NOS Tubes 12AX7

[SB Monster]

Thanks master keeper have any of you checked out the 12ax7 shootout clips at pp

i'm lazy....linky??

[razelfrax]

Das Linken
http://www.vintageamps.com/plexiboard/v ... hp?t=74829

[daneswede]

WOW! I have learned a lot about choices for NOS Preamp tubes. TO the AUTHOR of this post and I apologize for I fogot your name.

There is a series of things surounding your Amplifier which affect your tone as you know !

Sorry for the typos as usual,

I am going to use one example .

THIS IS A TESIMONIAL ONLY FOR MY AMP: There are a myriad of situations and amplifiaction out there.

I OWN A MINT 1977 Marshall JMP MKII 100 watt Non master Volume with "Home Tags" with everything in the right place.

#1 AFTER I chose BLackback G12M25 Watt Speakers for the amp with Monster Pro 1000 Wire setup before I bought it but I swear it must be giving me a bit more transconductance. I know there have been exhaustive debate on this and YES I have heard PRE ROLA cabs with the original thin whispy wire sound fantastic so.... there yago. anyway. It was also my second cab of the same year. The first one for some UNKNOWN REASON did NOT sound ANYTHING like this one did . It had orig. wiring , cones were fine, 100% fine , OR so i thought. Just did not sound like this cab. AT ALL!!!!

#2 AFTER the Cab issue was straightened out and I now had a great dry tone between my head and cab I went for the Marshall Shredmaster. Using ONLY the GAIN and LEVEL allowing the head to shape the tone. LOVE the sound of the shredmaster 1st edition Ihear are the best ones. (INdented serieal # at the top) I also just bought a Marshall BLues Breaker WHich I put right next to the SHredmaster also which is a Marshall 1st edition product made in 1991 . So I now have more options from instrumental to blues to fusion to rock to funk o everything in between. Now im like most who enjoy just a TAD of a delay that sounds a like a trailor of a smidge of reverb AFTER your riff or rhythm has ended and I chose an H20 VIsual sound 1st ed. again. I own 2 of them now. The other is in my Tube BUffered Loop in my other Marshall which I AB/Y between the two.

#3 Now I have Delay, Chorus, Gain in many ofrms , the right cab and head and CHOSE these tubes i.e below
NOS SIEMENS EL34sunder the Mesa BOogie name. Biased hotter than mormal around 37mA or whatever you call it. The guy who installed the tubes owned 40 Marshall and probably three from EVERY YEAR FROM 63 to a brand new one ! FUNNY> MULTI MILLIONARE Im et thru ebay. Friggin guy owned 20 and I mean twenty 1968 Camaro RS and SS's? I m not a super car buff.

PREAMP TUBES:

I CHOSE :
V1 SLOT 1 NOS MULLARD original; ECC83 or 12ax7 actually tube ( sounds great too and worht the investment! ) Was actually given to me I love it gonna grab one or two more when funds allow for spare
V2 : NOS JAN PHILLIPS 12AX7A
V3 : NOS JAN PHILLIPS 12AX7A

So in the end I went 100% NOS YES . DOes this mean you should , NO!!!! There are still a few really good new production tubes out there. some are cheaper than you think. YOu may have to go through a couple ti find a good matching set for the power section. I even like the 9th Generation CHinese 12ax7!! for $10.95 Good tube. Maybe not the best though for consistency on the bench when they are being built . They come stock in Marshall amps , or did for a long long time

Also like Svetlana mid 1990s Winged "C's" WHich are still probably good tubes. Just check the balance and bias correct check your plates

Also like the sound of J.J 's but not my first choice . An acquaintence of mine uses or used J.J EL34's for long time and no problems . Maybe one but that eas it . SO again good choice just double check the tubes on the meter if possible with who ever (Tech wise is installing them!!!)

HMMM? GT- Mullard Reissue I have heard they are decent tubes too. I have heard decent things about them and of course youll always have those who arent fans of them as with everything. I have 5 of them and no problems here. I like them a lot . Not a real Mullard but they sound good. So there you go.

GOOD LUCK ! SOrry for the rant !

