Hello folks,
A couple of quick questions for you...or maybe not so quick:
1. If I'm going to mess around with tube rolling for my Crack (with Speedball), would the 12AU7 be a higher priority than the 6080?
2. What's the deal with "vintage" tubes? Is a tube from the 1950s or '60s likely to sound different than a new tube, and if so is that because of difference in manufacturing, or difference that occur with age? I kinda like the idea of a tube made in the same year I was born (mid-'60s)...
3. On eBay plenty of sellers note test values for tubes. What exactly are those and how should I think about them?
4. Are there any brands of tubes out there for which there is a consensus (something which seems generally to be absent in almost every part of the fascinating discussions on these topics) that they are either A) among the best and should be sought out or B) to be avoided? Related: Are there particular countries of tube manufacture that are thought to be uniformly superior or inferior as far as tube quality? (For example, I've seen plenty of positive mention of Tung Sol.)
5. I see that some substitutes for the 12AU7 are tubes that are "military spec", which seem particularly to be designed to handle frequent power on/off cycles and maybe have some other tighter tolerances. I like that idea, because I do tend to turn the Crack on and off at least once most days of the week. But is that "mil spec" really something worth seeking out?
6. I realize this is a "Coke vs Pepsi vs RC" question, meaning there isn't a "right answer" but what's YOUR favorite replacement for a 12AU7 in a Crack and why? (Feel free to answer for the 6080 as well!)
Thanks in advance for your insights and advice!
Ross in Colorado
