JJ vs Mullard reissue

Ricky Lee · Post by **Ricky Lee** » Mon May 30, 2005 5:34 pm

I know JJ's are well liked by alot of people, and I know JJ has a good track record, but I have tried their preamp tubes with little sucess in any amp I own, including the 1969 Metro I just finished. They sounded good and were reasonably warm, but I kept getting alot of uncontrolled feedback, as if I were pointing my guitar pickups at my speakers. As usual, after switching to GT 12AX7M Mullard RI's things just got better and not in a subtle way. The uncontrolled feedback went away and the difference in sound was like night and day. I have been using these new Mullard RI's in all my amps since they first came out and I have always been well pleased and always anxious to play my guitar. I don't know what a true Mullard sounds like, but I do know that with the Mullard RI's I can just about nail all my classic tunes. I have tried about all the latest tubes and the Mullard RI's beat them hands down. With the JJ's, it's like hearing tiny springs rattling thru the speakers, if that makes any sense. YES, I know tone is subjective and there will always be those who are perfectly satisfied with other brands of tubes. I also, know the Mullard RI's are more expensive, but with the investment of an amp, what's a few bucks more? Just my thoughts for today!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 10:39 pm

I would use SOLID STATE before I use another JJ(Just Junk)

I haven't tried a old Mullard or the new ones. I would like to try the new GT12AX7M as I have heard nothing but good things about them. But, I bought the JJ's for the same reason( I heard good things about them ) I've had 2 JJ's go out on me. Besides they sound muffled or muddy to me. I had JJ's throughout the amp. Not anymore and knock on wood, No probs since. Sounds great!! Ya'll should try a 4100 sometimes, you might just like it.

kurtsstuff · Post by **kurtsstuff** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 4:14 pm

Anonymous wrote:I would use SOLID STATE before I use another JJ(Just Junk)
I haven't tried a old Mullard or the new ones. I would like to try the new GT12AX7M as I have heard nothing but good things about them. But, I bought the JJ's for the same reason( I heard good things about them ) I've had 2 JJ's go out on me. Besides they sound muffled or muddy to me. I had JJ's throughout the amp. Not anymore and knock on wood, No probs since. Sounds great!! Ya'll should try a 4100 sometimes, you might just like it.

Well..JJ's are a great tube for little dough and testing out tubes in a 4100 (I'm assuming marshall here) is really not the circuit to which tubes should be judged...prteyy much a solid state amp to begin with....

Ricky Lee · Post by **Ricky Lee** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 5:12 pm

I don't knock JJ's, they are a fine tube, but I just like the Mullard RI's for their warmth and harmonic content, and that can be very much related to the style of music I play. I've noticed the JJ's lean a little toward the thrashing sound of todays style of music as oposed to the classic rock sound that the Mullard's give. I play alot of ZZ Top stuff, and anyone knows those distinguished harmonics haft to be there i.e. "Lagrange". Sounds simple, but that's a song that you can really compare harmonic content in tubes. I noticed with other tubes I haft to dig a little more for the harmonics, not so with Mullard RI's, they pop right out there. Thanks for the input.

Mass · Post by **Mass** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 10:15 pm

Hey all,

Howdy do and happy thanksgiving.

I have to throw in my two cents as well....haha
The JJ's are great for a V2 spot in a higher gain amp, but not for a 1969 circut. I don't think you would be very pleased with the effect it gives, but then again....tone is subjective.
The GT 12AX7M is a good tube, although I would like to make a recommendation.
Get your hands on a vintage RCA 12AX7. They won't kill your wallet, are easy to run across.
Once you do, try the GT12AX7M, then shut down and install the vintage RCA 12AX7. It is like a GT12AX7M with all of the dynamics ENHANCED!

just a thought..........

Take care and best regards,
Dave

P.S. Use this in your V1 socket

Billy Batz · Post by **Billy Batz** » Sat Nov 26, 2005 11:17 am

Where is a good place to get those RCAs? I dont see them in my usual places.

daneswede · Post by **daneswede** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 10:49 pm

Mass wrote:Hey all,

Howdy do and happy thanksgiving.

I have to throw in my two cents as well....haha
The JJ's are great for a V2 spot in a higher gain amp, but not for a 1969 circut. I don't think you would be very pleased with the effect it gives, but then again....tone is subjective.
The GT 12AX7M is a good tube, although I would like to make a recommendation.
Get your hands on a vintage RCA 12AX7. They won't kill your wallet, are easy to run across.
Once you do, try the GT12AX7M, then shut down and install the vintage RCA 12AX7. It is like a GT12AX7M with all of the dynamics ENHANCED!

just a thought..........

Take care and best regards,
Dave

P.S. Use this in your V1 socket

THats funny you mention "ZZTOPs La Grange"For a song to demo while listening to the harmonic overtones of a particular tube. I just got my 1981 Marshall JCM800 today that I got thru a guy on the Gearpage. THe amp is truly in MINT condition. Serial # 03051N! low Serial number to! ANyway. I plugged the amp in with my Klon Centaur and set it to clean boost. Instant ZZ Top Lagrangr on steroids! IMO! Very muc hsop and tons of smiling harmonic content! It is an EL34 model JCM800 actually. I bought some NOS SIEMENS EL34s for it which used to come in the early eighties Marshalls!! They are brilliant sounding tubes and I have used them before ! Paid $120 for a set of 4. Many NOS TUbe places are charging $140 for a pair now! Crazy! If any one is interested in getting a quad set of these SIemens NOS EL34s, PM me ill steer you to the right store. IF you have it, the guy has a 2 page ad in THe Vintage GUitar Trader and he is the only guy I know left with a lot of these Siemens on hand hence the low price. They are stringently matched as well! I am ordering a second set right now for my 2203x reissue as well. Also I am putting 1 BRIMARS CV4004 which is sonically close to the Mullard CV4004 but with a lot less microphonics in my expereince. This will go in the V1 slot. I have 2 NOS RFT ECC83/12ax7s for the V2-V3 slots! This amp is gonna ROCK when these tubes go in there !

I am running the 2203x JCM800 and the 1981 2203 right now in a wet/dry setup with 2 BOgner Ubercabs wired at 8 ohm impedance. I use a TC Electroic G Force for Fx which is unreal mixed with the dry sound of the 81' 2203/ubercab! Good Things. Yeah, I agree . I am not a bi fan of JJ Teslas either . A friend of mine has them in his 2x12" Marshall JCM800 100 watt combo. Kind of mushy and not very chimey at all ? In defense of the JJ's though i have heard amps with these tubes that sounded almost trebley and then another amp with the same tubes that were more bottom heavy yet mushed out? Strange?
ANyway, I am a HUGE fan of SIEMENS EL34s and will never go back ! Until everyone runs out of them! LOL!