Value of NIB/NOS Sealed Genalex KT77's

[bmenary]

I found a NIB/NOS (sealed) pair of old Genalex KT77's owner is not sure what they are worth- Anyone have any data on actual sales and what these are worth today?

Any data is appreciated- I know they are stupid pricy but not sure how much..

Thanks bmenary

[edgar_allan_poe]

Jesus H Christ....no idea other than...A FRIGGIN BOATLOAD!!!

[JohnnyB]

I found a NIB/NOS (sealed) pair of old Genalex KT77's owner is not sure what they are worth- Anyone have any data on actual sales and what these are worth today?

Any data is appreciated- I know they are stupid pricy but not sure how much..

Thanks bmenary

Here's a selection from an online tube dealer. His NOS UK Genalex KT77 tubes are $375, $450, or $500 each depending on quality of printing on tube, known provenance (he calls the $375 one "probably NOS"), how shopworn, etc. Maybe a call or email to him about a sealed NIB pair would reveal how high this goes--$600 each? Perhaps a surcharge for a factory-matched pair? And of course what he'd pay (wholesale) would be less than that.

I also came across this somewhat useful summary at Audiotubes:

KT77:

This is a very rare tube that is a direct replacement for the EL34 or 6CA7. I have only seen versions made by Genalex (Marconi-Osram Valve Co.) in their "Gold Lion" series of tubes, which, by the way, spawned a whole family of excellent hi-fi tubes that are rare and highly prized today. The early Genalex KT77 had a skinny bottle with a flat top similar to the Mullards, but the brown base is also thin, being no more than 1/4 inch thick, with the red Genalex decal on it, and two halo getters on top in a "stacked" configuration. The Gold Lion logo holding the KT77 sign, and the words "Gold Lion" in script on the glass, all done in gold paint, make this tube easy to spot. Later versions went to a black octal base similar to the XF4 Mullards. These are probably the rarest, and most expensive, of all EL34 types today. Usually, the early thin brownbase versions will cost the most due to their rarity, and the blackbase types will be a little less. These are all excellent tubes, even used are on par with the best Mullard XF1 tubes, but are so rare worldwide they are not often found. BEWARE: This tube was made into the 1980s and still sold as "Gold Lion". The late 1970s and early 1980s versions have blackbases, with the lion label in bright yellow ink on the glass of the tube, and it was much smaller than the earlier lion label in gold. These "yellow lion" label tubes are RUSSIAN manufacture and not worth more than $15 or $20 each. I have seen eBay dealers selling these tubes as genuine Genalex UK made Gold Lion tubes at MUCH higher prices. Be careful if buying these on auction sites!

All the ones on eBay right now are the Russian reissues.

[Jimbilly]

Tubes are kind of an odd 'commodity', it's hard to imagine you or I getting anywhere near what the dealers ask for the rare ones, like stated above wholesale is likely a LOT less. The only real way to find out would be to test them, see if they're a reasonable match, and put them on ebay.

[JohnnyB]

Tubes are kind of an odd 'commodity', it's hard to imagine you or I getting anywhere near what the dealers ask for the rare ones...

For well-heeled high end audio enthusiasts (tubes like this don't all go in guitar amps--many go in old McIntoshes), $1K for a pair of holy grail tubes is a pretty good deal. They'll pay that markup to get the tubes from a trustworthy reliable dealer. In the long run it's more expensive to buy a bunch of discounted disappointments from eBay and Craigslist hucksters.

Every interest has its connoisseurs. Some people won't spend $500 for a bicycle. Others spend more than that on a composite wheel. What prices do special vintage wines and champagnes reach? How about 25-year-old single malt scotch? A vintage Ferrari shift knob?

[holLoWskull]

Coincidentally I was doing some internet research on Genelex KT77's (the newer re-issues though). I came across this website: http://www.audiotubes.com/el34.htm

scroll down not quite half way down and they talk about KT77's. They mention that there is an inferior Russian made variety from the 70's-80's to watch out for (well mainly because the value isn't much).

