Lets talk about USA made 12AX7 tubes

[Fret-Shredder]

My dad who is 90 now used to repair old military test equipment. He also would restore vintage radios from the 1940s. He gave me a bunch of NOS USA 12AX7 he had put away and never used. I wanted to ask if anyone sees anything here that might sound special in a Marshall amp. Thanks for any insight on these tubes.

 

[Devin]

Fuck yeah dude; try em out!

 

[japetus]

Let em rip. I found some RCA's recently and they sound badass in my Bassman but not so hot in my Marshall. I liked the JJ's in my SLX better honestly, but in the Fender, the RCA's sound full and awesome.

 

[panhead]

RCA`s and the Raytheon`s for sure/ rca`s could be mullards made for the US

 

[DragonCrestPC]

That's awesome! Try them out and report back.

 

[Chubbs]

I'm trying a bunch out tommorow and will report back. General form consensus says everything you have there is top tier stuff for Marshalls.

 

[Racerxrated]

My experience with pre tubes is the vintage USA stuff, in general, a less gainy, rounder sounding with higher headroom. Euro pres tend to do better in Marshall’s. I have GE, RCA, Raytheon, Tung Sol, Sylvania, Baldwin and a super old early 50s that I have to dig up to remember the brand

 

[psychodave]

The Sylvania will certainly sound good. Especially if they are high gain.

 

[Rick Lee]

Please PM me if you're selling any.

 

[midnightlaundry]

Your dad was holding out!
They are all good and will sound slightly different.
I have a bunch of Baldwin labeled Sylvanias, which are low noise high gain if anyone is interested.

 

[fusedbrain]

The Sylvania will certainly sound good. Especially if they are high gain.

Yup, I'm thinkin' the Sylvania's are the gold here, with the RCA's sounding really good in anything "Fender-ish".
Never been wowed by most other American NOS 12ax7's in guitar amps. Tough as nails, but not that tonefull for anything with gain.
I like the Sylvania's because they seem to have the most "presence" of the US made tubes.
Having said that, if you have any tube outboard rack gear like mic pre's or EQ's, the NOS JAN / GE stuff is pure sonic heaven, although usually requiring the 12AU7 tube type.

 

[braintheory]

All good stuff. Wouldn't be my preferred choice for Marshall amps (prefer European ECC83's), but may as well try them

 

[Chubbs]

Just bought some nos stuff and found a tungsram in v1 followed by mullards in v2 and v3 is the shit. Not too bright nor too thin and surprisingly gainiy.