nbarts
New member
Me, 6 months average. That said, I play at humanly unacceptable volumes.
i.ak
Member
12 to 24 months, played once or twice a week for approximately 8 to 10 hours per week. I play loud as well (band) and I like to drive my tubes "medium hot".
Im sure the tubes would be functional longer, but this is how I proceed in normal conditions. Of course there is sometimes tubes that do not last or might even explode due to serious malfunction, but the timeline here is for "good tubes".
Im sure the tubes would be functional longer, but this is how I proceed in normal conditions. Of course there is sometimes tubes that do not last or might even explode due to serious malfunction, but the timeline here is for "good tubes".
P
petereanima
New member
Rubys 6-9 months
JJs: 8 hours to 3 months
SED =C=: almost 12 months now, still running.
I play very loud, mostly twice the week (~4-5 hours per day, so up to 10 hours per week).
JJs: 8 hours to 3 months
SED =C=: almost 12 months now, still running.
I play very loud, mostly twice the week (~4-5 hours per day, so up to 10 hours per week).
Skrln
Member
I play once a week at pretty high levels for 4hours. They last 24months now and show no degradation yet.
sombersoul
New member
It took half a year of infrequent bedroom playing at whisper levels and half a year of rehearsing with the band for two hours a week at talking volume for one of the 6550 tubes in my Einstein to blow. If I had at least demanded full work from it before it went...! 
Usually I replace tubes to play with the sound. 
I got two EL34s for my Einstein and biased them at 60mA.
Usually I replace tubes to play with the sound. I got two EL34s for my Einstein and biased them at 60mA.
P
petereanima
New member
sombersoul":31rw73rt said:
Which ones and where did you buy them?
PaulyPanacea
Active member
I usually get a year on average out of mine...and they are used hard! 
sombersoul
New member
petereanima":2qzgm0qv said:sombersoul":2qzgm0qv said:
Which ones and where did you buy them?
It had to be quick, so I got inexpensive JJs from Klangfarbe.
nbarts
New member
Good, so it's not just me. I was starting to think I was doing something wrong.
Peter Diezel
Well-known member
Tubes life lasts 2 seconds or 20 years.
After 2 years You will hear a big audible
difference concerning sound and noise.
Shuguang preamp tubes are the best on
the market side by side with the good old
NOS stuff.
But if I took out tubes of a bunch of 100,
every tube sound different and has more or
less noise, more or less microphonics.
So it depends on Your dealer to get the
best for You.
Power tubes have their own story but be
sure they make no short if You knock slightly
on the glas. If they make noise or a short
replace them asap.
After 2 years You will hear a big audible
difference concerning sound and noise.
Shuguang preamp tubes are the best on
the market side by side with the good old
NOS stuff.
But if I took out tubes of a bunch of 100,
every tube sound different and has more or
less noise, more or less microphonics.
So it depends on Your dealer to get the
best for You.
Power tubes have their own story but be
sure they make no short if You knock slightly
on the glas. If they make noise or a short
replace them asap.