Tube Thread 2025..........

[The~Kid]

What amp are you using to obtain this high gain nirvana you speak of?

Well usually an Ac15 with a FATRAT and EQ and a boost to goose it.


Relative to the other tubes I've tried these are my fave in V2. Usually put an LPS in V1 and finish it with Tung Sol RI in V3 to cut the mids and darken it up and warm it up a bit.

 

[The~Kid]

As far as current production, I’ve found nothing better than the EH7025……and it’s not even close. The recipe for all my amps is the EH7025 in all positions except V2……..I put NOS RFT there. I only use Morris amps, but that sounds great in every one of them regardless of circuit and number of gain stages.

Yo are these EH versions of Sovtek 12AX7WA?


Yeah IME it kind of depends from amp to amp. For example put in Shuguangs in my Princeton and LPS expecting the tone to be better than stock OEMs but no..... the stock versions were better.

IMO with American style amps OEM versions are great or at least with Fenders..... maybe if you can get them graded higher better but yeah would just stick with OEMs for Fender IME.


For British type amps the Shuguangs or LPS and even TungSol RI are great.

 

[The~Kid]

Also I mean why buy twice as many tubes as needed....... and IMO 12AX7B being what they put in amps as OEM from the factory.......

Or pretty much the same standards one would expect from The Tube Store......... and I imagine TBS standards are better than your average grading from an OEM or as good at the least...... All my Shuguangs are ungraded or if they are graded they are from OEMs and factory tubes........ from the mid to late 90s or early 2000s......


These things are great and sound fantastic and they are all OEMs...... but the Groove Tube 12AX7-C are just that much better.... And well okay let's say if one does follow the advice to buy 10 12AX7B or 20 in hopes of finding 2-3 that are good after testing.... It just makes a lot more sense to buy a Dougs Tubes 9th Gen or a Groove Tubes 9th Gen......


Ima say the standard ungraded 12AX7B is going to be better than decent but if your not sure it makes more sense to get a Groove Tubes/Doug Tubes 9th Gen or from those who do grading on them....... Your going to make sure you get a top tier tube and yeah the graded ones just sound better IME with the GTs than your regular 12AX7B and the regular ones kick a lot of ass already...........


That being said stock 12AX7B aren't bad. But yeah if you think your going to get some bad ones or hell you really want the best iterations of them Groove Tubes/Dougs Tubes or anyone else who grades them makes more sense nevermind your running a much lower risk of getting duds that way too.

 

[The~Kid]

Thanks, I just asked Mike B. @ Boogie about preamp tubes and he said to just experiment. I told him that twice with Boogie Mark amps I thought I was upgrading when in fact the tubes I thought would be awesome, weren't. One time I took out the SPAX that were in a Mark 3 and put in new Mullard tubes, nope. Another time it was the Soviet LPS's that worked great and the replacements were less potent.

I ordered a trio of the GT 12ax7c's for my Boogie C+. Thanks for telling me about these tubes. I got the HG+ ones.

Also my advice.......


Don't just swap all the preamps out for the 9th Gens at first..... like the Mesa dude said..... mix and match and experiment.


Try one in V1 first...... then move it to V2 and V3 etc etc...... once you have an idea of the impact on the sound go from there and add another and mix and match and use your discretion as a player to seek what your after.


Maybe 1 in a certain position is all you need or 2 here or there for example or yeah you may like all 3 on there......


No right or wrong or "the way" to do it really and use your discretion as a player ^_^

 

[The~Kid]

Also if your looking at Power Tubes....... kind of pricey...... but yeah Shuguangs ain't easy to come by......


https://www.thetubestore.com/tube-brands/shuguang/shuguang-treasure

https://www.thetubestore.com/tube-brands/shuguang/shuguang-natural-sound-series

 

[The~Kid]

Also for 5 bucks more The Tube Store will provide these to be matched/balanced........


So for 20 bucks you could get a 12AX7B from them if you'd like too and worth considering if you don't feel 9th Gens from Groove Tubes or Dougs Tubes are worth it.

