out of each technology is an interesting aspect of Hybrids.

[@billshiff2060]

Thankfully Fender and others have now great sim amps that sound great without tubes. Finally. I had a Fender super twin that ate tubes 6x. It was so heavy I had to cut it into 2 to be able to carry it. Moved on to a cybertwin but that also killed it's tubes (I got the factory fix but never installed it) and now I moved on to the Fender Mustang III and that is just perfect.

[@joewoodchuck3824]

I was in the last class at tech school to receive more tube theory than transistor theory in the 60's. I still like using them.

[@jerryuhte1284]

Great info Mike , been wondering about all this for a long time , maybe Western Electric could come around in the future ! Thanks !

[@MIKROWAVE1]

If I was trying to sell it to US investors, I would propose the high value line and engineering to be US and the wider range modest cost devices to be manufactured in PR or Mexico. This model has worked for other sectors where you have to control production costs, but stay "local".

[@bélalugrisi]

The loss of the SED manufacturing facility in St. Petersburg was a real blow. Their "Winged =C=" tubes were great sounding!

[@VintageTechFan]

They also were relatively cheap while being just as good as the old ones from the 1950s. After they announced to stop manufacturing, the prices skyrocketed immidiately.

[@Broken_Yugo]

As I understand China has a pretty big Hi-Fi market of their own, that alone is probably enough demand to keep the typical audio tubes going at reasonable prices.

[@MIKROWAVE1]

What is this East Hi-Fi market - West Hi-Fi market thing?

[@gavincurtis]

@@MIKROWAVE1 I think he means that the market interest for tubes is renewed by a large new population base entering the hobby.

[@ronnyp6934]

@@gavincurtis The Litte Dot and DarkVoice headphone tube amps have brought tube amps to the masses no longer a audiophile only club which it used to feel like ..

[@gavincurtis]

@@ronnyp6934 Exactly! I have a little dot Mk8. Only way I could ever afford such audio luxury. Not perfectly made, has some engineering issues, but the sound is sure WOW.

[@ronnyp6934]

@@gavincurtis Great amps I had the MK4 SE could not fault it for the money plus you got the fun of tube rolling ....

[@jon_byler]

It’s not hard to find tubes at all! I just go in the attic and look through my boxes. :)

[@Mr.BrownsBasement]

Interesting information, but 7- and 9-pin miniatures are _not_ Peanut Tubes (215A's).

[@NebukedNezzer]

the seeberg juke box amp used 2a3 output tubes. the little 45 was dirt cheap but not anymore. I have a home brew stereo amp that uses a 45 in each channel. gives 1.5 watts rms and lovely sound stage. when texas instruments came out with what they call the class T solid state amp. its all over for tube amps.

[@simonp347]

I did a bit of news search about the 2019 fire at the Shuguang factory, the fire was at one of the abandoned factory building and didn't affect their tube production. You should be able to still buy new ones. Shuguang as a company is nowhere near it used to be (4000 workers at its peak) but seems like they are still producing.

[@MIKROWAVE1]

Very nice and thanks for the info to the group of users!

[@Tonetwisters]

Western Electric promised us they would take up the slack, from USA!! Still waiting for NEWS!! Been playing guitar for 60 years. There is little out there that has the warmth and fullness of the old RCA and GE and Sylvania. JJ tubes sound fine for modern music. Too bright for vintage guitar amps and vintage sounds.

[@bradstearns5384]

I miss the 7199 tube. Almost impossible to find now at a reasonable price. Hope Someday some tube manufacturer makes them again. Last new ones I bought were sovtek and they were so microphonic I stopped using them.

[@bill-2018]

I looked at the Great British Valve Project, re-making audio valves and importing various machines form Europe; grid winding machines, anode stamping machines etc.and using the Brimar name. I bought PM2 type valves to make a one valve (or more) rx but went over the top and ended up with 21 used ones bought at rallies. A nice surprise was a D.E.T. marked B.B.C. with a tungsten filament still lighting, yet to see if it works. Somebody years ago gave me five 807's, nice valve for h.f. and spares for my Wireless 19 set. They'll outlive me, hi. G4GHB

[@vintagetubeamplifiers]

Watch the video KDH just put out. The whole tube scare was complete marketing and bullshit. Prices have increased by over 80%.

