Best new production 12AX7?

  • Thread starter Thread starter lespaul6
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lespaul6

lespaul6

Well-known member
what are you guys using and why... what seems to be the best for high gain, tight, and a balanced response- not too much bass or too much high end etc? Also reliability/build quality. Anyone using those long plate JJ's in a high gain amp?
 
Those long plate JJs (ECC803) are no bueno in a high gain amp. They work pretty well in NMV Marshalls though.

I think the Tung Sol 12AX7 is pretty good for new production. I also have had very good luck with teh EH 12AX7.

Thing is, everyone here will give you a different answer and tubes that some love others will bash the shit out of.
 
Depends on the amp. The Tung Sol's and Electro Harmonix work great in my 5150. My Bogner likes Chinese pre's...
 
yeah, its funny that there is somewhat of a consensus around power tubes...like winged C, mullards etc .. but no such consensus when it comes to preamp tubes! its kinda all over the place
 
I like the tune sol reissues myself. The eh are okay too. Not a fan of the JJs in most amps. Chinese are okay. I wish EIs were still around those were my favorites, assuming you could find a good one.
 
Agree that universally the Tung Sol sound great. I've put them in a bunch of amps and a couple pedals, all with solid results.
 
I have been swapping tubes all weekend long in my 6505+ and tweaker 40 the tung-sol 12ax7 is a great tube for high gain
EH12ax7 is a nice middle of the road balanced tube. I am also digging the TAD 12ax7A-C. I have not gotten to my JJ ECC83S yet or the Mullard 12ax7. I did find some JJ ECC803S although I dont know really what to apply them to the plate is far to long on that tube.
 
I'd have to agree with Jason, the TungSol and EH 12AX7 are pretty good tubes. The EH is better for low microphonics though IMO. Only thing to be careful of, is that the TungSol and EH don't work nicely in Cathode Follower positions. So i tend to use Chinese or JJ 12AX7 tubes in the Cathode Follower since they can handle the Heater to Cathode voltage fine.
 
Usually Tung-sol in V1, and Chinese in all the rest.


Some guys mess around with deferent PI tubes, but i usually don't.
 
i like the chinese 12ax7b for high gain..they're pretty stable. strong sounding.
 
Let's do it this way:

Marshall NMV, MV JMP, 800, Jubilee

Mesa

5150


GO!

ARS ..really cool rebranded chinese but they seem pretty good to my ears. Besides these, just regular chinese. Might be a superstition of mine but i like a balanced JJ in phase inverter.
 
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