There is something comforting in the warm glow of the heater in a vacuum tube. Tubes hold a mystique that really defies logic. Although, of all the myths in audio, one that I think can be objectively shown to be true is tubes sound different that transistors in part because they respond differently to being over driven. More graceful? I will not debate whether or not that difference is better, I just like tubes. I have four reverbs, a Moog™ clone I did, a Synthesizers.Com™ I re-purposed behind a euro rack panel, a digital reverb, and a tube reverb by Vintage 47. I love the tube reverb most. What an exquisite piece of audio gear to look at and to listen to.
Tubes have also made their way into modular synthesizers. Lots of fun here.
An interesting tidbit. If you are looking for reverb tanks, many of the tube vendors carry them for the old and new guitar amps. See the Synthesizer Vendor/Components page for some other reverb tank resources.
There is some overlap on this page with the turntable link page because a lot of sites that deal with turntables (especially the vendors) also deal with vacuum tube audio gear. Sites that are essentially only vacuum tube gear are here, on the vacuum tube page. More generic vendors of higher end audio gear and turntable specific links are on the Turntable links page.
Decware (high quality reasonably priced vacuum tube audio gear)
Vintage 47 Amps (excellent guitar amps, reverbs, speakers, and great owner)
Transcendent Sound (kits and built gear)
DOS4Ever (excellent DIY tube tester and characteristic tracer)
DOS4Ever – links to tube testers
CE Distribution – wholesale only
Vintage Radio – Heathkit Manual Archive
Velleman Tube Audio Amplifier Kit
Atma-Sphere (super high end audio power amplifiers)