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

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Junk Yard Dog

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What's everyone using for their higher gain amps?
 
Depends on the amp, but I only use Mullard CV4004, EH7025, and JJ83s as far as current production. I like the 83S in really high gain amps and mixing the Mullard/EH in Marshall flavored amps.

For power tubes……JJ 6550’s and EL34II’s. Also like the EH EL34.
 
Tungsol 12AX7, Mullard CV4004, and JJ ECC83S for the most part. Typically a Sovtek LPS in the PI.

I do have several others, but by and large, those listed above.
 
If you’ve got a bright amp, I love the Gold Lion 12AX7. Warm and smooth sounding. If you have an amp that wants a bit of help, I really dig the EH Gold Pin 12AX7. Super quiet, but it’s got a lil’ extra gain and sizzle that the Gold Lion lacks.
 
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I routinely buy all silver dragons available in US. Dont know why anyone uses anything else for high gaiin. They are the lowest microphonic out there
 
Not a high gain amp guy but 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. No complaints. I think I have five years on the one in my current gigging amp. I like to play loud so it has held up pretty well. Many hundreds of gigs and rehearsals. I would say articulation and clarity would best describe the tube.
 
I have a stash of Ruby 12ax7AC5 HG+
Always my go to for V1 in high gain amps. They are out of production, so not as easy to come by. I like the old square getter Chinese 12ax7’s as well.
Close second is the Tung Sol 12ax7.
12ax7LPS or JJ ECC803S for PI usually.
 
I put an RFT in V1, Tungsram in V2 of my SLO100. Same in the 4104. Big difference in clarity and overall tone.
No way I'd go back to JJ, or any modern day tubes. Runner up while rolling tubes was 8th Gen Chinese. The only new tube that sounded decent in comparison was Tung Sol.
 
LPMojoGL said:
I put an RFT in V1, Tungsram in V2 of my SLO100. Same in the 4104. Big difference in clarity and overall tone.
No way I'd go back to JJ, or any modern day tubes. Runner up while rolling tubes was 8th Gen Chinese. The only new tube that sounded decent in comparison was Tung Sol.
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I had similar findings. I get why those Chinese pre’s are a very popular choice in high gain amps. They are very good but in all my amps the RFT’s are just plain better. The only tube I like a bit more are my Fivre’s, but those are very pricy. I put the other day 3 Fivre’s in my ‘89 SLO and RFT’s in the remaining spots (until I get more Fivre’s) and it was the best the amp sounded. For me the runner up to those were ‘50’s Bugle Boy’s. Also excellent tubes
 
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braintheory said:
I had similar findings. I get why those Chinese pre’s are a very popular choice in high gain amps. They are very good but in all my amps the RFT’s are just plain better. The only tube I like a bit more are my Fivre’s, but those are very pricy. I find Tungsram’s hollow in the mids for my taste, but still good overall. I put the other day 3 Fivre’s in my ‘89 SLO and RFT’s in the remaining spots (until I get more Fivre’s) and it was the best the amp sounded. For me the runner up to those were ‘50’s Bugle Boy’s. Also excellent tubes
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Never heard of Fivres. I'll look em up.
Never heard a bugle boy. I'd love to try em.
I have some Polish EI and Mullard that sound good in Marshally amps. But that RFT, just love it.
This Tungsram in V2 does something unique, gives ita wooly, almost fuzzy tone with the gain up past 6. Backed off, it does brings the mids down a bit, which is great for matching the crunch channel.
 
