1. Forget everything you learned in your ham radio days. A 6550 tube is not a 6146A.
2. All the bad habits you acquired running sold-state, no matter how good, do not apply to tube amps and preamps. Tube amps are much more sensitive to loads than are s/s gear. And tube amps tend to be far more input voltage sensitive. Shop for speakers and rectifiers accordingly.
3. Tube amps distort. So do s/s amps, though the show-room guys with their $1000/foot connecting wires don't seem to notice.
Did I mention DISTORTION?
It's a matter of personal flavour. That's where tubes trump s/s -- you've got a bulk of choices.
If you start with a Bob Latino amp, you've got a bullet-proof platform.
2. All the bad habits you acquired running sold-state, no matter how good, do not apply to tube amps and preamps. Tube amps are much more sensitive to loads than are s/s gear. And tube amps tend to be far more input voltage sensitive. Shop for speakers and rectifiers accordingly.
3. Tube amps distort. So do s/s amps, though the show-room guys with their $1000/foot connecting wires don't seem to notice.
Did I mention DISTORTION?
It's a matter of personal flavour. That's where tubes trump s/s -- you've got a bulk of choices.
If you start with a Bob Latino amp, you've got a bullet-proof platform.