It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 7:41 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 14 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Fake Telefunken tubes
Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 9:08 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 2:18 pm
Posts: 6544
Buyer beware about a flood of fake TFK and other highly sought after brands (Mullard, Philips, RCA, Sylvania, etc) on EBay, at the moment. Most sellers are from Far East (Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Malaysia) or Russia. Here's an example of a JJ/Tesla or Ei made gold pin E88CC labeled as a TFK.

The second photo shows the similar pattern. Left is a real TFK 12AX7/ECC83. Middle is a fake with similar lettering style as the E88CC. Left is an Ei (Slovakian-made). Seller of fake is from Singapore. Charging $100+ for an $8 tube.


Image

Image


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Fake Telefunken tubes
Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 4:48 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Wed Feb 17, 2010 11:38 am
Posts: 4333
Location: Tennessee
Where did those pics come from BMW?
I've seen a few sites where fake tubes were compared to originals...it's good to know such things,although I'm not going to buy from outside the U.S.,they're bound to come into auctions here.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fake Telefunken tubes
Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 6:20 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 2:18 pm
Posts: 6544
Rebelsoul, (I almost called you Rubber Soul---think I've been playing my Martin a bit too much, lately). :lol:

They are from the Audio Asylum Board. Many "fakes" are real Telefunken or other brands, that are well used and not new. Ppl wash them, relabel them and sell them as NOS/NIB. That's why some ppl buy "NOS" TFK and say that sound worse than a cheapie Chinese made 1990's tube.

There are very few reliable NOS tube sellers. You pay the price. You get what you pay for.

Here's a site with some Hall-of-Shame photo and words:

http://www.jacmusic.com/nos/images/Fakes/index.htm


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fake Telefunken tubes
Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 8:49 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Wed Feb 17, 2010 11:38 am
Posts: 4333
Location: Tennessee
Thanks for the link,interesting,I saved it.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fake Telefunken tubes
Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 3:42 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2012 3:19 am
Posts: 2
During late 80s EI factory in Nis Serbia made many 6DJ8/6922 and 12AX7 for foreign companies and all tubes were relabeled in factory .

_________________
tubes.rs


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fake Telefunken tubes
Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 4:01 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2011 3:10 pm
Posts: 5646
Location: Gateway to the West
Damn is nothing sacred anymore...now they're faking our tubes :?: Rotten Bastardos!

T2

_________________
-----------------------------------------------------------
What time is it? It's Fender Time.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fake Telefunken tubes
Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 4:15 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
T2Stratman wrote:
Damn is nothing sacred anymore...now they're faking our tubes :?: Rotten Bastardos!


+1

Hell, the USSC just struck down all laws that penalize charlatans who claim "war hero" status but never served in uniform for a single day of their lives.

Now I can claim I retired as a twenty-friggin'-star general!

:roll:

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fake Telefunken tubes
Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 4:27 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2011 3:10 pm
Posts: 5646
Location: Gateway to the West
Retroverbial wrote:
T2Stratman wrote:
Damn is nothing sacred anymore...now they're faking our tubes :?: Rotten Bastardos!


+1

Hell, the USSC just struck down all laws that penalize charlatans who claim "war hero" status but never served in uniform for a single day of their lives.

Now I can claim I retired as a twenty-friggin'-star general!

:roll:

Arjay


Well since it ain't illegal anymore, sounds to me like anyone who does it risks a good old fashioned "Blanket Party"...for every wrong done, there must be a punishment!

T2

_________________
-----------------------------------------------------------
What time is it? It's Fender Time.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fake Telefunken tubes
Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 5:13 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 2:18 pm
Posts: 6544
Image

One thing about Telefunken 9-pin minis -- they ALWAYS have an molded diamond on the bottom of the glass. TFK did make octals --- but most have obscure European designations, like U52.

As for Mullard, Amperex, Raytheon, TungSols, etc... you need to know the internal structure to determine if the tube is really legit.

Tubemonger's Library Site is one of the best to check the various makes/types....

http://www.tubemongerlib.com/gallery2/v/12AX7/


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fake Telefunken tubes
Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 6:11 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2011 3:10 pm
Posts: 5646
Location: Gateway to the West
Beemer...thanks that is a great site, a Keeper for sure.

T2

_________________
-----------------------------------------------------------
What time is it? It's Fender Time.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fake Telefunken tubes
Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 6:17 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Fri Jun 26, 2009 6:53 pm
Posts: 2252
Location: Harvard IL
Geeze, Beemer!!! You got me to pull out my TFK's. They turned out OK. But don't get me shakky!!! Good info, man!!! Art

_________________
None of Us are free, if One of Us is chained !


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fake Telefunken tubes
Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2012 1:33 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Wed May 25, 2011 12:45 pm
Posts: 1169
If you'd all just switch to solid state then this wouldn't be an issue.

:lol:

_________________
In my opinion Leo Fender had essentially perfected the guitar amplifier by 1964.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fake Telefunken tubes
Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2012 3:29 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 3:52 pm
Posts: 2005
Thanks for the info...I noticed a bunch of low cost tubes myself while on Ebay a couple weeks back. Almost , but didn't, take the plunge. The far-east connection scared me off.

Glad I did now!

_________________
-T

"You can't spend what you ain't got, you can't lose what you ain't never had" ~ McKinley Morganfield


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fake Telefunken tubes
Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2012 3:58 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
tyronne wrote:
Thanks for the info...I noticed a bunch of low cost tubes myself while on Ebay a couple weeks back. Almost , but didn't, take the plunge. The far-east connection scared me off.

Glad I did now!


You've really gotta be on your "A" game when buying vintage glass.

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 14 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: