Metropoulos Forum

JJ ECC83 Gold Pin my new favorite!

i always wondered if the gold pin versions sound better but i don't think so.

mkdivine wrote:i always wondered if the gold pin versions sound better but i don't think so.

I think they should sound better because JJ picks out their best tubes to give the gold pin treatment. As far as the gold plating making them sound better, I don't think it would unless maybe the socket was too.

Well you're right, it has NOTHING to do with the gold plating. When NOTHING else in the circuit is gold, gold tube pins mean nothing really. The fact that they pull their best tubes for plating is what makes them worth a few extra bucks. Good gain, low noise, and sound great! I've been running these for a few months now and still love 'em. Pulled my old Mullard/RCA glass out to save them.

The Pup wrote:I like the Shuguang 12AX7A ( Gen-8 ) gray plate

The Shuguang 12AX7A (gray plate) has slightly less gain, but was surprisingly close in tone to the RFT (with low noise too). It was slightly darker than the Shuguang gen 9 silver plate 12AX7B...which is not as bright sounding as the new Tung Sol reissue.

The JJ ECC83S provides slightly higher gain and seemed to exhibit a slight bass and mid presence in comparison.

These Shuguang 12AX7A/B 8th and 9th generation tubes sound fine to me...no worries, microphonics, fuzziness, buzzing or background noises here.

Disclaimer: Amps used:

Marshall JVM (C83 mod) Note: The Clean Red channel greatly pronounces the mid-freq girth and the amp itself is an excellent platform to sample the tonal characteristics of varying tubes at greatly varying gain levels.

Bruno U30: Note: This is a uniquely voiced amp that seems very sensitive to different V1 placed tubes.

'65 BFSR

'65 Bassman
....

+1 for Shug but to my ears is a gainy tube and the TungSol in comparison is a bit darker sounding

For EL34s it's SED or nothing if I'm going new production.

I'm really having a preamp crisis right now, though.

For a 68 Traynor YBA-1 (JTM50/Plexi 50 sort of vibe) I was thinking V1 Tung Sol and JJ ECC803 for the PI, but can't really decide what to put in the cathode follower stage.

I'd be willing to go with old tubes from pulls but I'd like to use up these 3 Tung Sols I have lying around first.

Any thoughts on a V1 V2 combination?

I've run a set of russian Mullard 12ax7s for a year in my 2204 and they've sounded nothing but great in this amp and are still going strong as ever. Great value for the bucks and kick butt in even a high gain amp IMO.

I'm looking for a good Modern 12AX7 for V1 in my 2204 Clone that sounds good without Hum.
I like the TungSol, but most of them Hum in this Amp.
Got any Ideas?
Terry

dc heaters

Larry

novosibir wrote:dc heaters

Larry

Is that it?
So does anyone have a logical easy method to accomplish DC Filaments?
I'm surprised there are not more transformers available with 12 Volt taps, which would make DC easier.
Of all the Modded Plexi Plans out there, I don't see any with DC options.
Terry

JJ ecc83s, they're wonderful, with fat mids ! I LIKe them so much in my marshall build !!!!

I've tried tung sol that i realy like in the clean amp (and they are good in marshall too)

so are JJ's the current production favorite 12ax7 for Marshall these days?

Hi, anyone tried the gold pin Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7/ECC83/B759 ?? Here in Oz they're by far the most costly of all the current production 12ax7, which I figure there must be a reason for,,, I'd just like to hear a little about them b4 shelling out for them. Cheers

amusedtodeath2 wrote:so are JJ's the current production favorite 12ax7 for Marshall these days?

Ugh, no. I still would pick Tung-Sol's or even the Mullard re-issues over those. JJ ECC803 are quite nice thiough. Even the Sovtek LPS's aren't bad, but the other Sovtek's are best avoided.

demonufo wrote:

amusedtodeath2 wrote:so are JJ's the current production favorite 12ax7 for Marshall these days?

Ugh, no. I still would pick Tung-Sol's or even the Mullard re-issues over those. JJ ECC803 are quite nice thiough. Even the Sovtek LPS's aren't bad, but the other Sovtek's are best avoided.

Tung sol add some hi end fuzz all my amp distorted very noticeable on 2204, JJ a so much nicer in the highs on all marshall (Ive tried, more punch and less fizz), the EH where not as punchy as the JJ (and maybe not as much mids...)
Did not tried the mullard reissue 12ax7, But I tried the mullard EL34 !!!

EH el34 where VERY nice but they red plate so easily (bad experience with those)
The Tung Sol EL34B sound so good but the bass are not as right (and fast) like the EH in a marshall...
The JJ el34 was the most "EL34" sounding, crunchy and agressive in a good way, not as punchy like the EH but with more body (but the e34l are little bit more puchy than the JJ El34, but something was off... dunno what).
The Mullard El34 was something like the EH and the JJ combined (I guess both are recreation of the Mullard ?) Nice punch, and the very cool aggressiveness of the JJ (but not as much body)

MY FAV are JJ EL34 (n°1) and Mullard EL34 (n°2), And I still can't find something that can top the JJ ecc83s in the preamp, there is something in the attack which make it so much better than all the current production tubes
I will try the Mullard 12ax7 because demonufo recommendation are always good