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AUDIO FORUMS >> Replacement Tubes >> Counterfeit N.O.S. tubes - are they real?
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Message started by Steve Deckert on 05/21/20 at 01:45:12

Title: Counterfeit N.O.S. tubes - are they real?
Post by Steve Deckert on 05/21/20 at 01:45:12

Can you tell if these are FAKES?

Quote:

Here above is an example of fake Amperex Bugleboy 6922 tubes. There are several clues to the trickery being done here: The tube is an A-frame top getter. The A-frame getter support was used after the Bugle Boy logo was discontinued and the Amperex orange globe logo was being produced, for the type 6DJ8 tube.

The 6DJ8 is electrically the same as a 6922 but the quality is inferior. The A-Frame getter was also NEVER used on a 6922 tube! The type font is thin and wrong for Amperex tubes. The Bugle Boy cartoon character is what is known as "the thin man" which was a thinner and more detailed picture, used only from about 1962-1964, but never on A-Frame getter tubes (which are 6DJ8 types, 1972-1976 vintage) and never on 6922 tubes.

None of the tubes have the factory date codes near the bottom. This indicates a tube made after 1975. So what we probably have here is an Amperex made 6DJ8 A-Frame getter tube, likely made after 1975. These would have come with the orange or green globe logo on the glass, and standard pins. Someone has carefully removed the labels, put on the fake 6922 Bugle Boy labels, and then electroplated the pins with gold. This attempts to deceive the unwitting buyer, who thinks they are buying a real 6922, into spending 4-times the amount that the 6DJ8 tube is really worth! We at Brent Jessee Recording are trained to spot fakes, and all of our tubes are guaranteed genuine. Buy from a dealer you can trust!

Reprinted from https://www.Audiotubes.com

Title: Re: Counterfeit N.O.S. tubes - are they real?
Post by Steve Deckert on 05/21/20 at 01:55:41

Fake tubes, and lots of other things in audio are faked. In fact, as an example, I used to think Furutech was a bullshit company stamping their name on crap from China for years. The reason I thought this is because over the years my customers had sent me many Furutech connectors, like IEC, binding posts, and so on that were complete crap from China. The reason it was all crap turns out to be because they were all FAKES. Real Furutech products are actually quite impressive.

I would be very careful any time you spend what seems like a lot for a tube, capacitor, or other audio accessories, that you can very it is real. The best way is to buy from authorized dealers... go figure.

Steve

Title: Re: Counterfeit N.O.S. tubes - are they real?
Post by Rivieraranch on 07/09/20 at 13:34:27

Yeah man. There are a lot of tubes on eBay that have gold electroplated pins. Only they were electroplated recently to create the illusion that they were something special.

Title: Re: Counterfeit N.O.S. tubes - are they real?
Post by bikehappy1 on 02/20/21 at 22:03:04

I recently bought a pair of GE 6DJ8 tubes from Leeds radio. Didn’t spend too much and both tubes are quiet. They sound ok. Wondering if anyone else has history with these tubes. They could be fake but I don’t know.

Title: Re: Counterfeit N.O.S. tubes - are they real?
Post by Lon on 02/20/21 at 22:19:38

I have several pairs of GE 6DJ8 "Smokies"--they have the smoked glass. They're quiet and nice tubes. Not one of my very favorite tubes in the systems, but good solid performers. A bit on the dark side of neutral.

Title: Re: Counterfeit N.O.S. tubes - are they real?
Post by CAJames on 02/21/21 at 15:29:02

As far as fakes go I doubt it would be worth it to fake the smoke glass 6DJ8s. Its usually "heritage" tubes that go for hundreds or even thousands like Bugle Boys or the Telefunken ECC803S where fakes probably outnumber real tubes for sale at this point. I saw a story about someone using a laser to etch diamonds on the bottom of fake Telefunkens. Only problem is real TFK diamonds are raised. Doh

Title: Re: Counterfeit N.O.S. tubes - are they real?
Post by BondDaBoom on 07/08/21 at 00:01:26

I'm curious about my Amperex ecc82/12au7 nothing special but the graphics. No gold pins bugle boy picture color in kinda orange I'd like to snap a pic but see an option to do so. It would help if someone else comes across this tube can have better knowledge to buy or move along. I paid $300 for matched pair.