Lucky you! Unfortunately though, you don't want to mess around with rectifier or output tubes unless you know their condition. These can damage the circuitry if they are bad. Small signal tubes like 12AX7 or 6SN7, etc. are another story and less likely to cause damage though they can in extreme cases. If you are tempted though, at the very least try to use them in the same pairings from the gear they came out of and watch and listen to your amp closely for trouble. If you think no one in your area can provide testing or matching for you, look in the direction of musical instrument amp people. Even the local music/guitar store may be able to test and match tubes for you.
So you've landed the white whale. What next?
Hunting tubes this weekend and talked to a woman whose dad built and repaired hifi equipment. She says she has gear that's been locked away for 50 years.
I show up and see a table covered with old gear adorned with 15 or so tubes, and it was almost comical. The husband remarked on the Genelex Gold Lion KT-88s "they look burnt out to me. look at those spots in the sides." Those would have been the flashing on the two side getters. Then I carefully pulled the Mullard 5AR4/GZ34 rectifier branded Amperex Bugle Boy with. Blackburn codes. Next was a Tung Sol 6v6 GTA, then what appeared to be an RCA black plate 6L6.
So here's the thing. I scored huge. Should probably never hunt tubes again lest I incur the wrath of the gods. Question is, since I don't own a tube tester, do I dare pop these tubes into my gear to see how they work? Related question-- I get confused as to what a tube tester really measures. A lot of people I respect say a tube tester tells you almost nothing, but what's a good way to ensure tubes of unknown provenance are safe to use? I'm sure someone will suggest I send the tubes to him for testing and safe keeping. Perhaps there's another way?
I show up and see a table covered with old gear adorned with 15 or so tubes, and it was almost comical. The husband remarked on the Genelex Gold Lion KT-88s "they look burnt out to me. look at those spots in the sides." Those would have been the flashing on the two side getters. Then I carefully pulled the Mullard 5AR4/GZ34 rectifier branded Amperex Bugle Boy with. Blackburn codes. Next was a Tung Sol 6v6 GTA, then what appeared to be an RCA black plate 6L6.
So here's the thing. I scored huge. Should probably never hunt tubes again lest I incur the wrath of the gods. Question is, since I don't own a tube tester, do I dare pop these tubes into my gear to see how they work? Related question-- I get confused as to what a tube tester really measures. A lot of people I respect say a tube tester tells you almost nothing, but what's a good way to ensure tubes of unknown provenance are safe to use? I'm sure someone will suggest I send the tubes to him for testing and safe keeping. Perhaps there's another way?