Tube vs solid state (with all apologies)

All told, I guess I'm just a tube guy. I loved my genuine Pre-CBS Vibrolux dearly. With my Custom Shop "Pre-CBS" Fender Telly plugged into it, it gave me the finest twang in existence. It made my Les Paul roar. I sold the Vibrolux to a buddy who was more into playing than I was and replaced it with a tubed Carr Rambler, an amp that gives me a bit more flexibility than the Vibrolux did, but which still has 90% of the Vibrolux's tone. On the stereo side there were the Quicksilver Mono Amps, and now the PrimaLuna. It's not that I don't like trannies, it's just that I like what I got and I'm just not into shuffling stuff around any more.

When it comes to reliability questions in the tube vs. solid state argument, I can only say that over the years I've gotten more reliability from my tube gear than from my solid state gear. I ain't gonna name names here, but if pressed I might lose my composure and begin to blab.

First off, I admit to being on my third set of tubes with the PrimaLuna integrated, but to me tube replacement for tube gear is the equivalent of getting an oil change or new sparkplugs/brake pads for your automobile.

On the tranny side, I've had trouble with two NAD integrated amps (one a 3020, the other a larger model I can't remember which). A Transistronics preamp. A Marantz integrated (I can't remember which). A Moon phono stage (I can't remember the model). Sorry I can't be more specific here, but memories of failed stereo gear thankfully fade into the past for me. Finally, yes it might have been a mechanical problem and not a transistor problem, but I also went through a Marantz CD/SACD player that, one day, just decided to stop playing one of the formats. 

I must also say that I'm not including noisy volume controls or switches that I could easily quiet with a dose of Deoxit.

First off, I gotta say that I follow my father's tradition of being totally manic in maintaining and gently using all mechanical/electronic devices. I'm also sure I've already reported on a tweeter failure with a Celestion SL600. But allow me to recount my sorry litany. 

I think I already posted this once, but I had to send my SOTA turntable to Berkeley/Oakland a couple of times -- when the bearing began to growl, and when wow climbed to the level of my sister's 1966 Mustang's under-dash eight track. SOTA, I must say, was extremely solicitous and helpful in setting the problems straight.

A tonearm bearing got a bit clicky and loose. Was it my MMT arm? Or the Black Widow?

Two portable phones -- one a flip phone the other a recent Samsung. Both phones were quickly dealt with by sympathetic retail outlets.

And oh yeah, off-topic... The neck of my beloved Dimbath violin came unglued when I relocated from bone-dry SoCal to humid Hawaii. I sent it back to L.A. and Benning Violins for repair. Esteemed luthier Hans Benning phoned and told me in his German accent, "Zees things happen."