I'm culling my tube herd. Many of you know what it's like - hoarding. Well, I'm de-hoarding now. This listing is for a large variety of GE 5814/A vacuum tubes/valves, just about every type that I know of that GE made in the US, and early GE 12AU7s.I can't tell you how any tube will sound to your ears in your gear. No one can. What I can say is that I've discovered many of these GE 5814s to sound outstanding in many systems, and I recommend not overlooking them but giving them a try for yourself. I've had great results in many systems with the plain ol' short plate GE 5814A, with or without support rods, and the 3-mica, D-getter, gray plate GE 5814A, without the support rods. I'm very fond of this early GE 12AU7, with long plates and D-getter ring. It offers a very nice tonal balance. I bought a lot of them - too many - because I did like the sonics so much and the prices were very reasonable. I've found that these sometimes can be self-noisey, but that this usually "burns"/goes away with use. My experience has shown me that there's a tube for every system, and a system for every tube. Often, many different tubes will yield great results in a given system. And it's not always the tubes with the most vaunted reputations - usually carrying the highest prices - that sound best. Keeping mind and ears open is good practice for discovering what you like best. There's a WIDE range of sonic character here, along with great GE engineering, reliability, and durability.
GE 5814/A
Nearly every US-made GE 5814 type that GE ever issued is available here, spanning the years from about 1950 to the late-1980s/early-1990s. FYI, because there are quite a few variants to consider/know about, here's a quick look at the GE 5814 lineage:
- Late-1940s/early-1950s: First issue, some still Ken-Rad branded. Two-mica, mix of mottled-gray and black plates, bent angled rectangular getter, "clips" securing the cage. These look similar to Raytheon and CBS/Hytron 5814s of approx. the same vintage. - Early-1950s: Three-mica, black plate, D-getter, no support rods. - Mid-1950s: Three-mica, gray plate, D-getter, no support rods. - Late-1950s/early-1960s: Three-mica, gray plate, D-getter, support rods. Sorry, all SOLD! - Early-1960s: Three-mica, gray plate, O-getter, with support rods. - Mid-/late-1960s: Two-mica, gray plate, O-/disc-getter, with support rods. - Late-1960s to the end of production in the early 1990s: Two-mica, gray plate, O-/disc-getter, no support rods. Nearly all of the above have 188-5 EIA codes, indicating Owensboro, Kentucky, USA manufacture. A VERY few may have 188-4 codes, also Owensboro, or 188-21 codes, which indicates Schenectady, New York, USA manufacture. I'm happy to send pictures of any of the above types so you can see what they look like for yourself. With the exception of the D-getter, gray plate, support rod tube (Music Angel KT88 integrated amp owners have bought all I had), every one of the above mentioned types is on offer here. Some're new (as best as I can surmise), most are used, some have perfect original boxes and printing, some are in non-original boxes and are print-less, some are GE-branded, some are third-party branded.
GE 12AU7s
For GE 12AU7s, on-offer are early-/mid-1950s tubes with long gray plates and D-shaped getter rings.
All the tubes have been contientously, carefully tested on a professionally serviced and calibrated tube tester (a TV-7D/U, Hickok RD-1575, Hickok 6000A, Heathkit TT-1), and the results are available for your review, as are pictures of exactly what you will be purchasing. Pricing? For any of the above, printless tubes in replacement boxes = only $8.99USD each. Gorgeous, perfect tubes in original boxes = only $19.99USD each. Things in between this will be priced accordingly. Let's talk (or email), see what you want to do, and come to exactly what you want. Negotiation is welcomed. Cheers! - SJ
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