Vintage Tube Amplifiers
When buying vintage tube amplifiers off the internet or anywhere else, there are a few things to keep in mind. First off, look for the good brands. Some good ones to look for are Dynakit, Eico, McIntosh, Fisher, etc. So, look for these good brands first of all. When you do find them, make sure that you check prices. Not all amps are equal, and they are definitely not priced equal!
It is the nature of tube amplifiers to be damaged during shipping. Make sure that you get a money back guarantee. If the guy who is selling wont give you a guarantee, than you should really look to spend you money elsewhere, because you can get burned pretty easily.
Amplifier Listings
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SANSUI AU 2200 VINTAGE INTEGRATED STEREO AMP W GUARANTE |  |
US $19.99 | 15m |
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Pair of Western Electric 100F Tube Amps with speakers | |
US $406.56 | 29m |
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Sansui AU 6600 Amplifier | |
US $300.00 | 36m |
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Qinpu Q2 Mini Tube Headphone Amplifier for CD MP3 ipod | |
US $99.00 | 1h 17m |
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MENG X3 EL34 x2pcs Vaccum Tube Integrated Amplifier NEW | |
US $169.00 | 1h 17m |
Tube Amplifier Auction Search
Is the amp you are looking at in good cosmetic shape? You might consider buying an amp that has a shot covering and get it restored. If you can get it for a good price, it might be worth it. Also, if the case is completely shot that you can have these made, and they will look absolutely perfect! So, don’t worry about a case too much.
Your primary concern when buying a vintage tube amplifier is to determine if your looking for a fixer upper, usually sold under the heading "As Is", or a working amp. Obviously you will already need a good understanding of how amplifiers operate if you are going to fix one. Please Don't thinks you can get one of these more complicated amps and fix it without some sort of previous experience.
And forget about using original tubes! These are mechanical components that wear out, and unless your vintage amp was hardly ever played, you are going to need to replace them all before it is ready to play. Also, remember that an amps cosmetic condition rarely is a factor in how it sounds. Sometimes the roughest amps sound the best, so don’t get too hung up on cosmetics!