[@goodun2974]

He did a good job on that video. Mike Matthew's of Electro-Harmonix/New Sensor gamed the system to price-gouge us .

[@goodun2974]

I'm only halfway through the video but so far what wasn't mentioned is that some transmitting tubes and some very early antique radio tube types used thoriated filaments which can actually be rejuvenated, typically by a short runtime at two or three times normal filament voltage and then running them overnight at slightly elevated voltage. This causes fresh thorium to diffuse to the surface of the filament. It doesn't seem to work on any tubes that have oxide coated fillments or cathodes FOJ but I've done it successfully on a few old radio types, 199's or WD11'S, I can't quite remember which one.

[@melgross]

That only works a couple of times. After that, results are sketchy.

[@smalcolmbrown]

The EL34 is a development of the EL14 of the 1940s vintage. The EL14 was used in the FuG 224 Berlin A radar set

[@davidwell686]

I loved my tube amplifier but sold them to downsize. I never had a problem finding tubes.

[@catherineescol7852]

Slovakia , China and Russia are still making Tubes for Amplifier, its just difficult to get them nowadays. TUBE amps rocks

[@GarryBurgess]

I like the fact that I can leave my solid state amp on for several hours with no heat. I've. never wanted a tube amp.

[@MIKROWAVE1]

Here in New Hampshire it's part of my cats heating plan.

[@TheGuitologist]

Good video. One small thing... You have the 6L6 backwards. It was introduced in 1936, along with the 6V6, as a metal encased tube. Shortly after, the 6L6G came out, I want to say before the war. Then the industrial 5881 and 6L6GC in the 50s.

[@MIKROWAVE1]

Yes Sir! Backwards! The KT came in 1955. I wonder if the patent thing was the other way around.

[@weareallbeingwatched4602]

We need to come up with a fully-automated 3D printed antenna system and a vacuum packing machine. Western Electric retooling would presumably involve contemporary levels of automation. The materials and design of cathode and anode have been massively improved upon since the 1930s for non-audio vacuum devices, so a substantial improvement to design scheme is possible.

[@AQuietNight]

To put the Western Electric name on any tube they would have to meet the Western Electric quality and reliability standards (which is not a cheap process). AT&T made that clear. No corner cutting at all.

[@weareallbeingwatched4602]

@@AQuietNight CIA/NSA "long lines".

[@wetcat833]

I have 5 tube amps and have had no problem getting hold of tubes for them. There have been reports of disreputable retailers ( I didn't mention EHX ) and wholesalers, withholding stock to create panic and drive up prices. Those unable to find tubes on line are the ones that call their grand kids every time those computer thingy's don't behave. A good place to look is Eurotubes. They have everything that you may wan't and ship world wide. They stock good quality, non invasive, unsanctioned and non rebranded price hiked, JJ tubes.

[@gailsmith9835]

Thanks to the guitar amplifier companys for keeping up tube amps.

[@MIKROWAVE1]

Guitar and Stereo folks!

[@jakep8484]

Really hope Western Electric makes some great tubes for a good price. 50 bucks a tube would be fair if top quality. People would buy them for sure.

[@Realroyrogers]

Tung-Sol tubes are constructed with the same commitment to quality and reliability as the old American Tug sol. Assembled by hand in the Reflektor factory in Saratov, Russia,

[@ritmo1130]

Power RF tubes are almost extinct, good luck finding an affordable 4-400 or 3CX3000 or the like. Great video 👍

[@thomasoliver5095]

One of our transmitters at the Marti plant in Greenville,NC 50Kw uses a 4CX3000 as an RF driver stage tube.4CX35000 as the output stage.

[@brianbloom1799]

Hi isn't there a way to put new emissions back into those tube, Like Ron Glasslinger, I have seen him Make tubes Very smart Man.

