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Tested and Working. This item was pulled from a working environment. Please look at all photos before purchasing, only what is included in the pictures is included in the sale.Will ship same day purchased in a professionally packaged box.S56M
This is a fair-to-strong deal, not a bargain-basement score, with the ask at US$170 against a recent comparable median of US$59 and a 75th percentile of US$167. That puts it just above the high end of the typical used spread, so I’d call it slightly ambitious rather than wildly overpriced.
What keeps it interesting is the NOS angle: if it’s genuinely new old stock, you’re buying around the usual wear-and-tear issues that hit old tube gear, and Canadian-built vintage General Electric pieces can have real collector appeal. The upside is strongest if the listing includes the original packaging, paperwork, or clear proof it’s unused; at this price, I’d want confidence that the tube complement and cosmetics are truly intact.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
General Electric, the American multinational conglomerate founded in 1892 through the merger of Edison General Electric and Thomson-Houston Electric, traces its roots to the dawn of the electrical age. Emerging from Thomas Edison's innovations in power generation and lighting, GE quickly expanded into radio and electronics, notably by acquiring the Marconi U.S. subsidiary in 1919 to form RCA, the dominant force in consumer radio receivers through the mid-20th century. This heritage positioned GE as a pioneer in electrical engineering, with early forays into broadcasting stations and vacuum tube production that laid the groundwork for its audio legacy.
In hi-fi circles, GE stands out for its vintage vacuum tubes, particularly the renowned 5-Star series like the 12AX7, developed in the mid-1940s from military-spec designs acquired via the 1945 purchase of Kentucky Radio Company's Ken-Rad brand. These tubes powered aviation communications, broadcast gear from makers like Gates and Fairchild, and iconic Fender guitar amps such as the Princeton, defining the raw tone of American rock and blues from the late 1940s to the early 1960s. While GE produced rack-mounted audio panels and amplifiers into the 1950s, its consumer hi-fi output was limited compared to full systems.
Today, GE holds a cherished niche among vintage collectors and tube enthusiasts, prized for the linear response, quiet operation, and warm sonics of its 5-Star tubes rather than modern high-end gear. No longer active in consumer audio, its components command premium prices in the aftermarket, appealing to restorers and boutique amp builders seeking authentic mid-century American sound.
See all General Electric listings on RADAR.
