Tubes - Special handling?

[JoeActor]

Hey gang,

I just got a replacement tube for my PreSonus and was wondering: Do tubes require any "special" handling?

Just wondering if I need to wear gloves, and if there's a good way to insure it's seated properly in the socket, etc...

Thanks,
Joe J Thomas
www.JoeActor.com (http://www.JoeActor.com)
www.SoundsGoodToYou.com (http://www.SoundsGoodToYou.com)

[Jacoby]

I'm not an expert on tubes like Lance, Greg H, Thom W or others, but...
while they do get hot, it's not the same issue as with halogen bulbs, so you don't have to wear gloves. Nevertheless, I always do, or at least put something around the tube like a cloth or even my sleeve - just to be sure...
And the only way to make sure they're proberly seated in the socket, is by using moderate force :-)

Other than that, I don't think there's any need for special care. Don't break the pins though.... that's bad.

[Emorgan_Voiceovers]

What kind of tube did ya get Joe? Inquiring minds want to know. I am no expert either, but when I replaced mine, I just took the old one out and pushed the new one in. I did of course make sure it was in place good, as Jacob suggested. Did not wear gloves or anything and it worked perfectly fine.

[JoeActor]

Thanks Jacob and Eric - nice to know my "lethal weapon" hands are tube-friendly!

I got a Tung-Sol from Musician's Friend. I was placing an order there anyway for a new mike stand, so I thought, what the hey.

BTW, great deal on the mike stand - If you order an Atlas stand, you get a free boom:
Buy Atlas MS12C Round Base Mic Stand online at Musician's Friend (http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Atlas-MS12C-Round-Base-Mic-Stand?sku=450649)

Boom!,
Joe J Thomas
www.JoeActor.com (http://www.JoeActor.com)
www.SoundsGoodToYou.com (http://www.SoundsGoodToYou.com)

[lanceblair]

It's a good idea to use gloves whenever handling tubes so as not to get oils from your finger on the glass. When that oil heats up it could at the very least degrade the long term performance of the tube.

[Greg Houser]

I'm more concerned with that when it comes to NOS and older tubes. That said, I'm no fan of the smell of the oil from my fingers permeating the control room, so I always wear gloves while handling.

Regardless of the actual benefit, when you're paying a few hundred a pop for a vintage tube, it doesn't seem like so much of an imposition as it does a preventative measure.

[JoeActor]

Hey Greg,

Thanks, yeah, better safe than sorry...
Joe