Cleaning old tubes?

[jhanks]

I bought an old Hammond S-6 organ at a garage sale a while back and just got around to checking the 30+ tubes it has in it. They look like old Sylvania and Raytheon. Covered in heavy dust. I'd like to try the 12AU7 and 12AX7 out in my Carmen Ghia. Is there a preferred way to clean them? Would anyone advise against trying out old tubes like these without some method of checking them first?

[Eddie]

Always fun to find and try out old tubes!

To clean the glass, just use a rag slightly dampened with water. If you care about the screen printing on the tube, then just be careful because that may sort of wipe off the logo or mar it.

To clean the pins, I like to get a small piece of sponge and dampen a section of it with DeOxit. Then, gently push the tube pins down into the sponge and twist the tube a little bit.

If everything looks ok - clean pins and clear glass with no breaks (it will look frosted white if there is a break in the vacuum) then put 'em in the Ghia and rock on!

Let us know how they sound,
Eddie

["Z" Steve]

Here is what I use to clean tubes or ANY electrical contacts such as , scratchy pots, static 1/4 inch plugs (pedal board cables, input or output jacks). If the glass is real crusty I would try mild soap and water on a sponge or paper towel to wipe them down.

www.amazon.com/Hosa-Cable-Deoxit-Contact-Cleaner/dp/B00006LVEU/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1423667141&sr=1-1&keywords=deoxit

[John]

Myles Rose, the tube expert who posts on this board once in a while, says that AU7 and AT7 tubes are not direct replacements for AX7 tubes. He says they'll work but things won't be quite right. He says a 5751 tube is a good match...just lower gain.

[jhanks]

Thanks for all the info. The Hammond works perfectly, so I may just leave it as is, but it's always tempting to try new combinations out with the Ghia. Thanks again.

[Frankie Starr]

The couple tubes you found are probably more valuable then the Hammond ! haha That model was never a big one. If those old tubes could talk !
I usually use a little Windex to clean dust, maybe a knife or sandpaper to clean pins, and contact cleaner myself.

[kustom250]

Be careful.

If you rub the text off....I've done it....it's impossible to tell your 12ax7's from your 12at7's down the road.

[Deleted]

Dust Em w a clean paint brush

[Brimstone]

Try a quick blast of either Deoxit or No Flash.