Your thoughts on tube matching

I guess buying a matched pair is an option, although a bit pricey - 100.00 CDN plus about 30.00 shipping.

I'm a bit unclear about what's happening though. I know that if a person is running two power tubes in a normally-four power tube Twin, you pull either the inside pair or the outside pair. I assume this is because the two tubes that are being used are running in a push-pull arrangement. How important is it that the two pairs be the same or very close in terms of numbers? If I buy a matched pair that aren't that close to the matched pair I'm using, will that be okay, as long as the pairs are the same as the tube they're push-pulling with?

I'm kicking around the idea of offering to trade amps with someone. I'm still not sure it's a good idea, but I thought it would be easier to present the idea to the owner of the other amp if my Twin Reverb was 100%. So, that's where the idea of returning to the four power tube configuration started.

There's a guy advertising a really mint-looking Super Twin Reverb and asking 900.00. I think that's top dollar for that amp, but, as I said, it's in really nice shape, unmolested by heavy gigging war wounds or speaker changes, and it has the foot-switches (which are hard to come by). I recognize that high wattage amps aren't in high demand, but two things appeal to me....First, a 160 watt Fender tube amp would be more than enough power to use for bass or guitar, and getting down to one amp appeals to me. I'd be offering him my 1970 Twin Reverb and the 15" Altec Lansing 418 cabinet in exchange for his combo amp. I'm convinced I'd be happy using my Ampeg PF-210HE Portoflex cabinet for bass or guitar, and since it's rated for 450 watts, it would handle the power easily. Secondly, I've owned a Super Twin Reverb before, so I know what to expect......The Super Twin has a Presence control that I really missed when I went to the Twin Reverb. It adds an indefinable quality to the sound for guitar that the Twin lacked. I know the Super Twin Reverb is stupid-heavy....I mean, really, really heavy. If I made the deal, I'd sell the combo cabinet and speakers, and use the proceeds to buy a new Dual Showman cabinet- the higher profile cabinet that's actually got enough room inside to make tube changes easy and enough air space to properly ventilate the chassis. As a separate head and cabinet, the weight would become more manageable too.

I'm not seeking approval, but I'd be interested in your thoughts on the idea of swapping. I'm going to weigh the idea for a few days before I contact the guy.

Forget our approval, the only question is whether there is any significant difference in value for either amp. I don't know this either way, so I am not trying to create doubt. Also since this is vintage gear, just make sure that you won't regret the trade as we are talking a fair amount of money to buy another one if you miss it.

Other than those considerations, go for it if it feels right

I've never replaced tubes on an amp--one of my oldest amps is a tube amp--btu I don't use it much anymore
So I'm deciding if I should sell it or replace the two pong plug--and sue it more.
It's a bit of beast for me to move around, but it does have nice sound.

And I do have a hybrid (The Orange Micro Dark)--but it only has one tube--so not so much you can do to match it.

And that orange doesn't have power tubes- there is no benefit to matching preamp tubes, even if there were 2

I’m not sure whose rating system those numbers pertain to. Sorry, but I can’t help you there.

Actually, it’s 40+ years old

I got it used--and it is more than 20 years old.
It's a Garnet Stencil, made int he 70s--so 40 some years old.
As far as I know it has the original tubes but hasn't been used much for a few years due to the two prong scenario.
I have seen stiuf online about the caps as well.
It's kind of more a scenario of getting around to it.
If I sold it without the work I would take that into account with the price, and would advise prospective buyers to get that done.
I also have a solid state Garnet Stencil--which could use the same work.
I almost had someone buy it, but they wanted something a bit different--and the tube one was being lent out at the time (& stored where it wasn't easy to reach) or I could probably have sold it to that same guy.)

but one of these days, I'll get it done.

I like the amp--but it takes up too much space.
So I haven't decided if I am going to keep it or sell it.
Although if I got a good offer, I would sell it.

Yes, but any single tube amp would almost certainly be a preamp tube. Single power tube Designs are very poor, and sometimes even dangerous. No modern manufacturer would use a design like that

I agree. In the article that I initially attached, they mention that tubes drift with heat and age. 

Some of the older single tube designs, along the lines of table radios and and portable record players tend to fall into the design area of transformer-less amps that don't incorporate many safety measures. The shock hazard can be fairly extreme. One would hope that modern design criteria would eliminate some aspects that make this type of amp hazardous, such as "hot" chassis, where three wire power cords promote proper grounding.

The modern hybrid amps that utilize a shingle preamp tube and solid state power amp sections to emulate tube amp sound don't fall into this category and are likely fine.

Yes,  I was referring to the old open ended design amps of yesteryear.  I'm not actually sure how a single power tube would benefit a solid state amp however. It seems like the worst of both worlds to me. Unreliability of power tubes and no sound advantage of a preamp tube?

I've never actually even seen a single power tube SS amp- can anyone name an example of one? 

Right, single preamp tubes are pretty common

How weird... 

Honestly I think you are better off with a pair anyway. BTW couldn't you just put the new tube in the circuit with one of the old ones?  If it sounds bad you will know which tube is the offender- if it doesn't,  just swap out the good old tube and verify worth the other old one. 

Although if you do this is still suggest saving the old tubes so someone can determine which one the bad one is