 

[The~Kid]

Another source for Shuguangs and they don't seem to match them but if you email and ask they may do it for an extra charge but still a good price on a stock 9th Gen.

 

[just42dave]

They are all vastly different than Shuguang factory Chinese tubes. I think you’re a bit confused - Groove tubes doesn’t actually manufacture any tubes just as tube amp doctor doesn’t manufacture tubes. They just purchase, rate, and resell at a premium all different types of brands. Those 12AX7C are probably just basic sovtek 12AX7WC tubes.

Ughhhh

 

[just42dave]

What is your experience with them? You never answered that or what amps you use.



We understand that you're excited about your new gear, but maybe before you insult people you should have a bit of actual knowledge/experience to back up your comments. Because you're literally the kid on playground telling the adults about how the world works.



Well, what is it that makes the difference?

True dat ..I used to by 12ax7b for 3.00 a piece... I got some good 12ax7c for ya 8th Gen flat foil getter
Alao have some ei...All this other stuff is just revamped and relabeled..

 

[The~Kid]

Ughhhh

True dat ..I used to by 12ax7b for 3.00 a piece... I got some good 12ax7c for ya 8th Gen flat foil getter
Alao have some ei...All this other stuff is just revamped and relabeled..

Regarding the post you commented on.....Yeah Russian Sovtek 12AX7WC look nothing at all like Chinese Groove Tubes 12AX7-C or Shuguang 12ax7B.......... they are not the same Tube, they are made in different factories and countries to completely different specs and dude is either misinformed or just doesn't know



While yeah there are rebranding such as Groove Tubes or Tube Amp Doctor or Dougs Tubes it's not simply just relabled stuff and well the screening and grading process seperates most of the good tubes from everything else everyone else gets......


Relabled or not the thing is they aren't all the same thing especially when they are made from a different factory nevermind in a different country. Even within a factory you have seperate tubes being made to different standards and specs. For example a Sovtek LPS and 12AX7 TungSol RI are made in the same factory and the same country yet look nothing alike, sound nothing alike and are made nothing alike.......


Additionally you also do have tubes being made that aren't just relabled but that are in fact made differently and constructed to different specs and standards such as some by Tube Amp Doctor or PM tubes, Genalix...... yeah "relabled"...... but made to the customers/brands specs and standards.


If you think all current production tubes are the same buy ungraded tubes right or just buy the cheapest JJ or cheapest Sovtek or Chinese tubes...... by this logic they are all the same shit anyways so who cares no

 

[The~Kid]

Short of the square getter versions these are probably the closest your going to get to that late 80s/90s sound too..... or just that late 80s/90s sound or higher gain sound in general........


And yeah if you think Dougs Tubes or Groove Tubes rebrands are too expensive gain matched/balanced 12AX7B by Tube Store go for 20 bucks or you can get the regular ones for 15 bucks and some change.......

 

[dcburn]

They sound great...... relative to a bunch of other 12AX7 I've tried and have over the years current production or NOS.......


When it comes to pure gain. Also having 12AX7B.... and like 4 different ones.......



12AX7-C by Groove Tubes....... yeah......


Same on paper as 12AX7B....... but the GrooveTubes 12AX7-C are that much nicer and the grass is that much greener........


That is why I just bought 2 for 80 bucks...... because I have them on hand to compare....... when I could have bought 5-6 + 12AX7B for the same or lower price ^_^

A Groove Tubes 12AX7 is $40?
Is this as ridiculous as it sounds or am I just getting old?

 

[The~Kid]

A Groove Tubes 12AX7 is $40?
Is this as ridiculous as it sounds or am I just getting old?

I'm surprised they don't cost more......

These are the Shuguang versions.....

If you think it's too much just get 12AX7B from the Tube Store for 15 bucks and change or pay 20 bucks for matched/balanced gain ones.


Ruby Tubes or Dougs Tubes have 9th Gen for 30 bucks. Amplified parts for 18 bucks and change.....


You don't have to get the Groove Tubes versions and there are other options

 

[dcburn]

I'm surprised they don't cost more......

