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Why do I have 200 + tubes?

post #1 of 38
1/17/08 at 6:17pm
Thread Starter 
I have had an SP MPX3 Slam SE for about a year. Each time I hear about a new tube, I have to have at least 4. Why?

Does any one else do this? Are there any good reasons to ave so man tubes? My 20 and 30-something kids think I am crazy.

I need reasons, please.

Thanks
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post #2 of 38
1/17/08 at 6:20pm
i think that's part of the problem with tube amps. in time you can easily spend as much or more on tubes than the cost of the amp - a cost which is generally not fully appreciated upon purchase.
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post #3 of 38
1/17/08 at 6:38pm
Good lord, yes. I have about 20 6AS7 types, about 40 each of the 6SN7 and 6SJ7, and at least 10 of the 5751, 12AX7, 6922, EL84, 12AU7, 5670/2C51 - just about any tube used by any tube amp I own or have owned, I have a bunch. Why? Because collecting tubes is GREAT FUN!

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post #4 of 38
1/17/08 at 6:42pm
I hope this isn't a stupid question but do tubes burn out to where you need to replace it? If so, how often then?
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post #5 of 38
1/17/08 at 6:46pm
"Don't want to run out". We are a League of Obsessive Compulsives. Why do I have so many Amps? Why do I have so Many Dac's? Why do I have so many Headphones? why?why?wHHY WHHHHY? It's even worse with my knife collecting.
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post #6 of 38
1/17/08 at 6:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by troymadison View Post
I hope this isn't a stupid question but do tubes burn out to where you need to replace it? If so, how often then?
They certainly do, it depends on how much you use them, how often you turn the amp on and off, how hard they are driven in the circuit they are in, etc. Most tubes are rated to last several thousand hours, although many will last even longer.

But often before they out-and-out fail, they will get noisy, and in an audio application, that isn't good, so having backups is important.

Although clearly some of us take that to a ludicrous extreme
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post #7 of 38
1/17/08 at 7:05pm
"Ludicrous extreme" Thank Heaven. I am HOME. Praise the Lord and pass the Music.
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post #8 of 38
1/17/08 at 7:07pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by achristilaw View Post
"Don't want to run out". We are a League of Obsessive Compulsives. Why do I have so many Amps? Why do I have so Many Dac's? Why do I have so many Headphones? why?why?wHHY WHHHHY? It's even worse with my knife collecting.
That's what my children tell me now. I am working on the "vision from God theme" as an alternative.
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post #9 of 38
1/17/08 at 7:09pm
I think I know why...
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post #10 of 38
1/17/08 at 7:09pm
Yeah, its easy to get obsessive with tubes. I have a few thousand but then they are fun to roll around in right???. .. uh. . did I say too much? . . .
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post #11 of 38
1/17/08 at 7:10pm
I have about $1000 worth of tubes for a $300 amp.If nobody knows by now it's an addtiction plain and simple.The nice thing though is when you wake up in the morning you still have your tubes.
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post #12 of 38
1/17/08 at 7:14pm
Yeah, as far as addictions go, it's pretty benign...thank god...
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post #13 of 38
1/17/08 at 7:18pm
? Only 200 tubes? Fly weight unless they are all the same type of tube.

There’s something special to me about dealing with 40 and 50-year-old tubes. My one amp uses 45’s and I have a pair of 1930’s UX-245 with the beautiful balloon shape. To be able to listen to 100-year-old vacuum tubes is simply amazing to me.

Tennis ball tubes anyone?


Mitch
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post #14 of 38
1/17/08 at 7:46pm
I almost got the obsessive need to collect all the tubes there is still working. At the moment I have several small boxes full of tubes, and I have been resisting the need to buy more.
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post #15 of 38
1/17/08 at 7:57pm
I think the best way to handle this is to start to divest yourself of most of those tubes. If you have any Ken Rad, send them my way.
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