Best Way To Maximize Preamp Tube Life?

dancub:Most entry-level tube testers are old; the new units tend to be feature-rich and expensive. Cheaper, old tube testers generally have minimal features and capabilities, with emissions being the most common. Better is a transconductance tester, and good ones like my Hickok testers can test for shorts, leakage, gm, remaining life (estimated), gas, and other issues. I have a B&K from the 1930’s that is good for minimal tests on really old tube types, and a cheap Eico emissions tester that is a quick go-to for pass/fail tests.

If you only need to see if a tube is good or bad, a cheap old tester might be OK, but often it’s just best to use "tube substitution", a term all those familiar with working on tube gear will be familiar with. Having a known good replacement, even a marginally-good tube, can be very useful if you suspect a particular tube has gone bad.

My Carver 350s came with a 10 yr warranty on amps and tubes (Bob later raised it to 50 yrs on all of it, long story)  Even his new 275s come with a 5 yr warranty on everything.  He runs them both conservatively and you can touch them even after hrs of playing.Best to allMark

Just do the method you like best 
Any method you pick be ready to take the gas pipe . Don't lose sleep over it 

I can't actualy think of a time tubes wore out, ever.  I've had tubes go bad, but it always happened to a single tube and not the set.  

If the tubes went from use, I would think they (same type/brand used as a pair or more) would burn out roughly the same the same timeframe.  And yet that's not been my experience.

So I'm not sure what the best method is for getting more life out of tubes.

I've turned the amp/pre on after work if I planned to listen in the evening and turn off at bedtime.  On the weekend, I'd turn everything on in the morning and shut off at bedtime, unless I was going to be gone for more than a few hours, in which case I'd shut off then turn back on upon my return.

The more I think about it. The more I think they are such an asset that tube life just should not be a concern. With at least 3,000 hours it’s just not worth worrying about. If your a person that thinks about these things, then replace when it is time.

The fact that tube equipment should not be left on unattended.. pretty well takes care of the longevity issue.