Adambomb
Member
No HG means HIGH GRADE.
I’ve always said it, that the Ruby 12AX7B AC5 HG and the HG+ that Magic Parts grade for Ruby are the best new production tube I’ve found. I sure hope they don’t raise the prices, but I have some stashed along with some Mullard, Amperex, RCA and other NOS. I much prefer the AC5 HG’s over the NOS in current high gain amps.
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LCW
Active member
Not Chinese but who has tried the JJE83CC (not ECC83)?
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riffermadness
Member
I love those tubes !!
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hopkinWFG
Well-known member
Top notch from what i can see would be the ruby HG 12ax7ac5 and some other suffix .... they are just either specially made according to Rubies specs or they screen them into different classes...
LCW
Active member
I ordered a couple Tung-Sol and Shuguang 12AX7’s to try out.
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harddriver
Well-known member
While the new Tung Sol's won't last in the cathode follower V2 position they are a great tube for V1 if you are looking for a preamp tube that is sonically very close to NOS Sylvania long plate 12ax7A's. I swapped out a NOS Sylvania in my Marshall 1969 SL for the follwing new production tube: Ruby HG5 Chinese 12ax7, New Mullard CV4004, NOS Tungsol, 1963 Mullard 12ax7, RFT 12ax7. The NOS Sylvania's sound great but can get a little microphonic in V1 when pushing V1 or under higher gain in high gain amps. The good news was the new production Tung Sol 12ax7 sounded about as close as you can get to the Sylvania but can handle higher gain with no issues. I ended up with the following in the 69 Marshall I was trying to replicate what I was getting with the NOS sylvania but I wanted to utilize newer production in V1 and V2:
V1 New production Tung Sol, V2 Ruby Shuguang HG5 Chinese 9th generation, V3 NOS Sylvania.
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Nigel
Guest
I loved those old Sylvania long plates, had a few. They were super high gain, like 2,200-2,400gm per tetrode!
LCW
Active member
Ended up with:
Tung-Sol 12AX7: V1, V5
Shuguang 12AX7-B: V3, V4, V6
Stock JJ: V2, V9
Found this to balance out amount of gain, clarity, upper end fizz, and warmth.
Wish I would have ordered more Tung-Sols. Only had two.
Tried the following that was different from above:
1) Shuguang in V2,3,4 - too much gain, and dry sounding.
2) JJ in V3, Shuguang V4 - still had the JJ fizz.
3) Shuguang in both V5 & 6 - blue sounded too dry and woody.
4) JJ V5, Shuguang V6 - sounded good, but Tung-Sol in V5 sounded better and bigger /throatier
5) Tung-Sol in V9 - didn’t like it, not quite able to put finger on it. Clarity was lost is what I think I was hearing. Put the stock JJ back. Didn’t have the common LPS Sovtek that everyone seems to use.
PS - pins on the Shuguangs are easily bent.
PPS - nothing scientific here - just doing it for fun. But it’s a pain. Now time to play!
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harddriver
Well-known member
I really was surprised by how much I liked the new production Tung Sol in V1. I even compared an NOS EI longplate 12ax7 to the TungSol and I felt the EI was harsh enough that I preferred the new Tung Sol. I am also running a N/P Tung Sol in my 72 SL that is modded with a cascaded gain stage setup where it handles the higher gain like a champ with no excessive feedback, plate ringing or weird noises.
The Chinese 8 and 9 generation 12ax7 and JJ 12ax7's( which are darker) will hold up better in the cathode follower and phase inverter section of the circuit due to the higher voltages being applied to the plates of the tubes.
Sylvania and RFT's work best in the V2 V3 positions in my experience, I didn't really care for the RFT in V1 or in V2 it was a pretty sterile tube tonewise, I know some people swear by them in Marshall's so YMMV.
The Chinese 8 and 9 generation 12ax7 and JJ 12ax7's( which are darker) will hold up better in the cathode follower and phase inverter section of the circuit due to the higher voltages being applied to the plates of the tubes.
Sylvania and RFT's work best in the V2 V3 positions in my experience, I didn't really care for the RFT in V1 or in V2 it was a pretty sterile tube tonewise, I know some people swear by them in Marshall's so YMMV.
LCW
Active member
Why is this?
Is V2 the cathode follower position in the 5150III Stealth 50?
blackba
Well-known member
FourT6and2
Well-known member
I've found the RFT to sound the opposite of sterile. Very vocal/violin-like quality to it. Love the mid-range honk they provide. If you don't want yours, I'll take 'em!
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harddriver
Well-known member
That's why I said YMMV. I bought two NOS from a reputable vintage tube seller so I don't think they are faulty in any way, I wanted to like them I just didn't... they were quite a disappointment after all of the internet hype on them. The 1963 Blackburn Mullard was too warm and rounded not alot of aggression, very thick and syrupy IMHO. but if you have a overly bright amp them may be the ticket.
The 1960's NOS tung sol was cool sounding it tended to have a little plate ring to them like some sylvanias.
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harddriver
Well-known member
Yep, I know I said higher voltages but I meant current draw exactly as you stated. As 46&2 states they're still a good tube but most of the Russian 12ax7 have a short lifespan in the V2 cathode follower position, you might get more longevity in the V3 position the cathode follower hammers a preamp tube. A couple of my tube amp books by Dan Torres actually suggests that one replace the V2 and V3 cathode follower and Phase inverter tubes when you replace power tubes. I generally don't follow that rule of thumb but he makes the point that those preamp tubes are worked pretty hard due to the voltage and current draw.
LCW
Active member
Alright tube people... please confirm for me in this 5150 III 50W wiring diagram http://support.evhgear.com/schematics/EVH_50W.pdfthat V4 and V6 are the cathode followers... I'm deducting that from the diagram, those are the only two with the outputs coming off the 'bottom' of the preamp tubes... which again by deduction is the cathode side...???
blackba
Well-known member
You got it right. V4B is a cathode follower stage and V6B is as well. So make sure V4 and V6 are not new sensor tubes and you will be good.Alright tube people... please confirm for me in this 5150 III 50W wiring diagram http://support.evhgear.com/schematics/EVH_50W.pdfthat V4 and V6 are the cathode followers... I'm deducting that from the diagram, those are the only two with the outputs coming off the 'bottom' of the preamp tubes... which again by deduction is the cathode side...???
LCW
Active member
Cool man - thnx! I got Shuguangs in both V4 and V6 (and V3 for that matter).