Can you touch the tubes?

I was talking to someone at the tube store about replacing some KT 150 tubes and he said it was perfectly fine to touch the tubes.

I've always thought you're supposed to handle these things very carefully with white gloves or a microfiber cloth.

Handling them with my fingers makes it easier to pull them out , insert them more securely.

Does it really matter if my fingerprints get on the glass or should I clean them off with a microfiber cloth after I touch them?

emergingsoul11-05-2023 5:41pm

emergingsoul OP Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,137 posts 11-05-2023 at 07:49pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Maybe power tubes no big deal. Maybe it's the signal radar tubes that pick up modem a radio wave interference that shouldn't be touched. I had a tube on a preamp that was very sensitive to network equipment.
Post removed Nov 05, 2023
chayro Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 2,987 posts 11-05-2023 at 08:45pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete It’s funny how all us audiophiles are so skittish about tubes. Any of you older guitarists or bass players remember the abuse everyone gave to those Ampeg, Sunn, Marshalls. Throwing them down in the back of trucks and car trunks. I don’t remember anyone ever even think about the tubes. I don’t remember one tube ever breaking. Then again, memory of those days are a bit foggy for some reason.
theflattire Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 182 posts 11-05-2023 at 08:54pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I have a rubber suction type tube puller around here somewhere but I never use it. If the tubes are hot I just use a sock.
pehare Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 835 posts 11-05-2023 at 09:08pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Roger Modjeski (RIP) aka Music Reference, The Authority on tubes said '"yes, it's fine to touch tubes just get the peanut butter off your fingers"