[JohnnyB]

Coincidentally I was doing some internet research on Genelex KT77's (the newer re-issues though). I came across this website: http://www.audiotubes.com/el34.htm

scroll down not quite half way down and they talk about KT77's. They mention that there is an inferior Russian made variety from the 70's-80's to watch out for (well mainly because the value isn't much).

Or you can just read my first post including the quotes from that very site, and follow the links.

[Jimbilly]

Tubes are kind of an odd 'commodity', it's hard to imagine you or I getting anywhere near what the dealers ask for the rare ones...

For well-heeled high end audio enthusiasts (tubes like this don't all go in guitar amps--many go in old McIntoshes), $1K for a pair of holy grail tubes is a pretty good deal. They'll pay that markup to get the tubes from a trustworthy reliable dealer. In the long run it's more expensive to buy a bunch of discounted disappointments from eBay and Craigslist hucksters.

Every interest has its connoisseurs. Some people won't spend $500 for a bicycle. Others spend more than that on a composite wheel. What prices do special vintage wines and champagnes reach? How about 25-year-old single malt scotch? A vintage Ferrari shift knob?

I have no disagreement with any of that. I read the post to mean that Bmenary found a private party with a pair of tubes, and he's either going to buy them from this private party for his own use or to resell at a profit, or assist the private party with an expected sales price. Either Bmenary or the owner is not going to be able to sell those tubes for what the dealers are asking and for pairs of KT-77s. Bmenary should not pay the private party similar prices as the tube dealers are asking for those tubes, and the private party should not expect to get dealer prices. Just like you said, the competition (both good and bad) on craigslist and ebay require a discount from what the dealers charge for tubes.

[JohnnyB]

I have no disagreement with any of that. I read the post to mean that Bmenary found a private party with a pair of tubes, and he's either going to buy them from this private party for his own use or to resell at a profit, or assist the private party with an expected sales price. Either Bmenary or the owner is not going to be able to sell those tubes for what the dealers are asking and for pairs of KT-77s. Bmenary should not pay the private party similar prices as the tube dealers are asking for those tubes, and the private party should not expect to get dealer prices. Just like you said, the competition (both good and bad) on craigslist and ebay require a discount from what the dealers charge for tubes.

And I have no disagreement with your lack of disagreement. Bmenary has good reason to think these tubes are authentic, rare, and valuable. Vintage tubes are such an easy market for fraud or honest mistakes borne of wishful thinking. For this reason, there could be a significant price discrepancy between wholesale and retail because the honest retailer knows the little signs of authenticity, such as base size and material, getter shape, quality of silkscreening, tint of the glass, etc. With this knowledge, they can also identify authentic tubes that were rebranded--e.g., a Sylvania that might have been made by Amperex or Mullard. So when you're buying from Upscale Audio or Audiotubes.com or whoever, you're buying their verification of provenance and performance as well as the tubes themselves.

... Which is to say that your point about not paying anywhere near retail for the tubes is excellent advice.

[holLoWskull]

Coincidentally I was doing some internet research on Genelex KT77's (the newer re-issues though). I came across this website: http://www.audiotubes.com/el34.htm

scroll down not quite half way down and they talk about KT77's. They mention that there is an inferior Russian made variety from the 70's-80's to watch out for (well mainly because the value isn't much).

Or you can just read my first post including the quotes from that very site, and follow the links.

I guess your wording was too long and my attention span too short It was late, and I was giddy that I had run across KT77 info earlier that day. My bad, sorry for wasting 60 seconds of people's time

[JohnnyB]

I guess your wording was too long and my attention span too short It was late, and I was giddy that I had run across KT77 info earlier that day. My bad, sorry for wasting 60 seconds of people's time

Don't let it happen again.

[bmenary]

Great help so far guys- I appreciate it.