Pre-amp tubes like 12au7 and 12ax7 can last 5000-10,000 hours. You can get different sound from different brands or even models with a brand. Orange Globe Amperex are very nice and expensive to replace. Keep them. You can pick up others if you want to compare. Also, the 12 series tubes really should be used in "like" pairs since they are running right and left channels.
The output tubes can be expensive if you want 4 matched tubes. You really should try to have 4 of the same output tubes that are electronically similar as well as same brand.
Like everything else-start reading and looking. Good tube retailers are tubesandmore.com and thetubestore. Tube world is pricey but will teach you a lot. Personally I would say stay away from ebay. Likewise, buying from craigslist can be a deal but without a tube tester you don't know what you are getting.
The output tubes can be expensive if you want 4 matched tubes. You really should try to have 4 of the same output tubes that are electronically similar as well as same brand.
Like everything else-start reading and looking. Good tube retailers are tubesandmore.com and thetubestore. Tube world is pricey but will teach you a lot. Personally I would say stay away from ebay. Likewise, buying from craigslist can be a deal but without a tube tester you don't know what you are getting.