Current 12AX7's: Clear, Low Noise: Go...

[braintheory]

Those bugle boys are amazing, super rare and expensive but very cool

I’ve managed to get a decent amount of them over the years. A ‘60’s amp I just bought actually came with 2 of them in the pre and a Telefunken ECC83 as well. Fivre’s are my overall favorites for vintage European vintage tubes, but even more rare and expensive sadly

 

[LPMojoGL]

I haven’t had my Sovtek 5881’s redplate thankfully, but my tech has warned me about their reliability and why he doesn’t use Sovtek’s. Agreed on JJ 6L6’s vs Sovtek 5881’s. Those US vintage 5881’s are cheaper than their 6L6GC counterparts and imo have a richer, warmer tone with a nice low mid growl to them vs 6L6GC’s. I really like them in my ‘89 SLO, but I wouldn’t generally choose them for more modern leaning metal

Damn those old 90s Russian military version 5881s are my go to since I sold all my Mesa 415s. Hopefully that's a newer version 5881...although I have some of those too. That's the first I've heard of one red plating.

My SLO is a 2020 with the Classictone trannies, if that helps age the tubes. Had the same thing happen with the Sovtek 5881s on my Naylor Duel 100, back in 2019.
I have 3 of the quad left from each amp. Unfortunately, they don't match up enough to use them together.

I'll try to locate some USA 5881s. I'm not into modern metal tones. Rather like light breakup, full on crunch, 80s thrash metal and singing lead tones.

 

[Skolphy]

Anything Long Black plate

 

[braintheory]

My SLO is a 2020 with the Classictone trannies, if that helps age the tubes. Had the same thing happen with the Sovtek 5881s on my Naylor Duel 100, back in 2019.
I have 3 of the quad left from each amp. Unfortunately, they don't match up enough to use them together.

I'll try to locate some USA 5881s. I'm not into modern metal tones. Rather like light breakup, full on crunch, 80s thrash metal and singing lead tones.

I’d just try other tubes in it. I haven’t tried a BAD era SLO yet, but at least with my ‘89 SLO other tubes sound better to me anyway than the Sovtek 5881’s (even my vintage Sovtek’s) despite the amp coming with them by default

 

[LPMojoGL]

I’d just try other tubes in it. I haven’t tried a BAD era SLO yet, but at least with my ‘89 SLO other tubes sound better to me anyway than the Sovtek 5881’s (even my vintage Sovtek’s) despite the amp coming with them by default

What's your favs for the SLO?
I've had BAD and a couple pre BAD.
They're not much different other than the BAD has a better effects loop, and seems generally easier to dial in.

 

[Racerxrated]

RUSSIA RUSSIA RUSSIA

You would know, Ivan.

 

[mikey]

Damn those old 90s Russian military version 5881s are my go to since I sold all my Mesa 415s. Hopefully that's a newer version 5881...although I have some of those too. That's the first I've heard of one red plating.

I believe you can ID the earlier 5881s by their "stapled" plates. The later Sovteks have welded plates if I'm not mistaken. I think the print is slightly different too but I don't have any of the later ones on hand at the moment to confirm.

 

[braintheory]

What's your favs for the SLO?
I've had BAD and a couple pre BAD.
They're not much different other than the BAD has a better effects loop, and seems generally easier to dial in.

So far I really liked my vintage 5881's by JAN Philips ECG, USA Tung-Sol and RCA (I tried Sylvania 6L6GC's, RCA blackplate 6L6GC's, '90's Sovtek 5881's), but I still have lots of great vintage ones I tried in my other 6L6 amps, but not yet in my SLO (like the German 6L6GC's, pre-WC Svetlana's, GEC/Mullard KT66's, GE 5881's or my US Tung-Sol 6L6GC's). Some of those would probably be up there too, so it's too soon for me to say what's my favorite, but I do know I liked Fivre's most in pre, RFT and '50's Bugle Boy 2nd best

I haven't tried a BAD one yet, so I don't know there, but I have a 2014 SLO now, had several others from the early 2000's, and while they're very good amps too, my '89 SLO is considerably better than those ones imho (more lively/raw, open, harmonically rich, better midrange), but yeah the fx loop is still just as awful on it lol. It's sorta like a SLO that is 70-80% 2000's SLO and the remaining percent like a late '70's JMP2203

 

[Zado]

JJ 6550’s and EL34II’s.

How do you like the EL34II compared to the regular JJ EL34s and E34Ls?

