Thread: Buying tubes on eBay

Learning the hard way.

With two sets of tube amplifiers, a tube preamp and a passion to roll tubes, I decided to try a few different new tubes out - Psvane Mark II and Shuguang Treasures. It doesn't really matter what type of tubes, but if you're curious, KT88's, 6SN7's, 300b's, 845's and EL34's.

Looking to save a few bucks, I decided to TRY and buy a few tubes from a few different Chinese eBay resellers who all had 98% or higher ratings. All offered money back guarantees, fast shipping, yada, yada, yada.

Over the past few weeks, the tubes have been arriving from China. At this point, roughly 50% are either damaged or just flat out, don't work and some have become downright dangerous due to damaged filament causing blue streaking across the tube. On one 845 tube, the base just spun like a top and when I installed it in my amp, I didn't notice the damaged base and it blew a fuse in my amp. As a side story, I went to Radio Shack to buy a new fuse for the amp, and the girl working there was stunning - absolutely stunning - I walk up to the counter and say "I need a half amp, 250v fuse", she looks and me and smiles, "would you like a slow blow or a fast blow?" I'm not sure how I kept a straight face.

Yes, all this damage could be from shipping....but I have my doubts. But here is the rub. Yes, all these Chinese eBayers have offered me my money back ONCE I SHIP THE TUBE back! Well, guess what? It costs more to ship the tube back then the actual tube is worth! I even tried sending one by regular mail (read: no tracking once it leaves the U.S.) and guess what - they CLAIM they never received it. Such BS.

So, I've decided to give the folks at Grant Fidelity a shot. Stay tuned.

So goes the old expression....penny wise and pound foolish. I'm always game for trying something - I did and I got burned. Lesson learned. Never again.

Same thing happen to me .
Those bastards claim they didn't received
Never again my friend

I've used Grant Fidelity before (twice) and always got the tubes in good working order.

Sorry to hear about your issues with the tubes. Just chalk that one up to experience. So I'm wondering there, Tiger, what kind of "fuse" did you get for your "amp"?

Thanks very much for this info Mike. I've been tempted to do the same, but thus far have not.. thanks for saving me the time and $$ in this!!

Originally Posted by Rayooo

Thanks very much for this info Mike. I've been tempted to do the same, but thus far have not.. thanks for saving me the time and $$ in this!!

Yup - that was why I posted it.

I have had very good luck with Nikolay from TubeMaze (he lives in Washington state) and I hope to have good luck with Grant Fidelity. Pay a little more for piece of mind.


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Mike, I understand your pain...I NEVER buy tubes from China/Honk Kong, etc.

I do buy parts sometimes, but why not tubes ? Because they are very good at turning cheap tubes into premium tubes with silk screened lettering. You can tell many times by the picture..tube looks like a match but of you check the plates and getters, they don't match the real deal...

I have some VERY reputable tube sellers from ebay (one actually works with me at Microsoft).

Here is his store
12AU7 ECC82, 12AX7 ECC83 items in Tube Maze store on eBay!


also check his supertubes section
items in Tube Maze store on eBay!

TOO FUNNY....I work with Nikolay...funny thing is we are meeting (for the first time) for lunch this week. Last week I ordered tubes, he shipped and then I find out he works about 200ft from me...LOL

Originally Posted by ohbythebay

TOO FUNNY....I work with Nikolay...funny thing is we are meeting (for the first time) for lunch this week. Last week I ordered tubes, he shipped and then I find out he works about 200ft from me...LOL

200 feet? Oh yeah, I forgot he was another Microsoft fellow. Well....he's still nice!

Tell him I said hello. I like the fact that he reviews tubes and is crazy about this stuff as we are.


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thanks for the warning, i been shopping for a cheap alternative to put nos el34's in my amps and i keep coming up with those chinese ebay guys. thanks for taking one for the team mike!!!

Stever...if your amp can take EL34's, chances are next to 100% it can handle 6L6GC's...which to me are more musical ..you should try them

RCA released the first 6L6 vacuum tube in 1936. Nearly 80 years later it remains the most used power output tube. It dominates the electric guitar tube amp world. Fender has been using them since the 1940s and since then there have been many others who have designed hugely popular tube amplifiers that rely on the 6L6 tube types for their tone. Unlike the EL34 power tube, 6L6 tubes generally sound a little cleaner and tend to have a bit more beef in the low end as well as more bite on the top. Some players prefer the extra clarity and punch of the 6L6 tube types.

4 Matched General Electric GE 6L6GC 6L6 Tubes | eBay

These are like mine
GE 6L6GC Tubes 1961 DD Getter Copper Rods 3 Matched Pairs Available NOS NIB Mint | eBay

Or better yet...get set from Brent Jesse and be sure of the best stuff
6l6gc.JPG

I bought direct from China for some Shuguang Treasures the KT88Z and got the real thing 255.00 plus shipping and super well packed. It is the only thing I will buy and yes much better than the GL KT88.