Preamp tubes, what are you having good luck with?

[MrDan666]

I actually have about 8 or so old LPS's that seem to be fine in the CF spot. Since I read about the issue, I have not used them in the CF though. I dont want to waste em...

Wow, thats lucky haha! I already had several LPS's go bad in the CF spot They didn't go bad immediately, but i noticed problems after like a week or so.. I would turn on the amp and the sound would cut out.

 

[tweed]

Think I'll order 2 Tungsols for v1 and v2 of the DSL 50. I have a chinese for v3. What for v4? GT12ax7m?

 

[MrDan666]

Think I'll order 2 Tungsols for v1 and v2 of the DSL 50. I have a chinese for v3. What for v4? GT12ax7m?

Sovtek 12AX7-LPS? Right now i have them in V1 and V3 of my modded 800, and a Chinese in V2 Sounds absolutely killer!

 

[guitarslinger]

depends.

In V1:

1. NOS RCA - clear, sparkly, loud, awesome
2. JJ ECC83S - dark dark dark. If the room or amp are way too dark, I use this in V1
3. China - square getter (the old stock Mesa, Rivera, VHT, Soldano, CAE, Egnater tube from the 90's. = best tube ever made. perfect. These are actually fetching like $25 a tube right now, I think.
4. China Shuguang 9th - sounds similar to the 90's China tube, but not as "good", but WAY cheaper.

V2:

1. I actually like the Sovtek 12AX7WA. It has just enough ugliness to add character while still retaining the smoothness of whatever I installed into V1.
2. China Shuguang 9th - this is what I usually end up using across the board in the higher gain amps.

PI: whatever sounds good. usually Shuguang 9th.



Tubes I DON'T like.

JJ ECC803S - the long plate one --> I've had like three go dead QUICKLY.
EH 12ax7 - crispy, nasty tone. HATE it in everything.

 

[MrDan666]

JJ ECC803S - the long plate one --> I've had like three go dead QUICKLY.

Same here Gene, the quality of those absolutely SUCKS!

I bought 5 of them and 4 were bad straight away. 2 were completely microphonic and un-usable, and 2 were dead within a day of use.

Only 1 good one out of 5 is terrible! I'll never put those in a customer's amp.

 

[Greazygeo]

In my old Marshalls, NOS Mullard in V1, chinese for all the rest......

for hi gain...all chinese.

 

[blackba]

depends.

In V1:

1. NOS RCA - clear, sparkly, loud, awesome
2. JJ ECC83S - dark dark dark. If the room or amp are way too dark, I use this in V1
3. China - square getter (the old stock Mesa, Rivera, VHT, Soldano, CAE, Egnater tube from the 90's. = best tube ever made. perfect. These are actually fetching like $25 a tube right now, I think.
4. China Shuguang 9th - sounds similar to the 90's China tube, but not as "good", but WAY cheaper.

V2:

1. I actually like the Sovtek 12AX7WA. It has just enough ugliness to add character while still retaining the smoothness of whatever I installed into V1.
2. China Shuguang 9th - this is what I usually end up using across the board in the higher gain amps.

PI: whatever sounds good. usually Shuguang 9th.



Tubes I DON'T like.

JJ ECC803S - the long plate one --> I've had like three go dead QUICKLY.
EH 12ax7 - crispy, nasty tone. HATE it in everything.

Could some of those older Chinese 12AX7's be labeled ARS? I have a few, I think some are USA and some are Chinese. They both are nice tubes though.

I have had better luck with the EH 12AX7, I think they are decent, they are always in the middle in my tests, not bad, not the best.

 

[Giga]

I try to use NOS when I can. Of the current production, I think the Sovtek 12Ax7WC is an excellent sounding tube for a very reasonable price. Much better than the JJ's, I think.

ty

Yep, that WC tube was a very nice surprise after the WA and WB

Giga.

 

[tweed]

2 Tungsol's incoming

 

[blackba]

I tried these Svetlana 12AX7's and was very disappointed, just curious if anyone else tried them out.... http://thetubestore.com/svetlana12ax7.html

 

[Superunknown]

Sovtek LPS
Chinese 9th
EH