transistor pre with the sound of tubes

Thinking a VTL with siemens tubes? I was told those are most neutral? Is that a good start? 

I have a tube preamp and avoided tube amps out of concern for tube performance limitations. 
I’ve heard so Audio Reseach gear that shocked me with the low end and dynamics. And I was listening to a Rougue integrated and it impressed me as a value with some good safe guards. 
Go on try it,

Tube preamp into solid state amp or solid state preamp into tube amp. or all tubes. lol

There is NO such thing as "tube" or "transistor" sound! Only a CIRCUIT has a SOUND! The big advantage a solid-state device has over a vacuum tube is that the former is free from aging effects.

If “only” a circuit then why does tube rolling change sound? The lightbulb analogy is good - circuit stays the same but the type of bulb produces a specific result. Also, saying SS gear doesn’t age? So caps don’t go bad? Class A’s don’t burn up? Chips don’t fail? 

Yes, ofcourse components age. I often question why people buy 20 year old units that never have been through a check up or service.