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Are Lamm preamps hard on tubes?

I have a LP2 and an LL2.1 (purchased about 14 months ago) and my system is missing some of the sparkle lately. I'm wondering if the tubes (all purchased as NOS from Brent Jessee) could be wearing out? That would seem awfully quick for 6922 and 12AU7s right? Not sure about the 417As in the LP2. Any thoughts for anyone's experience with Lamm?
dhcod
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,965 posts
 
get a tube tester that has been calibrated…. B and K make superb portable small signal tube testers. I have found it invaluable. Also find a NOS vendor with a sterling reoutation AND superb test equipment - I really like Andy at Vintage Tube services.

The Lamm phono pre is super good but in the $ range there are myrid choices…
whart's avatar
whart
3,052 posts
 
Andy cracks me up. He's good, very old school. Love his invoices which are stamped (who uses rubber stamps anymore?) and then initialed by him-- I think he's there all by his lonesome. I'm going to try to visit him once this Covid thing finally subsides and air travel is a little easier. 
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,597 posts
 
I don't think there's any reason to question Brent Jessee's ethics.  Unless you have some evidence that he's selling used tubes as NOS I wouldn't do that.  He's been running a successful tube business for a while now and I don't think you can do that if you're swindling people.
dhcod OP
710 posts
 
Thank you @tomcy6 

That's not what this post was about. I have been buying from Brent forever and he's one of the best humans in the business.

Thanks to those who actually answered my question! Very helpful! Especially the part about cleaning the ears :)
whart's avatar
whart
3,052 posts
 
Brent is pretty clear on his website about what "NOS" means and doesn't mean. (There is a tab on his page called "NOS Tube Specifications" that is worth reading).  Brent is a good guy and pleasant to deal with. 
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