So, i have been playing guitar since i was about 12 years old, and been playing thru tube amps since i was 14. IN those 21 years of tube amp fun i have never popped a pre amp tube, until today! One of my fave (and becoming increasingly rare) Early 60's GE Long plates blew out today as soon as i switched the Bluesmaster out of Standby mode. I finished rewiring the Les Parl and was eager to try it out so i plugged in the BM, fired her up and... nothing. It blew out so silently that i didn't even know it had popped until i starting checking for problems with the fuses as such. I'm surprised it was quiet, considering how violently it blew. The broken plate became fully separated when i pulled the tube out, but, the glass had blown and the plate was already loose. I feel like i have seen everything now lol. i have blown plenty of power tubes but never a pre tube. enjoy the pic, and the rest of your day!!

Gregg

Most of my stock, including the one that passed today, are actually ANOS pulls. The one that popped was pulled from wurlitzer and was late 50's/early 60's. So, 50 or 60 years is a good long life. I think what killed it was running it in my Ampeg Jet Reissue. It always has been one to either show off how microphonic a tube is or make it that way, and it was a bit of a squealer in that amp. That's just a theory, though. In the end even old NOS tubes were made by humans and therefore can fail, so as far as longevity, I don't think there are any guarantees with NOS or ANOS. Tone yes, life, no.

Gregg