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ECC82 NOS TUBES The NOS Supply Situation with ECC82 (12AU7) is generally not as good as with the ECC81. There is in Europe sometimes quantities popping up from military stocks, appearantly sold via the back door, but that is about it. There has been a hughe "last time buy" done by the American Army in the years 1986 and 1987 and from this stock are most of the NOS tubes that can be found in sealed 100pc master cartons, with barcode labels on the tube boxes. ECC82 as such is not found, but mostly the upgrade versions like 8514, 5963 and 6189. These are all ECC82/12AU7 with specifications above standard. Additional there was a lot of safety buying in the 1970's 1980's by armies of the former East European countries. These tubes are often RFT, Neuhaus and Tesla that come on the market now. However don't overestimate the artificial "good supply" of this tube. It is only artificial, and comes from clearing military stock rooms mostly in the east part of European. Once these stocks are all cleared (and it seems to be going that way pretty fast) prices for ECC82/12AU7 probably go up. No need to rush things, but on the other hand prices for ECC82 are attactive at the moment, so it is a good moment to buy still. A simliar example we had with the 12AX7 (ECC83). Two years ago, a reasonable stock of Philips ECG was found, and prices dumped quickly to 10€ for those. Everybody thought that was the new price. However these stocks are all gone, and now we are (back) at above 50€ for those.
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