LPMojoGL said:
Never heard of Fivres. I'll look em up.
Never heard a bugle boy. I'd love to try em.
I have some Polish EI and Mullard that sound good in Marshally amps. But that RFT, just love it.
This Tungsram in V2 does something unique, gives ita wooly, almost fuzzy tone with the gain up past 6. Backed off, it does brings the mids down a bit, which is great for matching the crunch channel.
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Holland made Amperex Bugle Boys. Excellent tubes, especially their EL34’s, but they’re rare and pricy. They have a warm, chewy, dark leaning character

I’ve been lazy about it, but eventually will get to trying my other US 5881’s and German 6L6’s in my SLO. Most guys seem to stay with what is known as the classic in these amps like Sovtek 5881’s/Chinese pre’s in the SLO or Sylvania 6L6’s/chinese pre’s in a mark iic+, but those IME aren’t the very best there is for them
 
braintheory said:
Holland made Amperex Bugle Boys. Excellent tubes, especially their EL34’s, but they’re rare and pricy. They have a warm, chewy, dark leaning character

I’ve been lazy about it, but eventually will get to trying my other US 5881’s and German 6L6’s in my SLO. Most guys seem to stay with what is known as the classic in these amps like Sovtek 5881’s/Chinese pre’s in the SLO or Sylvania 6L6’s/chinese pre’s in a mark iic+, but those IME aren’t the very best there is for them
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The Amperex pre's that I've owned are great; slightly darker than a vintage Mullard but not a dark tube overall. Very smooth. Great tube.
 
Racerxrated said:
The Amperex pre's that I've owned are great; slightly darker than a vintage Mullard but not a dark tube overall. Very smooth. Great tube.
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Yes dark leaning, fat, smoothish. What I like about them is their unique chewy quality in the low mids and IME more complex tone than Mullard, although maybe not as much as Fivre. It’s especially my ‘50’s bugle boy pre that stood out, but my ‘60’s ones are good too and the Bugle Boy EL34’s are amazing but rare, expensive and also from what I gathered may not handle well the plate voltage in amps like your ‘70’s NMV Marshall’s
 
braintheory said:
Holland made Amperex Bugle Boys. Excellent tubes, especially their EL34’s, but they’re rare and pricy. They have a warm, chewy, dark leaning character

I’ve been lazy about it, but eventually will get to trying my other US 5881’s and German 6L6’s in my SLO. Most guys seem to stay with what is known as the classic in these amps like Sovtek 5881’s/Chinese pre’s in the SLO or Sylvania 6L6’s/chinese pre’s in a mark iic+, but those IME aren’t the very best there is for them
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Had a Sovtex 5881 replate. Installed a set of JJ 6L6 I had on hand for my BF Dual Showman. Bit more bass and treble, not as healthy in the mids. Gets the job done. Would love to find some NOS 5881 to try.
 
LPMojoGL said:
Had a Sovtex 5881 replate. Installed a set of JJ 6L6 I had on hand for my BF Dual Showman. Bit more bass and treble, not as healthy in the mids. Gets the job done. Would love to find some NOS 5881 to try.
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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
 
braintheory said:
Yes dark leaning, fat, smoothish. What I like about them is their unique chewy quality in the low mids and IME more complex tone than Mullard, although maybe not as much as Fivre. It’s especially my ‘50’s bugle boy pre that stood out, but my ‘60’s ones are good too and the Bugle Boy EL34’s are amazing but rare, expensive and also from what I gathered may not handle well the plate voltage in amps like your ‘70’s NMV Marshall’s
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Those bugle boys are amazing, super rare and expensive but very cool
 
LPMojoGL said:
Had a Sovtex 5881 replate. Installed a set of JJ 6L6 I had on hand for my BF Dual Showman. Bit more bass and treble, not as healthy in the mids. Gets the job done. Would love to find some NOS 5881 to try.
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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.
 
Racerxrated said:
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.
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RUSSIA RUSSIA RUSSIA
 
Racerxrated said:
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.
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My guess is he means more recent ones. My tech warned me about them. I did have one ‘90’s Russian Sovtek KT66 red plate though on me and had to return it, but the other 3 were good. Too bad because they sound great as far as KT66’s go IME. I have had some vintage powertubes in the past redplate, arc or fail me in other ways. It happens
 
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