Are all Tube lovers rich and/or old?

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Just turned 50 but have had at least a tube pre amp for over 15 years and grew up around tube gear in the house.

Far from rich but there are always bargains to be had. The newer Chinese amps are pretty good for the money too.
 
I'm 51 and in the process of building mine out of a cheap phonograph amp and a cake pan turned upside down. Rich? I think not.
 
this site is pretty accurate.
Unfortunately, H.H. Scott has not built tube gear since 1967. While a lot of this gear has survived (a testament to its timeless design and excellent build quality); finding the right gear can be challenging at times. Enjoying this pastime requires patience, creativity, networking, and information. You might try the following:
Flea Markets, Yard and Garage Sales
Pawn and Junk Shops
Dumpster Diving
Estate Auctions
Friends, Relatives, and Neighbors
Electronic, Online Auctions, such as e-Bay, and other newsgroups, such as rec.audio.tubes
Specialized Audio Stores that focus on Used Tube Equipment
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I had a pair of tubed Scotts,integrated amp and tuner,I bought in the early 90s for dirt cheap at an indoor flea market in the early 90s.I had to sell them,in 2006.

I bought my Philips on eBay for about $35.00 in Euro.
I bought my Fisher at a flea market for $30.00 I sold a couple of thrift store records,raised $250.00 to get it restored.
I bought my current Scotts in a moonshine console for $40.00 at Goodwill.

And that's just my components,not my consoles.Maybe we all ought to post how cheap we got our tube gear for.
 
Back in the early 80's when I was shopping for my current system, you had two types of stereo stores (very much like today). The mainstream stereo stores like Dow Stereo and Federated in San Diego where I lived sold solid state equipment only with brands like Pioneer, Sansui, Kenwood, JVC, etc. You could dump some serious cash there, but you were not going to buy anything with tubes or anything made by Marantz.

To buy Marantz, McIntosh, or any other "Old People" stuff as the OP put it, you had to go to an "Old People" store that specialized in High-end "Audiophile" equipment. The kind of store where the salespeople wore suits and drove nice cars vs. Dow Stereo where they wore polo shirts and rode bicycles to work. In 1980 my hair was half way down my back and I can guess that being a 20-something year old hippy, I would not have been welcomed at the audiophile store to shop tube gear. So based on this, I would say that in 1981 Marantz and McIntosh gear was classified as "Old People" gear in my world at the time.

Nowadays, it is a different story. Vintage gear is much more affordable and people on Ebay only care what your money looks like. Not your hair.
 
bktheking said:
Lol guess so, i feel 50 some days.
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Well, brace yourself - wait until you're 50, then see how old you feel. No doubt I have those days considering I'm 58 yrs young ( at heart ). State of mind anyway I assume.

I've had solid state stuff for the past zillion years. I did collect old tube radios 20 + years ago - I was traveling in that job and would stop at junk stores, GW's, etc.. and I was picking them up for usually $2 each - in all honesty - it had nothing to do with the tubes - it was all about the cool retro style that attracted me. Over the past 20 years, they have all disappeared regrettfully.

Fast forward AK website - I'd been reading about the tube stuff here for the past year or so and was getting really interested in all the buzz. A few months ago, I went to an estate sale and picked up a trio of Dynaco stuff - I've got it running and enjoying the heck out of it. I've done nothing to it as of yet, but will in the soon future. The tube sound is awesome and I totally get the tube world. I'm not totally sure that it's better than some of the SS stuff I have, just a different sound that I'm really enjoying.

Like me - the tube stuff is retro and maybe that's what's drawing me to it.

At any rate - OLD - I guess, RICH - not no, but H __ __ L no and not the least bit concerned about either at this point in my life ! :thmbsp:
 
Tube lovers have a subtle feeling for sublime sound of music - that´s all. It´s that easy.

THREAD CLOSED.











Just kidding... :D


:)
 
ferninando said:
is there something wrong with being rich or old?
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Depends,,, If you are rich and old and stingy nasty,, then absolutly... If you are generous and nice to deal with, helpful when you have like 60 tube amps and see a person that is not so fortunate,, help out then no there is nothing wrong with being rich. but most rich people are stingy. that is why they are rich most likely. Maybe being stingy and rich go hand in hand.
I have seen so many old people selling something, they don't need to money and they usually ask on the high side and won't work with you. When I was looking for a used tractor, knock on the door and an old person answered, I knew I would walk away without buying it. I was always right.
 
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