[NostalgiaRadioTime]

Thanks once again for your thoughts on this, Terry. Before I did anything, since the problem seemed to lie between the 6BA6 and the 7F8, I decided to try another new tube in each. Even though the one's I originally had in tested good. Well the 6BA6 made no change, but the 7F8 made the crackling disappear substantially. It still would turn up occasionally as I'd tune through the dial but never to the degree it was. Plus I can tap on all the tubes now without getting crackling, barking or feedback. I found the strong local station on the low end of the dial...where the crackling was at its worst....and kept it on there playing for almost an hour. Not a one crackle or volume drop. So I think I'm gonna cautiously call it good. Is it fixed...can't say for sure, but it's been behaving for now.