I've played with the Omaha Symphony and the US Air Force Strategic Air Command Band, but I wouldn't call myself a musician. I was playing the handbells which probably rate as the easiest instrument to play.

I haven't met anyone yet in my area that has tube preamps or amps. It is also more difficult to find a balanced tube preamp. I've thought of trying one of Gary Dodd's tube buffers. I have owned a Melody SP3 amp and did some tube swapping, but couldn't get it to sound as good as my Cherry Jr. That wasn't with the LS-6's, though.
I did find out recently that another audiocircle member lives near me and has Salk HT2-TL speakers with a BMC Audio Amp C1. We plan to get together to listen to each other's systems. I don't know what else he has.