Valve Shortage Crisis: Is Your Amp in Danger? 

You know what’s not cool? The Russia-Ukraine war that just won’t quit. It’s causing all sorts of trouble, including a serious valve shortage.

Apparently, the customs duty on valves imported from Russia has skyrocketed from 0% to a whopping 35%. Ouch. Word on the street is that some key folks from the Saratove factory may have hightailed it out of there, and others have been drafted into the military. No wonder it’s been tough to get your hands on Russian KT88 and 6550 valves lately.

But fear not for there is hope! JJ Electronic in Slovakia has got your back and we are set to receive a new shipment on the week starting March 20th. Woohoo! We already have good stocks.

And have you heard about the REDBASE series from Tube Amp Doctor (TAD)? They teamed up with a specialist valve maker to revive a previously dormant valve factory, and the result is a whole new line of valves with red bases. How cool is that?! They’ve even designed common guitar amp valve types, which are now in production, and they’re always adding new ones to the mix. We’re stocking more and more of these new valves, so be sure to check them out here.

All in all, the supply situation is much better than last year, which is definitely good news. Let’s just hope prices don’t get too crazy. Stay tuned, and watch out for our updates. Let’s hope for the best!