[@EngineeringVignettes]

I am running some TAD EL34B-STR tubes in a dual channel SE amp. They are pretty good and were not that expensive.. perhaps Tube Amp Doctor is transitioning out of the boutique-size manufacturer. Mind you, they were purchased around 2019. I hope Western Electric gets off the ground and becomes a reliable source for power pentodes and 12AX7 tubes, more than the ultra-niche 300B line that they had been focusing on. note - not an "audiophile", I just like the single-ended tube sound. I stop myself at that point :) (not counting the weird side projects that I do like the hybrid quad push-pull 6AQ5 sub-woofer amp I made a while back ah hah...) Cheers,

[@MIKROWAVE1]

Pentodes wired as Triodes in P-P or SE is an old idea too. This is a way to give some modest pentodes new life.

[@thomasoliver5095]

Western Electric started out building tubes-esp the 300 as a means of amplifying telephone calls.Then they built projection equipment and sound equipment for early sound movies!Again the 300 tubes was used in the amplifiers for the HUGE horn speakers behind the screen!These old speakers are VALUEABLE collector items today along with their corresponding amps!

[@whstark]

I worked in bench repair at a company that had a whole wall of tubes and a few antique ones from 20 ties , alot of multitube ones in one for tv's that would be good for expermental projects, my boss jersey jim towers in clearwater, tell him Bill S . ( doc Brown ) sent you. ALSO A huge wall of SAMS photo fact and original Schmatiics for almot anything. I'm retired now, just that helps ie Bill....

[@johnhutchinson5398]

There’s a couple of guys in California is rebuilding old tubes of any kind. And bought out a lot of companies that sold just tubes and even took all the bad tubes theses companies had. I’ve had some huge tubes that I bought used in this 220volt transmitter

[@chloewinkworthartist]

had my sovtek rebuilt five years ago... i am hoping years from now i can get more valves ...i have a mig 100h.

[@wayland7150]

Niche applications, CRT TV and Microwave ovens.

[@joegeorge3367]

I think people underestimate how many tubes are still out there in basements and garages. A similar example I'll cite is classic cars - 10 years ago an original Bronco could be had for $3K and u rarely saw them for sale. Once the value of classic cars rose astronomically - all of a sudden every rust bucket Bronco appeared on the internet for $10K. If the price goes high enough and the news cycle has stories on the "rare soon to be extinct item" people will be digging them out of dark places and listing them.

[@goodun2974]

That's not a very good analogy. I don't know anyone who can pick up an old Bronco and throw it in a dumpster but it's quite easy to do that with a few boxes full of tubes. Getting rid of an old car, even a junker with presumably little to no value, means you have to hire or at least make an appointment with somebody to come tow it away, and there's paperwork involved with the department of motor vehicles, and you have to get it taken off the town property tax rolls and so on. Which is one reason why vehicles often just sit there rusting away or gathering dust in the garage.. Boxes of tubes are lightweight, And there's no paperwork involved when you dispose of them, And so people just throw them in the dumpster, or at best maybe put them out by the curb for somebody driving by to scavenge .

[@vylbird8014]

Will they really be missed? There are still specialised tubes that are used in things like high-power radio amplification, but the basic tubes used in audio are dead for a reason: Transistors are just /better/. Less distortion, a fraction of the power usage, more reliable, smaller, cheaper, easier to manufacture. The only reason people love tubes is the 'warmth' of their sound. A particular form of mild distortion created when tubes are very slightly overdriven. It sounds nice, though it was originally an unwanted limitation of the technology. It's also really, really easy to reproduce using even the most basic DSP setup.

[@KB4QAA]

"Warmth" = distortion.

[@rickg8015]

I’m hopeful for Brimar too..

[@franciscolopez3229]

I don't think tubes will disappear that easy. Reason is, majority of professional musicians specially electric bassist and guitarist love and prefer tube amps for their specific sound needs.

[@jrstf]

I've been around musicians enough to know that often their love for tubes, and other obscure equipment, is a disease they catch from others, not that they actually sound better.

[@melgross]

That really has nothing to do with it. That’s a tiny market. If nobody is producing them, it hardly matters that a very small number of people want them. And right now, there are bigger problems for tubes.

