Replace tubes yearly?

@yogatma 

+1

It depends on the tubes. But annual is not an appropriate schedule. Hours on the tubes. This is why tube amps have hour counters. Your component manufacturer should recommend the number of hours. It is dependent on how hard they run them. 

For instance ARC recommends 2,000 on the 6550 tubes and 3,000 on the rest. 

Unless a tube fails in someway, you never have to replace your tubes.  Run them for 30 or even 50 years at a time and they will function.  Now your equipment won't sound it's absolute best as the tubes age, but that's a very subjective observation.

I don't know of any power tubes that will last 30+ years, but for small signal tubes in conservatively designed circuits it shouldn't be that big of a deal.  Again, they won't sound perfect, but I can't do the things I used to do 30 years ago either.

Aside from tubes, Paul's suggestion to keep your equipment powered up 24/7, is contradicted by many manufacturers.  I know this issue divides members into two camps.  My own amp manufacturer recommends turning off when not in use.  Claims the soft start circuitry protects the equipment and leaving it powered up just shortens life and wastes power.  Not trying to change the direction of the post, just suggesting it don't make it true, just because Paul says so.  IMHO.

Never keep tube gear powered up.  It's a waste of electricity and dangerous.   Ever see a KT88 go nuclear red plate with arcing and flashing and sparking?  It's scary. 

I've had good luck with tubes over the past 25 years that I've been using them. I try to be proactive about tube replacement. If a tube is noisy or doesn't hold its bias i replace.   But every year ?   No way. 

One can only marvel at the occasional nonsense spouted by the industry greats: small signal tubes especially but even the venerable 300b were designed for >20000 Hours of service. So even if you were stupid enough to keep them permanently powered they‘d exceed a year‘s service.