Power tubes Q

[Holy Diver]

When buying 4 new power tubes is it better to buy 2 matching pairs of the same colour or two different colours - i.e. say 4 yellow (2 sets of matching) or 2 yellow and 2 grey?

Are all yellows for example interchangeable or are they still in specific pairs? If they are in specific pairs it makes more sense to me to buy 2 different colour pairs to avoid mixing them up.

Forgive me if it's a stupid q - it's my first time buying tubes!

 

[stephen sawall]

The same colors are the same ball park.
You can mark the tubes 1234 or any other way you feel with a permanent marker.
There is no real reason to buy different colors.
New ones I put the date first put in.

 

[NoGlassNoClass]

The same colors are the same ball park...

True. If you get both pairs the same color it doesn't really matter which slots they go in, as Mesa-branded tubes are generally matched very close (closer than GT's numbering system at least).

If you end up with different-colored pairs, make sure you arrange them to work in pairs when you put them in the amp. Looking at the amp they go like this:

Yellow-Grey-Grey-Yellow (or whatever colors you get doesn't matter, but you get the point.)

The 6-tube amps (Triple-Rec and Trident) work the same way: 1-2-3-3-2-1

 

[Holy Diver]

Cheers