Mullard Preamp Tubes

[psychodave]

As reference, I started playing guitar in the mid 1980’s and was introduced to big amps around 1988. By 1991 I owned a 1967 plexi and 1972 Marshall Super Lead (at the ripe age of 20). One of my friends stressed the importance of tubes very early on. From that point, I would buy tubes whenever I would find them. Back in the very early 1990’s, they were cheap...or should I say, affordable.

Last night while surfing the net...of course looking at tubes (haha). I came across some Mullard tubes that are considered high end and are selling for $250 a pop (yikes). It immediately made me remember I have them in my stash. I remember finding a specific trio of Brimar labeled 12AX7S preamp tubes. I bought them, briefly tried them out and added them to my stash. Today, I pulled out a few boxes of tubes and after 15 minutes or so, I finally found them. Note, I was side tracked looking at other tubes, haha.

So here they are...the Mullard CV4004/M8137. Evidently pretty rare these days.

Here was the link I was looking at:
https://www.tubedepot.com/products/mullard-cv4004-12ax7

 

[technomancer]

Nice!

That said I wouldn't consider Tube Depot's NOS prices to be common pricing. For current production stuff they're fine, but their NOS prices are freaking nuts.

 

[psychodave]

Nice!

That said I wouldn't consider Tube Depot's NOS prices to be common pricing. For current production stuff they're fine, but their NOS prices are freaking nuts.

I completely agree.

I saw another site selling them for $180 a piece. Still, I prob paid $15 a tube back in the early 90’s.

 

[technomancer]

Nice!

That said I wouldn't consider Tube Depot's NOS prices to be common pricing. For current production stuff they're fine, but their NOS prices are freaking nuts.

I completely agree.

I saw another site selling them for $180 a piece. Still, I prob paid $15 a tube back in the early 90’s.

I'll give you four times what you paid for them each

But yeah NOS tube prices are crazy and are only going up

 

[JMP2203]

those are great tubes i have like 12 of them, they are more transparent than regular mullads and works great in loop positions and PI

 

[Loudness250]

You used to be able to get used but still good rebranded mullards for like 50 bucks. But that was like 12 years ago, lol.

 

[psychodave]

You used to be able to get used but still good rebranded mullards for like 50 bucks. But that was like 12 years ago, lol.

There was an indoor flea market many years ago that had a shitload of old RTF preamp tubes. The guy sold them for $6-7 a piece. Lots of people knew about him and we would only buy what we needed. One of my friends went one day and the guy sold out. Some dude bought them all. Probably resold them for 3x the price. I’m all for capitalism, but all of the local guitar players respected the source and what he brought to the local scene. Them days are long gone with eBay, reverb and craigslist.

 

[riffermadness]

Are Mullard tubes good for High Gain amp usage? I have never tried them but have thought 'why not" give them a try..mainly in my EVH 5150-3 amp.

 

[LP Freak]

Are Mullard tubes good for High Gain amp usage? I have never tried them but have thought 'why not" give them a try..mainly in my EVH 5150-3 amp.

In my experience I’ve found high gain amps don’t benefit from NOS tubes like Mullards as much as amps with fewer gain stages.

 

[Pseudo Drew Peterson]

Yeah lol @ NOS tubes.

 

[psychodave]

Are Mullard tubes good for High Gain amp usage? I have never tried them but have thought 'why not" give them a try..mainly in my EVH 5150-3 amp.

Depends on the amps and the position they are used in. For example, my favorite tube for V1 in my CCV and Aldrich are the Yugo Ei’s. They just have “that” sound and clarity no other new tubes have. I love RFT’s in stock Marshall’s. Since I own tube testers, I know exactly what’s going into my amps and can easily replicate the sound.

Another tube I like in high gain amps is the long plate Sylvania 12AX7.

Of course this is just my opinion, but I have newer digital preamp and power tube testers and can back up my assessments with data . I currently own 100’s (probably 300-400) of NOS preamp tubes and have tried lots of stuff. Not all tubes are created equal and without testing them and knowing EXACTLY what you are using, you’re just guessing. We all spend multiple thousands on “boutique” amps and we just use any old tube or take vendors word for what they are selling... trust me, they are in the business of selling their own stock, not what will sound good. For example, I’ve seen transconductance swings in new tubes of 30% or more. That is a MAJOR difference in gain and feel of an amp. Why does your amp sound like shit after putting in new tubes. How many times have you seen people selling amps with new tubes in them? I bet a majority of the time those new tubes are the cause of people selling their amps. People buy 1-2 “NOS” tubes and don’t like them then think they are experts on them. We’re they even tested? How were they tested? We’re they tested to make sure they work and are not microphonic, or were they tested to work, not microphonic and have strong transconductance to drive the amp (assuming you are using V1 in this instance). I’ve seen lots of “NOS” tubes that are actually used and worn, but still look “new” and guitar players don’t know any better...unless they have testers and can check for themselves.

 

[LP Freak]

EI’s are one of my favorite too especially in a Marshall style circuit. I’ve got a bunch of those.

 

[mniel8195]

I have tried a jj, tung sol, and the mullard cv4004 in my friedman small box in v1. I prefer the mullard over everything. The jj has the most gain but lacks definition. It is a pretty dark and round tube in that amp. The Tung sol is the brightest but lacks gain. The mullard is a great compromise between the tubes. Bright, good gain, and warm sounding.

 

[Racerxrated]

Are Mullard tubes good for High Gain amp usage? I have never tried them but have thought 'why not" give them a try..mainly in my EVH 5150-3 amp.

Depends on the amps and the position they are used in. For example, my favorite tube for V1 in my CCV and Aldrich are the Yugo Ei’s. They just have “that” sound and clarity no other new tubes have. I love RFT’s in stock Marshall’s. Since I own tube testers, I know exactly what’s going into my amps and can easily replicate the sound.

Another tube I like in high gain amps is the long plate Sylvania 12AX7.

Of course this is just my opinion, but I have newer digital preamp and power tube testers and can back up my assessments with data . I currently own 100’s (probably 300-400) of NOS preamp tubes and have tried lots of stuff. Not all tubes are created equal and without testing them and knowing EXACTLY what you are using, you’re just guessing. We all spend multiple thousands on “boutique” amps and we just use any old tube or take vendors word for what they are selling... trust me, they are in the business of selling their own stock, not what will sound good. For example, I’ve seen transconductance swings in new tubes of 30% or more. That is a MAJOR difference in gain and feel of an amp. Why does your amp sound like shit after putting in new tubes. How many times have you seen people selling amps with new tubes in them? I bet a majority of the time those new tubes are the cause of people selling their amps. People buy 1-2 “NOS” tubes and don’t like them then think they are experts on them. We’re they even tested? How were they tested? We’re they tested to make sure they work and are not microphonic, or were they tested to work, not microphonic and have strong transconductance to drive the amp (assuming you are using V1 in this instance). I’ve seen lots of “NOS” tubes that are actually used and worn, but still look “new” and guitar players don’t know any better...unless they have testers and can check for themselves.

I agree with all of this. I first started the vintage tube thing with a local audiophile collector, who happened to see a gig of ours. He told me he had a collection of tubes and he'd be willing to sell some. Bought 3 Amperex pres and they made a huge difference in my Marshall. They were used but strong. 30 bucks for 3, and from then on I've collected a pretty good stash of pre and power tubes, and to my ear they all improve on any new production tubes in a vintage Marshall or Mesa. I've never bought NOS, since I've had great luck with used but strong tubes for much less than NOS prices. I think I've had maybe 2 pre tubes fail and that was after many hours of use. I've bought new amps with bad tubes right out of the box.