NOS Tube Smell?

[frankie5fingers]

Stupid question probably, but better safe and all that. Been trying different NOS tubes in a 6mo old boutique tweed 5E3. Replaced 5U4gb W/nos RCA, new Amperex in the pre spots and a couple of Tung Sols in power. After a few minutes of playing I have a slight smell. It's not an acrid or really "bad" smell, not a burning type smell, and no smoke or sound either. It's also not very strong and doesn't get any worse the longer I play. Crazy as it sounds, it's not really all that unpleasant, it's just new since the re-tube. Should I be concerned? BTW the sound is outstanding no power loss or strange sounds, warm up or otherwise. Thanks.

[zadiqof]

It could be dust burning off the glass.

[Timbre Wolf]

It could be dust burning off the glass.
Bingo! Nothing else would explain it, since there is no gas exchange from inside the tube. You could wipe off the crud - but if you enjoy that old car smell (fine collection of greasy exhalations, sloughed off skin, pollen, and dust mite exoskeleta), then don't bother.

- T

[Trout]

What was that goop they used to spray on electronics stuff for Jungle proofing?

That stuff stinks to no end if it gets on anything hot. I have an old tape recorder that you can not even sit in the same room with.
For the life of me I forget what it was called, but I do remember it is poisonous

[itkindaworks]

I'm thinking dust.

[donnyjaguar]

Its "new tube smell". They spray it on at the end of the assembly line in the factory. They do this for cars and televisions too. ;)

[mbratch]

I thought this thread was going to generate an idea for using scent dogs to ferret out real NOS tubes from fake ones. Oh well... ;)

[slider313]

It years of ging buildup along with a touch of epidermis extractus being burt off.