[@jamesmiller4184]

IF there is demand with cash behind it, it WILL be met. If "the manufacturers" become bored, OTHERS will fill the vacuum, so-to-speak. (Became entranced utterly with S.B.Marantz, beginning in the Fifties here.)

[@ejonesss]

can you compensate for low output by raising the voltage? vacuum tubes got their wattage by using high voltages since you could not put much current through them.

[@jd3497]

How about C16J control tube? Still in need today.

[@chevalde31]

I had a rare mutual transconductance tube tester to test all those Dynaco & Stromberg-Carlson pre + power amps, Eico and Hallicrafters Tx-Rx radios, scopes and RF signal generators, Surplus military stuff and their smell….

[@MIKROWAVE1]

It really is all about that old surplus and burnt dust smell that puts you in an altered state of radio and audio consciousness!

[@mirelchirila]

i’m guessing no, any producer can just ramp up production if the others leave the market, it takes a while but there’s no reason to stop them

[@m.rjoseph7616]

Thank you friends

[@eddiewillers1]

On the used market, there is a certain amount of price distortion caused by the unknowing folks selling, effectively, garbage tubes that were used in TV. When you have sellers that think 'tube = vintage = expensive', regardless of the tube type and application, then prices go up across the board.

[@JCWise-sf9ww]

This is very informative about current tube manufacturing. Would love to see tubes made in USA. Why is no one making RF & tuning eye tubes for old radio replacements, NOS gonna run out sometime then someone will see it profitable? When was the 6L6 first made? Answer in the mid 1930's, I have a 1936 GE console radio E-105 that uses a 6L6 for the audio output, so the power beam tube had first been made in 1935. In my opinion, it's not tubes vs solid state in AF amps, its how well the circuit is designed/built that gives good sound or the amount of distortion. The 6L6, 6sn7, 6sl7 tube stereo amp I built, to me sounded more like a live performance, I used a HV transistor to regulate the screen voltage in this amp and no solid state devices in the sound path.

[@MIKROWAVE1]

I got some bad info and did not think about it! Maybe reversed? The EL34 (1955) produced to not infringe the 6L6 (1935)?

[@JCWise-sf9ww]

@@MIKROWAVE1 Metal tubes were introduced in 1935, find a copy of 1935 copyrighted RCA's technical bulletin " New All-metal Radio Tubes" on Pete Millet's website. Also If you can find a PDF copy (which I have one) of RCA's tube manual dated 1937, it only shows the metal version of the 6L6 beam power tube, the glass versions G, GA, GB, etc. came afterwards.

[@swarajnath1497]

There is a need to manufacture tubes with powerful heater filament since demand of tube based amplifier is growing up although very slowly.

[@JCWise-sf9ww]

Why is no one making the 45 power triode tube? I'm surprised no one is manufacturing them. NOS and good used ones are getting harder to find and are getting expensive. I have a model 70 Atwater Kent radio that uses two in a push pull output, in that configuration they can output up to 10 watts. One of the 45's has a broken filament, tapping it made it work, but for how long will it work? Some old radios used up to 4 of them. Too many audiophiles have bought them up for Hi-Fi amplifiers.

[@gailsmith9835]

Only electronics repairable. Long live tubes...

[@anonhollmuller4032]

as ham operator ... i am really in need of this glass tubes.... for recievers.. sorry for my poor english:)

[@MIKROWAVE1]

Small receiver tubes are generally not a problem, as long as they are not rare foreign pre-war types. I can not move across my ham shack without stepping on a 6BA6!

[@anonhollmuller4032]

@@MIKROWAVE1 😂👍

[@goodun2974]

@@MIKROWAVE1 6AUG, 6BA6, 6BE6, they're like mushrooms, I swear they breed and propagate in dark corners of the garage or basement!

[@melmonsher1227]

Great video, love tubes ever since replacing a b and w tv failure after testing at the local drugstore! As an engineer, can a tube be reverse engineered with solid state components as a plug in replacement. I’m not a religious audiophile

[@EdgarsLS]

I just get NOS soviet tubes, they're cheap and perform quite well for guitar amps, not really for a microphone preamp, they're rarely silent enough.

