Replace tubes yearly?

@silverfoxvtx1800 

”Don’t mean to change the subject but looks like some experts with tubes in here, what’s the best NOS 6SN7 for a nice warm tone you have used?”

Personally, I’ve been using a pair of Tung-Sol 6F8G tubes (in a 20+ year old Tektron TK2A3/50/300 amp) for several years now with an adapter. Ran them for a year in a 300b SET amp I built and I’m back to the Tektron running EML 2A3 mesh tubes. 300b sits while I try and decide which equipment I’ll miss less when I pack it up for our move to TN.

Aside from those, I like 1940’s-era Sylvania 6SN7WGTB tubes; have a matched set I bought from Brent Jesse and have gotten a lot of use out of those… still prefer the 6F8g or VT99 tubes.

My “test song” for tube rolling is Michael Hedges’ “Aerial Boundaries” off the 1982 (?) LP.

YMMV.

Me, I’m trying to spend my children’s inheritance so they won’t be spoiled when I’m gone.

@larryi you make a good point about tube testers, most testers also don't test the tubes at the same operating parameters that they will be used in.

I second the recommendation for the early Sylvania 6SN7 tubes. Specifically the ones with the triangular plates. 
Hilarious, normb.  When I worked in a high-end audio emporium back in the late eighties/early nineties I used Aerial Boundaries as my initial go-to demo. The repetition in it makes for great comparisons between components.  I probably owe Mr. Hedges $$$ in royalties :) 

Gotta keep in mind that how long a tube lasts and how long a tube sounds its best are two completely different things. Are there parameters you can test for this?

@normb ,

Beautiful Shepherd!