Ideas for using the extra triode?

[Mark]

Have you thought of having the first stage in parallel, halving the resistor values?

The Ampeg option might be worth a try, have a cathode follower after the first stage to reduce losses from the tone controls?

This is just me thinking out loud.

Then there’s the possibility of parallel triodes on the third stage. Halve the plate and cathode resistors of course.

[Roe]

To each his own! There was a point where I had thought about switching what side gets used. That way, if you get a 12AX7 with one side dead, you could still use the other side.

I've tried this. often the second triode die some weeks later

[statorvane]

How about using the extra triode to drive a tremolo circuit?