No tubes for you, komrad

[VeronicaConnor]

I assume these threads will get merged at some point, but until then, a shameless cross-post:

Guitar amp tubes are an unexpected victim of Russia's invasion on Ukraine

I can answer! It is pretty difficult, yes. You need a lot of special equipment and near clean-room conditions. However, it is not insurmountable. The main reason (IMHO) that Russia became the defacto source for tubes is simply because they still make them for all their old gear and nobody else presently does. This is not just for hipster guitar amps. The market for tubes includes hipster amplifiers, Nixie tubes, oscilloscope tubes, old radio enthusiast tubes, vintage HAM tubes, VF display tube…