[@vylbird8014]

The way Russia is going right now, they might have to start making more tubes soon.

[@EdgarsLS]

@@vylbird8014 im talking about NOS tubes

[@vylbird8014]

@@EdgarsLS It was a joke: Russia's economy is so screwed right now, they might have to start making tubes again because they can't import semiconductors.

[@manosdimis1194]

Would you suggest places where one can buy tubes with large variety of electronic valves. thanks

[@624radicalham]

Did you watch the video? It's right there in the video ...

[@manosdimis1194]

@@624radicalham I saw the video; yet I was asking about US distributor instead of international manufacturer. Maybe during ham radio fest I could get more info on the subject. Thanks anyway.

[@624radicalham]

@@manosdimis1194 I understand. You didnt mention that in your question. DX Engineering has some tubes for linear amplifiers but you're correct not a wide variety. For now it seems limited to outside distributors. All the best

[@wayland7150]

My uncle in law died. He had hundreds of valve (tube) radios and hundreds of valves. Probably worth £40,000. All chucked in a skip.

[@lowheadroom]

Tubes aren't going anywhere (at least popular models) If there is demand for it, it will be produced somewhere. Even niche markets exist for very strange hobbies. I think a bunch of guys posted on this topic about 6 months ago. The only change we've seen is better supply and lower prices. But that's just my opinion, and I think you did a great job with this informative video. Cheers

[@basspig]

I've been hearing rumors that Western Electric is going to start production on smaller valves then the big transmitting tubes that they knew normally make.

[@jon_byler]

Sadly the only new JJ tubes I’ve had my hands on tested marginal in comparison to NOS American tubes. Since I have good quality used American made tubes I’ve never actually used the JJ TUBES in any of my equipment. No idea if they manage to hold that marginal condition over time, or if they fade to useless much sooner. It’s really too bad. Would be nice to put them on a curve tracer and see if they even match the most basic specs of the type they’re sold as.

[@jptrainor]

They're fairly simple to manufacturer compared to semiconductors. It seems a small business could handle supplying tubes to a niche market at the right price.

[@goodun2974]

No, not really; semiconductor manufacturing can be, and *is*, automated and robotized to a degree that isn't really possible with vacuum tubes. Tubes require a lot of handwork and hand assembly that is difficult to mechanize; designing and building the machines to automate tube production would be tremendously expensive and time consuming, and not very cost effective considering the niche market. The American and European tube manufacturing machines of the 1940s through the 60's were mostly either scrapped for their metal content or sold off to China and Russia. You can still find stashes of new old stock tubes in garages and basements of retired or dead tv-radio repairmen, but you're not going to find the machinery to make them in such places.

[@jptrainor]

@@goodun2974 The hand work is what makes it suitable for a small business filling a niche market.

[@Noah-gq7pq]

this is the stuff I was taught,,I'm glad to read this,,,its better to me than modern computer geek bullshit thank you..

[@marksommers4868]

I've always liked Tubes- They sound Better , They are great for RF , They tend to be more forgiving--- Plus, they are just Plain Cool !!! There ARE a very few Individuals , Who , Make tubes by hand - Years ago I worked in a place where we made Specialty Tubes, So , I know something about it ---Bakeing in Vaccuum Oven, Bakeing under Ultra-High Vaccuum, Tip-Off , Etc., We used " Varian" and " Brew" Vaccuum Equiptment, Also " Cryo" --Anyway, It would be very sad to see these tubes dissapear ---

[@kurtweinschenker2387]

Here’s the deal. If there is a market, someone will figure it out. If the demand exists, and money can be made, someone will organize a company to make tubes to meet that demand. Otherwise, we’re left to salvage stuff for their tubes.

