A somewhat but not entirely rhetorical question:

Selling is a sign of weakness.  

@tsushima1 
Thank you.  The key to this very happy ending was finding the local tech.  It was his extraordinary skills that kept me from making a very big mistake.  That I found him at all, was quite a stroke of good fortune.

Congratulations @ps  in teaching yourself a valuable lesson before it was too late....

Just had my HH Scott LK-72 gone thru by a local guy and it is not going anywhere. 

OH, the irony....

The tech did such a fantastic job on the amps that I’m gonna keep ’em after all. They have never sounded better and that’s with barely a few hours on the many new caps he installed. If a few days, I’ll roll in a brand new octet of matched 6550’s.

Not only that, but I just got my octal tube preamp back from a CLA, and dang, that thing is sounding super-sweet too. Hooked up to my "new" amps and I’m super happy. Gonna keep that as well. A big plus is that it's got a great phono stage.

So, this isn’t nostalgia, after all, it’s an affirmation for me that classic tube circuitry is still gorgeous and preferable. My tech measured the output of the amps and they sure kickass. It’s the beefy Harmon Kardon transformers that do it. My Maggies are sounding better than ever.

Newer and shinier clearly ain’t always better. Thanks for reading.

Update.  Divesting myself of the vintage gear.  The mono amps are being completely gutted and reconfigured by a gifted tech I was able to find. The preamp and power supply are being gone over by one of the original designers/builders in preparation for selling the units.

Nostalgia only goes so far, and sometimes it goes too far -in the wrong direction.

@russ69 

That's what I keep doing, and why I keep having it fixed.  It's almost like having a serious, expensive drug habit!  :). 

The junk can go but good tube gear is worth keeping. 

Upgrade? Change? not the same for sure. BUT I found out a long time ago. Most of the stuff I use is more than up to the task of creating a GREAT system. I just collect a LOT more than I sell.

I like HO railroading too.. I have a few brass pieces, they are not the best by far, but they sure are cool to work on and keep going.. Old and working great, is good. Old and working BAD that's a whole different thing..

Look at Reel to Reel, Vinyl, cassette, just as popular as ever..

I'm with tomic601, Mx110z or a C20 and a Pair of MC30, 60s or a 240, look out! WELL worth the effort.. There is NOTHING that sounds like a MC240, nothing.. I know I've had 25 different brands and 10 variations on some of them.. The mighty Mc240 is one for ANYONES collection.. 

50 years with Mac this month.. Yup...

Time to feed the chickens.. 108 degrees today.. mercy!

Regards

1965 MX-110z and a heavily modified 1961 MC-240… they are heirloom and the 240 can run circles around a lot of current tube gear…. Because transformers matter……

Never.

@Einstein in another, much lesser format.
You are a "master" pontificator. I'll give you that.

Nice one...words to live by. Literally. Never get tired of the Leone trilogy.

When you have to upgrade, upgrade, don't talk!
https://youtu.be/JrYtD7gSWsI?t=39