Tube Rolling for Pre-amps?


I have an Audio Research LS-16 that feeds a Madrigal Proceed HPA2 solid state amp. 

I did not choose this equipment; it was given to me. From what I can tell the original owner spent a good bit of time matching up these two components with the speakers, Aerial Acoustics 7Bs.

The tubes in the AR are original. Probably 10-15 years old? But with an extended period of not being used.

The system sounds good to me. I don't need to change anything.

However, I've been told that the tubes are old and may need to be replaced soon. I've also read a little bit about tube rolling but most of the articles I've seen talk mostly about tube rolling with amps and not pre-amps.

So I have some questions:

1) If the original owner wanted a system that sounded like a 'tube' system, why not have a tube amp and pre-amp? Does it make sense to have a tube pre but SS amp?

2) Other than outright failure, how will I know if my tubes _need_ to be replaced?

3) With a SS amp, will changing tubes in the pre-amp have a noticeable impact on SQ? In other words, is tube rolling for a pre-amp played through a SS amp a thing?

4) For someone like myself who is happy with the system and who is also easily frustrated by A/B testing is tube rolling the pre-amp even worthwhile? I can almost always hear a change when comparing various components but only rarely am able to say A is better or worse than B.

( I probably can't even articulate effectively what I look for in terms of SQ except that I like the bass to be tight, precise, well defined and not boomy. I do not like the music to be overly bright or tinny. I like depth and lushness but not overly warm. Not sure if these are things you alter with tubes.)

Thanks for any advice.


n80
This will be interesting. Just hope my ears aren't so dull that I don't hear anything different. (I probably should not be pre-loading expectations either!)
I got very lucky many years ago and ran into a dude that had several master cartons of Amperex USN-CEP 7308 Gold Pins and he was looking to just unload them, (pretty sure he didn't have a clue of what he had).  I bought 10 or 12 pair of them.  GREAT tubes.
Just jumping in here a moment to share my tube pulling method-I use a piece of Saran wrap to grasp the tube.It gives you a firm non slip hold.Not when they're still warm of course:)Pull straight up and you may have to wiggle them gently.Looking forward to your thoughts later on the new tubes!
@n80- "I probably should not be pre-loading expectations either!" I haven’t mentioned anything, regarding attributes to be expected/anticipated, for that reason. I’m fairly certain, you and your wife will notice what the tubes deliver, without prompting/suggestion. Particularly, if your pre-amp, is still equipped with it’s original tube compliment(perhaps, Sovteks?). Take your time and listen to your favorite/most familiar cuts, for anything, "new".