[@77Cardinal]

It wasn't too long ago (well, if two or three generations of humans is allowed) that computers, telephones and video screens were all powered by tubes. The local drug store had a tube testing machine which our dad used when tuning up our black and white TV so he could watch McHale's Navy. We kids got to eat ice cream cones while he opened up a used Avon cosmetics box (mom was an Avon lady) and tested his RCA and Sylvania tubes at the Thrifty Drugs store. Beyond nostalgia I have a couple of Project S2 valve phono premaps that sound great. In my mind though is the knowledge that tube testers are no longer in the corner store and tube performance fades in direct relation to how many hours they are powered. That fact alone made the phone company glad to have transistors.

[@thomasoliver5095]

Then we need to consider tubes still used in high power broadcast transmitters-mainly short wave as in the transmitters I use for my work at the Marti/VOA transmitter plant in Greenville,North Carolina.These tubes are used in transmitters that generate 250 and 500Kw of output power.SW seems to be the only user of the high power tubes.Medium wve,VHF digital TV,and broadcast FM have gone to solid state.The tubes tused here are made/rebuilt in the USA ans many are built in France and Germany. The transmitter tubes can dissapate up 650Kw of power!There is a maker of high power transmitters in the US-only one that I know of Continental Electronics in Dallas Tx.Other builders are in Germany and switzerland.

[@denteomd]

Loved this video, I remembered when I accompanied my dad to electronic stores to buy tubes for our tv set. Just a question is there a compatible tube for a General Electric 6CM7, its a miniature 9 pin tube. I looked at JJ catalog I think the ECC99 is closest but looking at the pins, it is slightly different (I'm not really familiar.) Thanks

[@AJMjazz]

As long as solid state semiconductor components will have their limitations of operating temperatures and certain maplification characteristics, there will always be a demand for vacuum valves (tubes). In some applications, as you indicated, there are efficiencies where a vacuum tube is better suited - musical instrument amplification, high power RF, certain AF applications, and other specialized applications - the vacuum tubes for these devices will always be in demand.

[@624radicalham]

High power RF is being handled quite nicely by new transistors. It's not 1985 anymore.

[@vylbird8014]

@@624radicalham Mostly. There are still some applications for tube, but they are increasingly specialised. Traveling wave tubes are used a lot in space, because they are really reliable even after years of exposure to heavy radiation. But overall, you are right: With each advancement in power semiconductors, the role of tubes diminishes.

[@mikesmithg0rfd356]

does any one know if type 42 amp valve are still out there?

[@MIKROWAVE1]

The type 42 in push Pull can do about 15 Watts. Not a rare pentode. I would say 5 Bucks used 15 Bucks NOS.

[@ВалерийТимофеев-г5т]

Спасибо за столь развернутую информацию. Очень надеюсь что в России восстановят производство прямонакальных триодов 2А3....

[@AMStationEngineer]

Between Y2K and 2009, I researched and composed a fairly comprehensive 192 pp book about the Sylvania Emporium, PA Tube Products Division. I interviewed 44 former employees and retirees, one woman, a "getter gal" aged 103, had nothing but praise about Sylvania's 'caring treatment' for their employees, and the fact that during WWII, the company which became "Sinter Metals", and Sylvania Tube Division were known for being crucial to the war effort, as in addition to tubes for electronics which were crucial to the war effort, they manufactured "micro-miniature" close tolerance Mil Std 'Non-JAN" metal encased (think NuVistor) type tubes for the Proximity Fuze System Munitions Program, and "stuff that out-Star Wars'd Star Wars itself". By 1964-1965, GTE-Sylvania relocated less than 20% of the existing tooling to the Sylvania-Batavia, NY (think Halo-Light™) TV manufacturing facility, sold off "some tooling, but not that much of it", and left the rest to be sold for spare parts, or for former employees to do what they wished with what remained. Their (nearby) St. Mary's Fluorescent Lighting Facility "took less than a U-Haul load", and the remaining balance was likely stored in basements, garages, and tool sheds from Warren, to Bradford, to Smethport, to Coudersport, to Brockport. Sinter Metals was sold off in May, 2021 to American Axle & Manufacturing Inc, of Detroit; the plant's closure was announced less than two month's later. Can you say "Patents Raid", anyone?? Grab the sticky buns at the Emporium Food Market, THEY'RE KILLER GOOD!!