Dropped tube

[Ty_Bower]

Accidentally dropped a JJ 12AU7 tonight. It fell about three feet onto a concrete floor. The glass didn't break, but it did bend more than a few pins.

What's the likely damage? Microphonic? Shorted grids? Should I just give up and pitch it, or plug it in and see if it still works?

[HollowState]

I would straighten the pins and plug it in. Live dangerously I say. If the glass didn't break, it's probably ok. Of course, you could check for internal shorts with an ohmmeter first if you'd like to be safe.

Victor

[jon_010101]

I've dropped a lot of small tubes, and none have ever been damaged. In fact, I once dropped a beer bottle into a quad of RCA 6SN7s from 2 feet, and I still use them today. I have no idea how they survived that -- I guess they rolled their way to safety. They are more rugged than they look! Give it a whirl.

[Poindexter]

Tube didn't break, getter didn't turn white, gopher it.

Go look at the impact (G rating) of tubes sometime. It's up in the hundreds of Gs. One metre, it's nothing; couple dozen G. If the glass didn't get damaged, the vacuum isn't compromized, straighten the pins (carefully!), and go.

Aloha,

Poinz

[ThSpeakerDude88]

Dropping your amp with the tubes IN it on the other hand is a different story

I've got an old 42 that has been dropped a few times and still works. The small tubes seem to hold up very well! I have tile over concrete floors in my room, and I have dropped a few 7 and 9 pin tubes HARD. Am amazed at their agility! You should be fine! I wanted to point out that if you don't have one already, you can get a pin straightener fairly cheap . Of cource you could always use needle nose pliers very carefully...

[multi-volti]

broken filament is another possibility.

[oshifis]

I noticed (from destructive experience) that the glass on some (9-pin) tubes is thinner than on others.