[ctviggen]

Which ones might be the best (i.e., which one should I try first, since I've never listened to this):

The original tubes (looked on the website for Dodd and don't see what they are; unfortunately, the box with the boxes for the tubes is in the attic)
Philips E188CC
Amperex 7308 NOS

I'm taking this info of the boxes, and I've never used tubes before, so I may not have the necessary info.

Also, I got (with the sale) some tube dampers.  They look like these:

http://herbiesaudiolab.net/guitar.htm

Are these useful?  Do I just put them around the tubes?

[HAL]

I have a Dodd battery preamp and use Valvo 7308's in mine. 

I think Danny uses the Amperex 7308's in his preamp.

I have the Herbies Tube dampers in mine and like the change.  Hard to describe the difference, but I like it.  Herbie's just go around the tubes as shown in the picture.  You can vary the height position to help reduce resonances. 

[jtwrace]

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=74866.0 should help.

[S Clark]

Here is another that I started some time back.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=71075.0

[ctviggen]

Great, thank you all.  I will try the Amperex first, and then try the others once I get used to the sound.