Will SS mess with my tubes??

Neither. It will just change change it. Different phono stages will sound different for many reasons. Ultimately it will still pass thru the same line stage section of your reciever. Whether your reciever's line stage and your phono pre-amp mate well is probably only predictable by someone who knows the sound of your reciever's line stage and the replacement phono stage. Best to test drive the phono stage in your system if you can before you buy.

thanks newbie..i will do that....any recommendations on where i should start?

Yes it will make them worse.