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  • Thread starter Thread starter Fordman65
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As far as the recto goes, I've kept this combo in my 2 ch triple for the past 4 years after rolling 12AX7's furiously due to it's overall aggressiveness, have not found a better combo without going NOS.

Also I believe all current Mesa 12AX7's are JJ's, although in the past I came across relabeled EH's (Russian 1) and Shugaung 12AX7A's (Chinese)
Haven't had the chance to try the NOS Shugaungs but they're next on the list.

V1 -Tung-Sol 12AX7 gold pin
V2 -Shugaung 12AX7B (lower noise and more gain then their "A" counterparts)
V3 -Shugaung 12AX7B
V4 -Shugaung 12AX7B
V5 -JJ ECC83s gold pin
 
I liked stock Russian II preamps and electro harmonix powertubes in my rectos.

You can hear that combo here (goto 2 mins 10 seconds)

https://youtu.be/zBxK11rCdYs

Note the ryth is recto. The solos are JCM800 and hardware pedal cm2 boost.
 
Tungsram 12ax7s came stock along with the Sylvania's in C+s. But, some like Chinese 8th gen 12ax7s throughout for a tighter sound. Right now I have a mix of both, with a Tungsram in V1 and Chinese in the rest. The Chinese 12ax7 has a square getter, and is shiny like chrome in appearance.
 
Fordman65":2a1vunxu said:
picked up some Chinese 12ax7's for both. A couple tungsol's for the recto and am on the look out for a couple tungsrams for the C+. These babies better last with all the cabbage I'm dropping. Thanks for the replies.
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I think you'll like them. The only Chinese pre tubes that have failed I pulled from one of Jason Bieler's old Rivera TBR 1SLs....and they worked for the last few years in one of my Marshalls. I'm sure Jason put a lot of hours in before I got them lol. And none of the Tungsrams have failed.
 
-as for c.p. tubes-(pre's & power)-GOLD LION & EH are the best, meanest, aggressive tubes by far.

-I don't get the love for Chinese tubes, I used to be a JJ guy, especially in any MARSHALL/MARSHALL platform, now I can't stand any product they make.
 
sg guy":slnf8ztr said:
-as for c.p. tubes-(pre's & power)-GOLD LION & EH are the best, meanest, aggressive tubes by far.

-I don't get the love for Chinese tubes, I used to be a JJ guy, especially in any MARSHALL/MARSHALL platform, now I can't stand any product they make.
Click to expand...
The Chinese pres I mention are vintage, 8th gen square getters that haven't been made since the early 90s. Not new production. They kill in Marshalls, Mesa and any other amp I've tried them in.
 
Racerxrated":dh793rb5 said:
sg guy":dh793rb5 said:
-as for c.p. tubes-(pre's & power)-GOLD LION & EH are the best, meanest, aggressive tubes by far.

-I don't get the love for Chinese tubes, I used to be a JJ guy, especially in any MARSHALL/MARSHALL platform, now I can't stand any product they make.
Click to expand...
The Chinese pres I mention are vintage, 8th gen square getters that haven't been made since the early 90s. Not new production. They kill in Marshalls, Mesa and any other amp I've tried them in.
Click to expand...

-gotcha.... funny I find something that works for me and I become blind to anything else, I have at least 70 or so 12AX7's and there variants, guess I should see if I have any, I found an AMPEREX 12BZ7 the other day that I stuck in my JJ V1 that sounds completely bad ass!! Wish I had a drawer full, are the Chinese 8th gen. Long plates?
 
I wouldn't waste money on the Mesa-branded STR-425 tubes. They are just Sovtek wafer bottoms. You can get Sovtek-branded ones for half the price I'm sure.
 
sg guy":1qbkhz6d said:
Racerxrated":1qbkhz6d said:
sg guy":1qbkhz6d said:
-as for c.p. tubes-(pre's & power)-GOLD LION & EH are the best, meanest, aggressive tubes by far.

-I don't get the love for Chinese tubes, I used to be a JJ guy, especially in any MARSHALL/MARSHALL platform, now I can't stand any product they make.
Click to expand...
The Chinese pres I mention are vintage, 8th gen square getters that haven't been made since the early 90s. Not new production. They kill in Marshalls, Mesa and any other amp I've tried them in.
Click to expand...

-gotcha.... funny I find something that works for me and I become blind to anything else, I have at least 70 or so 12AX7's and there variants, guess I should see if I have any, I found an AMPEREX 12BZ7 the other day that I stuck in my JJ V1 that sounds completely bad ass!! Wish I had a drawer full, are the Chinese 8th gen. Long plates?
Click to expand...
The way to tell the Chinese 8th gen is the shiny chrome square getter. They will usually say 12ax7a or b, and most say China also. Short plates I believe. Amperex are great pre tubes as well!
 
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