fake 12ax7 in circulation?

[sehnsucht77]

a post on the fake telefunkens got me thinking what fake tubes may be making their rounds on Ebay these days. i got some old RCA and GE 12ax7s on Ebay and I was wondering if there were any resources on here that may be able to tell me if these tubes were fake.

 

[Timbre Wolf]

a post on the fake telefunkens got me thinking what fake tubes may be making their rounds on Ebay these days. i got some old RCA and GE 12ax7s on Ebay and I was wondering if there were any resources on here that may be able to tell me if these tubes were fake.

Post clear photos, and I can tell you, easily. I've not heard of those being faked, though.

- Thom

 

[sehnsucht77]

a post on the fake telefunkens got me thinking what fake tubes may be making their rounds on Ebay these days. i got some old RCA and GE 12ax7s on Ebay and I was wondering if there were any resources on here that may be able to tell me if these tubes were fake.

Post clear photos, and I can tell you, easily. I've not heard of those being faked, though.

- Thom

Here are a couple quick pics. My macro lens camera isn't a DSLR so this session was done with a point and shoot:

 

[212Mavguy]

the tubes in your pics are real, not fakes.

 

[Timbre Wolf]

Yep - can tell right off, from the unique mica shapes of each. They're what they say they are.

- T

 

[sehnsucht77]

Mav, T, thanks for the help. What would you say are the usual hallmarks of fakes just so I am aware in the future?

 

[Timbre Wolf]

Mav, T, thanks for the help. What would you say are the usual hallmarks of fakes just so I am aware in the future?

That open-ended question is too complicated for a simple answer. If it was a suspect "Telefunken," for instance, then it would not have the "diamond" shape embossed in the glass, between the pins. A "Mullard" may not have etched codes, and the plates may not have the right holes. It really depends on the presumed tube make/time of manufacturing - that determines what identifying features to look out for.

I'd be most suspicious of "fakes" with tubes presented as Telefunken or Mullard, because those bring the big bucks. Any tube marked "England" (instead of "Gt. Britain") should be suspect (though it may be a legitimate Brimar). "Amperex" would also qualify, but since Amperex was basically a re-brander, it may be a legitimate Amperex, but not the one you want (from Heerlen, Holland, for instance). More often than not, the "fake" is simply a re-brand, not an intentional deception.

That's a little bit of info to chew on. It doesn't hurt to look at a resource such as Tubemonger's photo library (http://www.tubemongerlib.com/gallery2/main.php) if you're in doubt.

- T

 

[JimmyB]

I'd be most suspicious of "fakes" with tubes presented as Telefunken or Mullard, because those bring the big bucks. Any tube marked "England" (instead of "Gt. Britain") should be suspect (though it may be a legitimate Brimar).

Good point: I have a few Brimars, all marked "England", as opposed to the Mullard-standard "Great Britain" (Mullard CV4024s I can afford... CV4004s, not so much... )

 

[Timbre Wolf]

I should add that the paint of true Telefunkens is notoriously easy to wipe off, and faked Telefunken logos usually stick to the tube longer. Though it is too late to assess when you've got the tube in hand (and you can look for the diamond at that point), I'd be suspicious of a perfect Telefunken logo. One that is at least partially degraded will likely be more authentic.

- T