holy S#!7... DEAL OF THE CENTURY... RCA 2A3 for $20?!?

[GordonW]

Man.

I was helping out a friend at a local PA repair shop, sort out a bunch of boxes of tubes he "inherited" from an old guy who retired and closed down a repair shop. He had like 30 boxes of miscellaeous tubes... I was cataloging box after box today. During this, a guy came by, looking for a 2A3 tube.

Well, he goes poking around in the boxes, and to my disbelief, quickly finds an RCA blackplate 2A3, NEW in an UNOPENED BOX. Not just a 2A3. Not just a NOS RCA 2A3. But a BLACKPLATE RCA 2A3!

I was like, telling my friend's wife "Don't let him sell that tube cheap... don't let him sell it for less than $50! I bet that would get over $100 on Ebay, in no-time flat!)...

However, my friend discovered that his tube tester didn't have a 4-pin socket for the 2A3, and after being "badgered" by the customer, broke down and sold him the tube... for $20, "untested" :eek: :eek: :eek:

Needless to say, I was a bit disappointed. First, that I didn't find it FIRST MYSELF... and secondly, that it went away for such a cut-rate price. Serious short-changing going on here, IMHO... but at least my friend can say this- there's NO WAY that guy can claim he was ripped off!!

Oh well, I can't complain too much... I made off with like 6 6SN7s, 4 6DJ8s, some 12AU7s, a couple 50C5s and 35C5s and such, all US-made NOS, in exchange for doing the "gruntwork" of cataloging like, 750 tubes. And, I DID find 3 or 4 Telefunken 12AX7s in there, that my friend can probably make some fairly serious $$ on.

Still got like 750 more to do, next weekend...

Regards,
Gordon.

[jt1stcav]

Easy come...easy go.

There's no tellin' what other treasures lie in those other boxes!

[Andyman]

Gordon:

Check out Vintage Asylum lately???

This sounds too familiar to be a coincidence

"Spring Saturday Serendipity

The first day of spring was gorgeous.In need of a new tube for my recently installed 2A3, I stopped by a shop that sells and rents studio and band equipment. The owner said he had just bought the tube stock of several audio and tv repair shops, and there must have been a thousand tubes there. I went through at least 20 boxes and saw RCA EL34s, Mullard KT88s, all in original boxes.
Finally, in the last box, I found an RCA 2A3 in its original box. After a brief struggle, the guy let me have it for 20 bucks, which was all I had on me.
Stopping by Audio Atlanta to get the tube tested (Pete Marshall has everything, including a Hickock tube tester), I picked up a pair of AR2s in VGC to use as subs (they have the jumper that allows the top end to be disconnected.
That was a good day, and an even better evening."

[Haoleb]

well at least he wasnt saying " yeah i found this tube and totally stole it from the guy. he didnt even have a clue what it was. i'm gonna go back there often!"

[Andyman]

I know, but doesn't Gordon work at Audio Atlanta too??
That's just too crazy!!

[jt1stcav]

If so, then this is a small world afterall.:D

[GordonW]

Yep, that's DEFINTELY the dude.

In fact, those used to be MY AR-2A's, until I traded them and a pair of Realistic Minimus 7s to Pete (the owner of Audio Atlanta) for a pair of Ohm Model Bs (solidly working, but in kinda worn cosmetic shape) and a pair of unknown-maker, probably KnightKit, 12" 3-way speakers!

Also, about the boxes and boxes of tubes- once we get them cataloged, I think Ron (the owner of Northwest Speakers and Equipment in Smyrna Ga) is going to try to sell them, individually or in lots. I'll try to get Ron to let me scan in the catalogue sheets we made up, and if so, I can put them up on here on the AK board, if people here think it's a good idea. Dunno about pricing yet, knowing Ron, it'll be pretty inexpensive. He's more about making the stuff go out the door, to somewhere it'll get used, than sitting on it hoping for top-dollar. Probably will be some good deals in there...

[jt1stcav]

Yes, it's a great idea. My bro is looking for some NOS tubes for his new Dared tube amp, and a post of these available tubes would be just what he's looking for! If it can be arranged, please do so.

[bolly]

What jt1stcav said! I'll need some tubes myself. 7868's, 12AX7's.

Greg

[Pacopico]

Hey gordon, see any 7868's in there?