 

[anomaly]

You guys are all on crack. I've done the tube rolling thing and to be honest Mesa labeled 12ax7's sound every bit as good as anything else i've tried.

 

[LPMojoGL]

You guys are all on crack. I've done the tube rolling thing and to be honest Mesa labeled 12ax7's sound every bit as good as anything else i've tried.

Depending on what year, a lot of the Mesa labeled 12ax7s are 8th gen Chinesese with the square getter. Which are great tubes compared to today's stuff.

But yes, totally on crack. CRACK!!!!

 

[bubucci]

Thorn's video is very good for saving money at NOS tubes...but yeah, keep hype train rollin'
So revered Wizard amps sound like shot with JJ's ? Asking for a friend ?

 

[braintheory]

You guys are all on crack. I've done the tube rolling thing and to be honest Mesa labeled 12ax7's sound every bit as good as anything else i've tried.

If those are the Chinese ones then they’re very good tubes. The only tubes I liked more (mentioned above) are rare, pricy stuff and I’m aware these are subtle differences at the end of the day that isn’t worth it to most guys

 

[braintheory]

Thorn's video is very good for saving money at NOS tubes...but yeah, keep hype train rollin'
So revered Wizard amps sound like shot with JJ's ? Asking for a friend ?

The Wizard MTL I had strangely wasn’t as receptive to tube swaps as my other amps and actually seemed to prefer the JJ E34L’s probably since it was voiced around them. I heard from another guy the only powertubes he actually like more in it were the GT E34L’s and I’m guessing the Tesla E34L’s would do even better, but in that amp probably would be a more subtle difference I’d think

 

[Racerxrated]

I believe you can ID the earlier 5881s by their "stapled" plates. The later Sovteks have welded plates if I'm not mistaken. I think the print is slightly different too but I don't have any of the later ones on hand at the moment to confirm.

I also have some stapled 6P3C that are the equivalent to the 5881; also a military tube.

 

[Racerxrated]

The Wizard MTL I had strangely wasn’t as receptive to tube swaps as my other amps and actually seemed to prefer the JJ E34L’s probably since it was voiced around them. I heard from another guy the only powertubes he actually like more in it were the GT E34L’s and I’m guessing the Tesla E34L’s would do even better, but in that amp probably would be a more subtle difference I’d think

Yep, the GT EL34LS is basically the same tube as the JJ EL34L but the GT has larger heat wings on top that allow for higher plate voltage applications..or at least that's what I read. To me in both Wizards I had, the GT sounded slightly bigger/more mids than the stock JJ L.
That LS tube is a great tube, and a real sleeper if you can find them.

 

[braintheory]

Yep, the GT EL34LS is basically the same tube as the JJ EL34L but the GT has larger heat wings on top that allow for higher plate voltage applications..or at least that's what I read. To me in both Wizards I had, the GT sounded slightly bigger/more mids than the stock JJ L.
That LS tube is a great tube, and a real sleeper if you can find them.

Yeah a step up from the JJ L’s, although the Tesla L’s are imo a big step over the GT ones, but rare

 

[eloygperez]

For high gain amps I always lean towards chinese tubes to be honest. I remember having a test period with different 5751's and 12ax7t's and I have always returned to the Chinese ones for some reason...
In my 5150 Signature I use Tung Sol RI in V1, Ruby 12AX7AC5 HG+ V2 and the rest are Silver Dragons 12AX7B. Lately I prefer a NOS Jan Philips ECG 12AX7WA for the PI position. Similar preamp tubes in my VHT Pitbull 100CL (not using Tung Sol on this one).

I've just purchased 4 Beijing 12AX7A tubes this week (the red label ones with square foil getter) so I'm really stoked to try them. Anyone with experience with these tubes on a 5150? What positions work best?

 

[eloygperez]

Yeah a step up from the JJ L’s, although the Tesla L’s are imo a big step over the GT ones, but rare

What EL34's would you recommend for an Orange amp, the Rocker 30? Mine came stock with JJ E34L's and although I don't hate them (they don't drive me crazy either) I think it's time to try something different. I've seen a lot of love for the Winged C with this particular amp, but I'm not sure I like them. From the videos I was watching, it's more compressed, less tighter and lacks some lowend compared to other tubes. I also have Teslas on my radar, I have read very good things about them.

 

[homespun]

… I like the JJ ECC803s gold pin and have been running that in what amounts to the V1 spot for 7 or 8 years now. …

I’m not a huge fan of JJ tubes but the 803 is an excellent tube for V1. I always use a long plate.