12 AX7 distortion in Performer 1000 Solid State and Heat

[TerryD]

Sometimes I do "no-brainer" repairs for a local pawn shop, especially for friends who might buy something.  I any case I opened a Fender Performer 1000 that has a 12 AX7 INSIDE the "completely enclosed" amp cabinet.  I wanted to check out the tube but it had this like rubber thing wrapped tightly around it and it's base. 

I cut it off.

Should I have not done that.  will it's heat destroy/melt components now?  What is something like that made of, as I can't seem to find it now.  At first I thought the covering made no sense at all.  Now I'm not so sure.

Thanks,
Terry

[HotBluePlates]

Looking at a chassis pic online, there appeared to be 2 wires from the input jacks running right up against that 12AX7.

Which makes me think conflicting things. Maybe Fender worried that the tube might heat the adjacent wires and damage their insulation. But a 12AX7 soldered into a solid-state amp like that suggests the tube is running at low voltage and is probably not terribly hot.

I don't think you'll damage anything without the rubber coating.

[TerryD]

As always, Thanks!