Groove Tubes 12AX7C tubes... not too good?

[redrol]

I got 4 of these for my modded Marshall JMP and honestly I don't like what they did to the tone. Seems like they have more gain than my older EH12AX7s but less character. To the point I don't like them. Had to put the EH's back in. Anyone else have this experience?

 

[MrDan666]

If I'm not mistaken, those are GT labeled 9th Gen Chinese 12AX7's. They can sound amazing in the right amp, but sometimes not so great in other amps. I like them for more aggressive gainy tones where i want it to have a slightly tighter, percussive edge.

For smoother tones though, they definitely aren't one of my first choices.

 

[Capulin Overdrive]

if they're 9th gen Chinese, they're really good tubes, just usually not good in the V1 slot.


i like them because they aren't as fuzzy/fizzy as having a bunch of Sovteks in every slot.


for most amps i'll have a Tung-sol in V1 or Sovtek of some sort and C9's everywhere else, except sometimes use deferent for tube buffered loops.

 

[SQUAREHEAD]

Best tube of all for high gain preamp tones (in my opinion) is the late 80's - early 90's (square getter) Chinese 12AX7's.
Incredible tone, clarity, balls and tons of gain! These original ones were made in Bejing. In my opinion,there is no comparison between these and the "9th Gen" new ones.

... if you can find them. They are getting VERY scarce!

Keith

 

[redrol]

Best tube of all for high gain preamp tones (in my opinion) is the late 80's - early 90's (square getter) Chinese 12AX7's.
Incredible tone, clarity, balls and tons of gain! These original ones were made in Bejing. In my opinion,there is no comparison between these and the "9th Gen" new ones.

... if you can find them. They are getting VERY scarce!

Keith

I got them from Voodoo Amps actually. They are labeled GT Gold Series 12AX7C. I don't see any square parts in the tube... not sure what a 'getter' is?

 

[jerrydyer]

read anything you can get by Myles Rose... really good 12ax7 is the sovtek LPS. I like the Ruby HG. Ive also been using a 12at7 in the phase invertor of my amps. 2204 hot rod clonish things.

 

[Nigel]

Best tube of all for high gain preamp tones (in my opinion) is the late 80's - early 90's (square getter) Chinese 12AX7's.
Incredible tone, clarity, balls and tons of gain! These original ones were made in Bejing. In my opinion,there is no comparison between these and the "9th Gen" new ones.

... if you can find them. They are getting VERY scarce!

Keith

Have those in an M-60. Sound great, but put 4 long plate mullards in and it sounded better.

Hehe.

 

[SQUAREHEAD]

Hey Mike...

It's the "halo" in the top of the tube which is surrounded by the chrome top and point... the new ones have a circle halo and the older GOOD ONES have the square halo...

Keith

Best tube of all for high gain preamp tones (in my opinion) is the late 80's - early 90's (square getter) Chinese 12AX7's.
Incredible tone, clarity, balls and tons of gain! These original ones were made in Bejing. In my opinion,there is no comparison between these and the "9th Gen" new ones.

... if you can find them. They are getting VERY scarce!

Keith

I got them from Voodoo Amps actually. They are labeled GT Gold Series 12AX7C. I don't see any square parts in the tube... not sure what a 'getter' is?

 

[just42dave]

Sell them to me!!! For cheap

 

[mentoneman]

i wish every tube amp manufacturer and tube product manufacturer could commit a percentage of their business profit to pooling together and fund a decent tube manufacturing effort?

could you imagine the improvement in tone a GREAT tube source could make???

imo it's as critical as a great speaker or great pickup, and as it stands today, the sorry state of tubes is one major motivator for my investing in the axe-fx.

 

[redrol]

Hey Mike...

It's the "halo" in the top of the tube which is surrounded by the chrome top and point... the new ones have a circle halo and the older GOOD ONES have the square halo...

Keith

Best tube of all for high gain preamp tones (in my opinion) is the late 80's - early 90's (square getter) Chinese 12AX7's.
Incredible tone, clarity, balls and tons of gain! These original ones were made in Bejing. In my opinion,there is no comparison between these and the "9th Gen" new ones.

... if you can find them. They are getting VERY scarce!

Keith

I got them from Voodoo Amps actually. They are labeled GT Gold Series 12AX7C. I don't see any square parts in the tube... not sure what a 'getter' is?

AH, thanks Keith. They have round getters then.

 

[RACKSYSTEMS]

The 9 gen ones are better then most tubes available today. Most sovteks have problems with ghost noises the chinese never do. Some times to change the tone you can play with the first tube. Tungsol is good so is the new mullard or what ever you like the tone of.

 

[PeteLaramee]

Those are by far my favorite preamp tubes.

 

[blackba]

Best tube of all for high gain preamp tones (in my opinion) is the late 80's - early 90's (square getter) Chinese 12AX7's.
Incredible tone, clarity, balls and tons of gain! These original ones were made in Bejing. In my opinion,there is no comparison between these and the "9th Gen" new ones.

... if you can find them. They are getting VERY scarce!

Keith

I think I have a few ARS labeled Chinese tubes like you are describing. I agree, they are very nice. I am not a big fan of the 9th Gen Chinese. Of the current production tubes my favorite is the Tung Sol RI. I heard they are making EI's again. I used to love EI's, provided you could find a good one (poor quality control).

 

[tweed]

i wish every tube amp manufacturer and tube product manufacturer could commit a percentage of their business profit to pooling together and fund a decent tube manufacturing effort?

could you imagine the improvement in tone a GREAT tube source could make???

imo it's as critical as a great speaker or great pickup, and as it stands today, the sorry state of tubes is one major motivator for my investing in the axe-fx.

+1

 

[HMJ]

Hey Mike...

It's the "halo" in the top of the tube which is surrounded by the chrome top and point... the new ones have a circle halo and the older GOOD ONES have the square halo...

Keith

Best tube of all for high gain preamp tones (in my opinion) is the late 80's - early 90's (square getter) Chinese 12AX7's.
Incredible tone, clarity, balls and tons of gain! These original ones were made in Bejing. In my opinion,there is no comparison between these and the "9th Gen" new ones.

... if you can find them. They are getting VERY scarce!

Keith

I got them from Voodoo Amps actually. They are labeled GT Gold Series 12AX7C. I don't see any square parts in the tube... not sure what a 'getter' is?

can you describe a more detailed description of the square getter 12ax7c .........i have a few of those tubes "Marshall stamped" but dont know if those are the real good ones or no

 

[John4021]

Best tube of all for high gain preamp tones (in my opinion) is the late 80's - early 90's (square getter) Chinese 12AX7's.
Incredible tone, clarity, balls and tons of gain! These original ones were made in Bejing. In my opinion,there is no comparison between these and the "9th Gen" new ones.

... if you can find them. They are getting VERY scarce!

Keith

Share the weath budda...I know you gots a stash of good preamp tubes...LOL
You and Northern1 as well....