[Tone-Freak]

I use mullards in my marshall but in my fender i use Jan tubes. Does any one know what the difference betweent the green lable jan GE (which is a shorter plate) and the bluer label jan phillps is?

[SandovalPDV]

Does anyone know of a company that will test your old tubes. I have about 100 or so assorted 12ax7 that I would like to get tested.

[daneswede]

I have currently three Marshalls:

1972 Marshall SUPERLEAD and 1977 Matching slant cab with Blackbacks. WOW! pro 1000 wire
NOS XF2 Mullard EL34. Got them through work. We got a tube guy now.X
V1 & V2 Mullard 12AX7 and V3 PHILLIPS 12AX7WAs

1977 Marshall Superlead HOme Tags
SIEMENS EL34 QUAD
60s MULLARD V1 and V2 12AX7 and 70s PHILLIPS 12AX7WA V3 spot

1981 Marshall JCM800 2203 M.V. 100 Watt.
80s SIEMENS qd
60s Mullard 12AX7s V1 V2 PHILLIPS V3 12ax7WA

[winston1953]

This is not an adv. but i have had very good luck with brendan at tubeworld.I have both a pre maximatcher and a power tube maximatcher for testing tubes.V1 should be your best and most quiet tube.The pre maximatcher is a relatively new tester for preamp tubes and will give a tube noise level in db.I recently replaced my V1 tube in a vintage Hiwatt producing 128 watts with a dead quiet long plate mullard 12ax7 from about 1959 and the background noise floor has now almost disappeared.

[yladrd61]

1970 Super Lead, Shared Cathode, Pre PI MV, and LarMar PPIMV

V1 Phillips 12AX7A { 163 Blackburn 1970}
V2 Brimar CV 4004
V3 Early GTECC83 Relabeled Tesla
V4-V7 Early GTE34LS Relabeled Tesla

[Melodyman]

Hi all. I have a JTM 45 RI that has been retro'd to 65-66 era. Metro board and RS choke and tranny, using GL KT66 for power tubes. I have a small selection of NOS preamp tubes and I was curious as to your concensus of which combination would be the best for agressive classic rock/blues.. using 1960 Les Paul standard as my main axe..

I have available to use.. all NOS..

Mullard I63
Tung-sol 12ax7
RFT ecc83
Brimar cv4004
Tungsram

Which combination would provide me with the most sweetness while still being aggressive?
Looking for a similar tone to that used by Clapton on the Live Cream album.
Whaddya think?

[novosibir]

V1 = Mullard
V2 = Tungsram
V3 = Brimar

If the amp then is too boomy in the lo mids, then swap the Mullard with the Tungsram.

Larry

[Melodyman]

Wow. That was fast! Thanks Larry. I will give it a try.

[demonufo]

V1 = Mullard
V2 = Tungsram
V3 = Brimar

If the amp then is too boomy in the lo mids, then swap the Mullard with the Tungsram.

Larry

I agree with this pick 100%

And if you're not sure about the sound of the Tungsram, try to live with it for a while. Mine took some settling in (I've only got the one, but it's a good'n )

[ttowne]

Guys

I've never played through a NOS tube. How much of a difference are we talking about here. Lets say between a modern good quality tube to a NOS good quality tube. Are we talking about 20% more tone? 10%...5%....2%. Just give me an idea if you would. Thanks.

[yladrd61]

1970 Super Lead, Shared Cathode, Pre PI MV, and LarMar PPIMV

V1 Phillips 12AX7A { 163 Blackburn 1970}
V2 Brimar CV 4004
V3 Early GTECC83 Relabeled Tesla
V4-V7 Early GTE34LS Relabeled Tesla

Changed V3 put in another Phillips 12AX7A {I63 Blackburn 1970)

[Big Mike]

Guys

I've never played through a NOS tube. How much of a difference are we talking about here. Lets say between a modern good quality tube to a NOS good quality tube. Are we talking about 20% more tone? 10%...5%....2%. Just give me an idea if you would. Thanks.

5-10% IMO. Maybe more, depends.
More if you condsider power tubes as well.