These are the Shuguang versions.....

If you think it's too much just get 12AX7B from the Tube Store for 15 bucks and change or pay 20 bucks for matched/balanced gain ones.


Ruby Tubes or Dougs Tubes have 9th Gen for 30 bucks. Amplified parts for 18 bucks and change.....


You don't have to get the Groove Tubes versions and there are other options

Never thought Groove Tubes were anything to write home about...

 

[anomaly]

I like in v2. In V1 it's a whole lot of gain so I move em to V2 and put an LPS at the front.

I tried it in V2 of my Mark IV and I'm surprised by the amount of gain in added to the rhythm 2 channel. I'm keeping it there.

 

[Music&Chaos]

A Groove Tubes 12AX7 is $40?
Is this as ridiculous as it sounds or am I just getting old?

I get some killer NOS tubes that are quiet as can be for around that. If they are long black plates, I throw down a bit more. Sounds a touch steep to me but idk man everything is crazy now.

 

[The~Kid]

Never thought Groove Tubes were anything to write home about...

IMO these are just a bit nicer than your standard 12AX7B. Don't know why but these just sound a bit nicer.

These used to be like 20-30 bucks a pop but with the factory being shut down due to fires and red tape....... they just haven't been as readily available as they once have been. They aren't for everyone but if you want a bit of gain or more gain in general or a brighter tube to balance the sound these hit the spot.


I'm probably going to get a 12AX7B from The Stube Store with matched/gain and see what's up with those too but overall these GT rebrands are great. It's not the best tube ever made or anything it's just a solid tube to have to refine the tone stack even further when put in the right place at ones discretion.


99.99999% of people aren't probably going to hear a notable difference between the standard 12AX7B and a GT rebrand and the regular ones are good enough for most but for those who want that extra bit IME the Groove Tubes 12AX7-C brings it. They are essentially the same tube and rebrand of the 9th Gen but just a with a bit tighter bass, bright but more relaxed highs, and the mids are present but not overbearing. In either case rebrand or not low noise, high headroom and plenty of gain.

 

[The~Kid]

I tried it in V2 of my Mark IV and I'm surprised by the amount of gain in added to the rhythm 2 channel. I'm keeping it there.

Yeah they pack a lot of juice so depending the player and rig it's good to move here or there and see what's up. For some they may want all the gain they may need and swap out all their preamps for 9th Gen and some may feel that's too much and just use one or two here and there.

It's really up to the player and ones discretion but in general these things are solid and just bring the gnarl and they pack more gain/juice.

 

[just42dave]

Regarding the post you commented on.....Yeah Russian Sovtek 12AX7WC look nothing at all like Chinese Groove Tubes 12AX7-C or Shuguang 12ax7B.......... they are not the same Tube, they are made in different factories and countries to completely different specs and dude is either misinformed or just doesn't know



While yeah there are rebranding such as Groove Tubes or Tube Amp Doctor or Dougs Tubes it's not simply just relabled stuff and well the screening and grading process seperates most of the good tubes from everything else everyone else gets......


Relabled or not the thing is they aren't all the same thing especially when they are made from a different factory nevermind in a different country. Even within a factory you have seperate tubes being made to different standards and specs. For example a Sovtek LPS and 12AX7 TungSol RI are made in the same factory and the same country yet look nothing alike, sound nothing alike and are made nothing alike.......


Additionally you also do have tubes being made that aren't just relabled but that are in fact made differently and constructed to different specs and standards such as some by Tube Amp Doctor or PM tubes, Genalix...... yeah "relabled"...... but made to the customers/brands specs and standards.


If you think all current production tubes are the same buy ungraded tubes right or just buy the cheapest JJ or cheapest Sovtek or Chinese tubes...... by this logic they are all the same shit anyways so who cares no

I have no idea what you are talking about . I'll sell you some good tubes....

 

[The~Kid]

Also Dougs Tubes has these...... pretty much older 9th Gens made before the factory closed down and the fire and red tape......