Ship amp with tubes installed or not?

[Gaz]

What have you guys done in the past?

I've seen a lot of discussion about this, but I'm using Belton sockets, and man, are they tight. think they may be better of left alone.

I plan on wrapping the amp tightly in big bubble wrap, then in a box, then in a bigger tough box with a couple inches of foam around it. Any suggestions on the foam, btw

Thanks for any suggestionsexperiences.

[selloutrr]

Remove them label them pack them safe.

Tight sockets or not it's the drop from a truck that takes them out.

[sixstringer]

Amp manufacturers ship their amps with the tubes installed. Ship the amp with the tubes pointing up, even if the amp is upside down in the shipping carton.

[xtian]

I leave 12a?7, especially with caps or retainer wires, in place. Big power tubes get pulled.

[husky]

It depends
Belton power tube sockets and the base clamp you can leave them in.
Ceramic Power tube sockets and the Spring hats pull them cause I have had a lot of locator pins break that way.
Preamp tubes with tight Belton sockets leave them in and have the customer check they are seated.

The problem with pulling them for no reason is I've had people bend the pins completely over installing them. I also like to make sure the glass is clean.

[selloutrr]

if you leave them in make sure you pack the amp firmly and give it plenty of material to take the shock of a drop.

Companies that ship with tubes don't usually ship quality tubes. With that said. Sovteks or the like leave them in. NOS take them out.

Also keep in mind large companies have the surplus and capital to just send a free replacement. Do you?

Include a detailed installation manual and things should be good or at least you are covered from customer error.

Cleaning the tubes is a mute point, it's the correct thing to do but they probably wont stay clean for long, since the reciever should test the make sure the tubes are securely seated and more times then not the snot nosed kid doesn't wear white gloves.

Bottom line - each way has a pro and con, so do what you are comfortable with.

[M Fowler]

Ship with tubes in and bubble wrap in side head or combo.

I get my amps shipped from other guys that way and I send mine that way too, no problems so far.

[LeftyStrat]

Don't use UPS.

Actually, it may just be my luck, but Fedex seems to take a lot more care with packages than UPS.

However, I still remove all tubes, bubble-wrap, and label them.

I remember the story of how Traynor built amps that could be dropped from the second story of a building, and once you replaced all the broken tubes, the amp would still work.

[Gaz]

Thanks for all the input. This is one thing that seems like a 50/50 split because everyone's had good and bad experiences with both methods. I, myself have shipped both ways with no problems, but I thought I'd ask because ya'll are more level-headed than the folks who frequent some other forums that shall remain nameless.

Well, I still haven't decided what I'll do!

[M Fowler]

If the receiving party can install tubes without difficulty then ship the tubes pulled and in their respective tube box inside a larger padded box.

[amplifiednation]

I agree with sellout, pull any expensive Nos tubes.

Also tubes up is a good idea for more than one reason. If you have a top hanging amp and it gets dropped in a shell the screws can strip out and you'll lose all the tubes, and probably more when the chassis smashes on the bottom of the cab.

I was told by Fed Ex that their ground packages are supposed to be "able to withstand a 6 foot drop and 150 lbs on the box". I ship ups exclusively now. That is just ridiculous to think they would treat a package like that.

[husky]

Thanks for all the input. This is one thing that seems like a 50/50 split because everyone's had good and bad experiences with both methods. I, myself have shipped both ways with no problems, but I thought I'd ask because ya'll are more level-headed than the folks who frequent some other forums that shall remain nameless.

Well, I still haven't decided what I'll do!

Well I have shipped a lot of amps UPS and I will say that with UPS AND new Belton sockets that have base clamps I have NEVER had one tube damaged in 1000's of amps.
With White Ceramic sockets and the Spring holder I had the locater pin of every 5 amps break at least on one tube.
As far as tubes up or down do you really thing UPS cares which way is up and down? But for the record my experience is with tubes down.

[Structo]

Hi John, thanks for updating your profile.
I'm not sure many of the members here knew who you were just by your username.

I would take this man's advice, he's been in the biz for years.

[LeftyStrat]

Well I have shipped a lot of amps UPS and I will say that with UPS AND new Belton sockets that have base clamps I have NEVER had one tube damaged in 1000's of amps.
With White Ceramic sockets and the Spring holder I had the locater pin of every 5 amps break at least on one tube.
As far as tubes up or down do you really thing UPS cares which way is up and down? But for the record my experience is with tubes down.

John, do you have a model number for these Belton sockets?

[husky]

Well I have shipped a lot of amps UPS and I will say that with UPS AND new Belton sockets that have base clamps I have NEVER had one tube damaged in 1000's of amps.
With White Ceramic sockets and the Spring holder I had the locater pin of every 5 amps break at least on one tube.
As far as tubes up or down do you really thing UPS cares which way is up and down? But for the record my experience is with tubes down.

John, do you have a model number for these Belton sockets?

I buy them direct but this looks like it
http://www.tubedepot.com/sk-b-vt8-st.html
http://www.tubedepot.com/sk-tubeclip.html
http://tubedepot.com/sk-b-vt9-st-c.html