There is a river of barginaceous valve amplification on eBay atm which (as a
keen fan of valve amps myself) I reckon can only be a Good Thing.

OK, a ton of them are being offered by our old friend (and likeable nutter)
the Affordable valve Company (see eBay No. 5709515681 for all you could wish
to know about valve amps in a single document!!) but, nevertheless, this has
to be a very good time for anyone looking to try valves for themselves. The
loopy 'High End' (mostly US) mould is broken and valve amps are now getting
back where I think they properly belong - inexpensive and simple but
superb/superior audio amplification available to anyone at 'hobbyist' prices
and no longer the exclusive province of the wealthy eccentric who merely
wishes to be 'different'.

Sure, the wisacres in the Western World will make the usual remarks about
cheap goods from the Far East (they've been doing it ever since one of
Kawasaki's early efforts at ship-building turned turtle on launching and a
bloke called Honda strapped a concrete mixer engine to a pedal bicycle...)
but just see the refreshing candour in this auction No. 5709843542......

"Please note; As we have received a few of faulty Yaqin 10K valve amp, we
found there are some circuit design problems in the amp. We now STOP to
selling those amp on ebay, however if any customer still like it also he has
valve electronic experience. we then can supply them and will discuss what's
problem in it. we are honest ebayer and do not wish bring any trouble to our
customer, People who bought those amp please contact me for a repair if
problem arise.(no any charge)"

.....can't ask for more than that, can you? So go grab 'em before the sodding
EC tries to slam the door on them!

(Finally, see Also eBay No. 5710354832 for a very interesting 300B amp
looking strangely not unlike my own - could this also be from the
world-reknowned 'Bluebell Audio' stable and possibly from Phil's very own
hands....?? :-)