Are there any eBay NOS tube sellers you trust?

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caesar

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May 30, 2010

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• Jul 12, 2016

• #1

A buddy just pinged me. He's looking for some NOS telefunkens to get the tone just right and find the magic.

Unfortunately, in my experience, the usual audiophile tube places don't have the rare tubes at this time. And even if they did, some of the guys who run them act like they are having their period - all the time.

Does anyone know TRUSTWORTHY guys on eBay? Thanks

 

bonzo75

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Feb 26, 2014

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• Jul 12, 2016

• #2

Ask him to contact Andy at vintage tube services. Phone him though as he doesn't respond to email easily. But he is known to provide quality long lasting well tested tubes

 

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jeff1225

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Jan 29, 2012

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• Jul 12, 2016

• #3

I don't know about eBay but I have to give a shout out to Kevin at Upscale Audio. They know there stuff, have the goods and the tubes are guaranteed not DOA.

 

DaveC

Industry Expert

Nov 16, 2014

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• Jul 12, 2016

• #4

Just check feedback, if it's ok it's worth taking the chance as if there's an issue ebay will refund your money.

A couple recently... tehnokarat from Ukraine sent me 6 6H9C (6SL7) Melz metal-base tubes that are excellent. old_guy_radiola sent me 4 Sylvania 6188 (6SL7) that are also excellent. Great prices from both sellers as well.

 

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LL21

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Dec 26, 2010

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• Jul 12, 2016

• #5

Not on ebay, but certainly have been buying tubes for YEARS from: Brent Jessee, Alfred Kaysar, Kevin at Upscale and Andy at Vintage Tubes

 

microstrip

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• Jul 12, 2016

• #6

Fake Telefunken tubes (with the diamond logo) are now being sold in many places, even from eBay sellers with good feedback. Unless the buyer is an expert or prepared to do the homework he should buy from an experienced and trusty seller.

 

DaveC

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• #7

microstrip said:

Fake Telefunken tubes (with the diamond logo) are now being sold in many places, even from eBay sellers with good feedback. Unless the buyer is an expert or prepared to do the homework he should buy from an experienced and trusty seller.

Click to expand...

Fake tubes of all sorts exist these days unfortunately... definitely worth doing a little homework to make sure no matter what you're buying.

 

Diapason

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Mar 26, 2014

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• Jul 13, 2016

• #8

Yeah, I bought some fake Telefunken EF184s on eBay from a seller with great feedback. They're at home if anybody wants them, I'll do you a good price!

 

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caesar

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• Jul 13, 2016

• #9

All, appreciate the responses. Kind of surprising to hear that eBay guys with several thousand positive feedback scores would get confused and sell fakes.

So how does one acquire the knowledge of all these tube variations so they know what the tubes they are selling actually are?

 

Jazzhead

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• #10

Brent Jesse is your man ! .... I would be wary of Kevin Upscale, after reading this horror story .... http://www.audioshark.org/general-audio-discussion-15/buyer-beware-my-upscale-audio-story-10020.html

 

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jeff1225

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Jan 29, 2012

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• Jul 13, 2016

• #11

Jazzhead said:

Brent Jesse is your man ! .... I would be wary of Kevin Upscale, after reading this horror story .... http://www.audioshark.org/general-audio-discussion-15/buyer-beware-my-upscale-audio-story-10020.html

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I bought a Nitty Gritty 2.5FI blem from Kevin on Audiogon for a highly discounted price. After I drove all the way out to his office (hour drive), he found out that it was already sold. He honored the deal, even though he didn't have too. I'm a customer for life.

 

microstrip

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• Jul 13, 2016

• #12

caesar said:

All, appreciate the responses. Kind of surprising to hear that eBay guys with several thousand positive feedback scores would get confused and sell fakes.

So how does one acquire the knowledge of all these tube variations so they know what the tubes they are selling actually are?

Click to expand...

Long nights using google and adequate keywords, unless you have a good friend who knows it all ...