where to buy tubes? TO, On

[whitewave]

Hi,
I've a Flexi, and obviously most of the fun is to try new tubes.
Do you have any idea where I can buy tubes? Both current production and NOS too?

I'm in Toronto. I'd like to avoid shipping and duties from US.

Thanks.

[bagpipe]

I've found the Tube Store to be very good. They're in Hamilton.

http://thetubestore.com/

[guitarman2]

Another vote for the tubestore in Hamilton. I prefer it as well to avoid shipping costs. Its only 5 minutes from my office. If there is a particular hard to find NOS that you must have then KCA is great to deal with. http://www.kcanostubes.com/content/
These days I'm finding pretty much all I need from the tubestore and realizing some of the most sought after NOS tubes aren't always that great or worth the price they command. I still do deal in mostly NOS (at least for preamp tubes) and get mostly what I need from the tubestore.

[OddJobPeters]

Another vote for The Tube Store - shipped fast, no problems. All tubes were in perfect condition.

[Paul]

Twice I've had The Tube Store ship me an empty box. One time it was a tube box that was empty, another time it was the shipping carton that was empty. It took a phone call both times to get them to resend with no questions asked, but what a pain......

[Pneumonic]

Tough to beat the tubestore for most of your valve needs if you wish to deal locally and not via the net.

Another local option, if you have the bucks and are looking for NOS Mullard's, is to give Alfred a call at

http://www.mullardtubes.com/

He's on Kettlebrook in Mississauga.

Also, a bunch of us tube audiophile's have ample stock of tubes and stuff and sell them at the site below:

http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/

You could ask there for specific needs.

[guitarman2]

Tough to beat the tubestore for most of your valve needs if you wish to deal locally and not via the net.

Another local option, if you have the bucks and are looking for NOS Mullard's, is to give Alfred a call at

http://www.mullardtubes.com/

He's on Kettlebrook in Mississauga.

Also, a bunch of us tube audiophile's have ample stock of tubes and stuff and sell them at the site below:

http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/

You could ask there for specific needs.

Matched pair of el84's $250 Ouch!!!!

[Wild Bill]

Twice I've had The Tube Store ship me an empty box. One time it was a tube box that was empty, another time it was the shipping carton that was empty. It took a phone call both times to get them to resend with no questions asked, but what a pain......

Odds are they've since pulled a Monty Python - "The person responsible has been sacked!":smile:

Anyhow, after being in sales for so many years I learned that EVERYBODY makes a mistake or two sooner or later.

I rate a vendor more on what they do to fix it than for making it! I hate those salesguys who waste my time trying to cover their ass and deny the problem.

:food-smiley-004:

[NB-SK]

Tough to beat the tubestore for most of your valve needs if you wish to deal locally and not via the net.

Another local option, if you have the bucks and are looking for NOS Mullard's, is to give Alfred a call at

http://www.mullardtubes.com/

He's on Kettlebrook in Mississauga.

Also, a bunch of us tube audiophile's have ample stock of tubes and stuff and sell them at the site below:

http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/

You could ask there for specific needs.

Darn, prices have gone up on NOS tubes.

I guess I won't be using mine.

[whitewave]

Thanks everybody.

I didn't know that thetubestore is in Canada, it couldn't be more simple than that.

[Pneumonic]

Darn, prices have gone up on NOS tubes.

I guess I won't be using mine.

Unless you are a collector why the heck wouldn't you use them in order to enjoy them?

I've bought oodles of top NOS stuff (Mullard, Amperex, Telefunken, Philips, even some US made GE & Sylvania) and paid a pretty penny for them but I use them everday since, 99% of the time, they sound so much better.

My experience is that you'll pay anywhere from 2 to 3 times more from a dealer than if you buy from Ebay or Audiogon. Sure there is more risk involved going this route but if you buy online from vendors that have a 100% satisfaction or money back guarantee you are pretty much safe.

[mhammer]

I've dealt with them once. My sense was that they prefer to ship rather than deal with customers on-site, because the latter is too disruptive. But man oh man, what a nice selection and inventory of tubes.

[guitarman2]

I've dealt with them once. My sense was that they prefer to ship rather than deal with customers on-site, because the latter is too disruptive. But man oh man, what a nice selection and inventory of tubes.

I have no issues at all going onsite. I just adhere to the preferred times to visit them.

[mhammer]

Well that may have been it. I was in town visiting in-laws and, in the absence of any knowledge of what the preferred times are, may well have "dropped in" at a time that was less than optimal for them.

[guitarman2]

Well that may have been it. I was in town visiting in-laws and, in the absence of any knowledge of what the preferred times are, may well have "dropped in" at a time that was less than optimal for them.

Monday is the worst day. I forget all the times exactly. I have resigned myself to just one time that I know is ok with them. I go Fridays after 1 pm. I'm pretty sure its Tuesday's to Friday anytime after 1pm, but don't quote me. I'm sure they don't encourage drop ins as every time I've gone I've been the only one there. But being that my office is 5 minutes from my office I"m not going to pay for shipping. And this way I've never ever got home with an empty box like Paul.