NPN's, aren't they all the same???

Well, kind of sort of. :) I think I found a temporary solution to my blown transistors issue, an MPS A42 which thank goodness does not have a center collector. It's also a 300V part, but what the heck, I'll take whatever I can. The gain is close to the originals.

This may all be moot, as I have wasted most of the weekend and haven't really studied. I really wanted to listen to my tuner before the end of the week. Guess it will have to wait.