The Russian milspec stuff is plentiful and usually very well priced. I'm not impressed with the Chinese tubes I've used.

However, I'm currently listening to a pair of GE mil spec long plate 12ax7's from the 60's that were 40.00 each 7 years ago. So, there you go. Truthfully, the NOS aren't really all that much better than current production tubes or plentiful NOS tubes like the Russian 6n3c (Sovtek 5881) from the 80's and 90's. Tube people are often like MG and Triumph lovers. That is to say, basically insane. And I know, I am one. (Not that cars)

If you're not using the Herbies tube dampers you probably haven't heard what the tubes are really capable of. My last tube amp used 1940s and 1950s Tung Sol and Sylvania 6SN7 tubes.

Geoff Kait
Machina Dynamica