Blown tube issue


So one of my Tung Sol EL34s blew last weekend after 6 months and I’m not running them constantly. Manley is replacing for me.

My question is : is it ok to pop in a random EL34 in the interim and how does that affect sound ? Same brand better ? These tubes I bought from Manley are all bias numbered . Not sure if there is an exact slot order to the numeration . 
Another thing that concerns me is I bought the snappers used from some Agon user who replaced/upgraded the caps . I’ve been told depending on his work this could be the reason I’ve already blown 2 power tubes in 1.5 years ? Anything I can be aware of appreciated !

my setup :
manley snappers
Manley jumbo shrimp pre
VPI super prime scout
allnic h1202 phonostage

128x128tommypenngotti
OP here is the real question, was the tube failure in the same position? If not, move on and understand, valves fail. If it was in the same position check the bias per position that ONE is to hot.. 300ma is not plus anything, that is MAX. That is every valve? or per bank.. 300 sound HIGH per valve to me.. Anyway LOWER is better for now and accurate is even more important..

Make sure your using a DMM, not an analog meter, they are not close enough.. Every year they are suppose to be calibrated if they are being used as a TOOL, for looks that’s different. Who cares.. Blowing tubes.. MAKE SURE... the meter is good and you're at least bias 300 or LOWER not higher..

Surging ON is a problem too.. Make sure you have a 120 volt maintainer for start up, no voltage dips. Soft start or pre start really helps too..(stand by switch)

I have the older Macs that are 117 vac MAX they don’t like 120vac. They will actually run too hot.. but on a Variac at 110vac.. perfect... Those Manley aren’t that old... are they?

I have VTL 300 deluxe (Manley design) they like 110-115. Above that they run HOT. 110 I can almost tolerate them in the summer.. but I can adjust the bias, the Macs I can’t.. ALL fixed..

Fruit for thought OP..

Regards
Good comments from all the above.
If failure was at same position, it could be random but also a cause for some concern.
Also monitor the bias more frequently than Manley suggests to check that your amps can hold it there. Safer not to exceed the value whatever the sound, a bit lower the better for tube life. Also a question to the seller of what caps exactly were changed and why. 
Tubes can go funny and not created equal. For me two failures in 1,5 years with no constant use is at the limit of unexpected. 

G



I dont use an amp that uses EL34s but I have retubed many. If you keep blowing tubes you might try old stock EL34s, perhaps some less expensive types like Matsushitas. I have heard that the longevity of the new production tubes aint what it used to be. I dont carry new production so I cant speak from actual experience. 
Russ quoted the bias instructions. "300mV across a 10-ohm resistor".  If he is correct, that would give a plate current of 30mA.  I just checked some EL34 data sheets on-line, and they all confirm what Russ said, that 30mA is very conservative.  Most give a range of plate current from 35mA to 70mA. The point about whether the tube that fails is always in the same position is a very important one. If that is the case, watch the replacement tube carefully.  Is it glowing more "red" than the other tubes?  If so, then you may have a leaky coupling capacitor (the capacitor that feeds the control grid signal from the front end).  If that cap leaks positive DC to the grid, that makes the (negative) grid bias voltage go less negative, which turns that tube ON harder and harder. Moreover, over time, the leak builds in magnitude such that the bias voltage becomes less and less negative and then... blooey.  The tube goes cherry red, sometimes also blue, and dies.  The good thing is that fixing this problem is easy; replace the coupling capacitor.  I especially suspect paper in oil capacitors of leaking (DC voltage, not necessarily oil).