It's a glass bulb, what harm could you possibly do by touching it? Interesting that those threads all relate to instrument amps. I don't read those boards anymore, just hi-fi boards, so maybe that's why I've never seen this issue before.
Yeah, I know. I've wondered what the big deal was too because I've never really heard someone say, well the tube was handled and that's what led to a failure (it's not to say that it doesn't happen...I've just never heard it but admittedly it's not a subject that I've researched.). If I were to bet, I'd be willing to bet that the issue is an urban legend brought forward from a time long ago when perhaps it mattered on some brands of tubes.
Nevertheless, I
think the issue is that the tubes get really hot and the residual oils left from handling (the same residue that leaves a fingerprint on the glass) bakes on the exterior surface of the glass and for some tubes that can be a failure mechanism.
Topic: Schoeps Tubes ... Opinions on Pics Showing Guts (Read 5099 times)