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Does tube testers tell how much life is left for tubes?

Let's say that you have new tubes, very old tubes that are almost to die, and something in the middle.
What kinds of reading do you expect from these three kinds?
Can you usually tell the life of tubes from tube testers?
How about the color? Do those three kinds of tubes have different colors when they were turned on?
I would like to know when to change tubes before it gets too late.
Some says if it sounds good, don't bother to change. 
Some brands of power/pre amps consume more on tubes than other brands and their life seems varies brand by brand. 
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Showing 1 response by millercarbon

millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
You can take a brand new tube that tests perfectly (this is after all the way they leave the factory) put it in your amp and watch it blow the first week.

You can take another brand new tube that tests perfectly put it in the same amp and it lasts five years.

So yes you can use a tube tester to tell you how long a tube will last. Accurate to within 5 years.
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