Gold lion 12ax7

[9ball]

Anyone tried these? Are they worth the extra scratch?

 

[9ball]

I'm asking about the new production ones for 45 bucks

 

[Ventura]

Yep.

Genalex "Gold Lion" ECC83 aka "12AX7".

Incredible preamp tubes - period. Stick 'em in V1 of any amp and you'll hear a difference. Stick a few throughout an amp and you'll definitely hear a difference. I've been re-tubing a couple heads. I've been putting them mostly in the V1 positions, as well as the clean-clean/gain sockets. Some amps also have an "all use" preamp socket, and this is where I put them as well.

Basically, wherever you need superb clarity and tone, stick 'em.

That said, are they worth the $45 for a high gain monster? Mmmmmmmmmkay maybe not. I mean, by the time you bash the shit out of the signal with stacked gain stages, does it really matter? Hard to say. If you've got a channel switching high-gain head, definitely could help for the clean and maybe crunch channels. Again, decipherable differences are hard when you've got lots of stacks. I'd see these really shine in something like a Fender, Two-Rock, or the like, where cleaner tones are where tone is critical.

But for the record, I've put 'em in my Hagen, VH4, 20thA-X, and am currently hosting one in the V4 position of a TwinJet. Oh, and my Mako Mak4 has 4 of them in the 6 positions available

 

[glip22]

I liked them allot for the PI position. Nice mids as a PI tube.

 

[Marshall Law]

Yep.

Genalex "Gold Lion" ECC83 aka "12AX7".

Incredible preamp tubes - period. Stick 'em in V1 of any amp and you'll hear a difference. Stick a few throughout an amp and you'll definitely hear a difference. I've been re-tubing a couple heads. I've been putting them mostly in the V1 positions, as well as the clean-clean/gain sockets. Some amps also have an "all use" preamp socket, and this is where I put them as well.

Basically, wherever you need superb clarity and tone, stick 'em.

That said, are they worth the $45 for a high gain monster? Mmmmmmmmmkay maybe not. I mean, by the time you bash the shit out of the signal with stacked gain stages, does it really matter? Hard to say. If you've got a channel switching high-gain head, definitely could help for the clean and maybe crunch channels. Again, decipherable differences are hard when you've got lots of stacks. I'd see these really shine in something like a Fender, Two-Rock, or the like, where cleaner tones are where tone is critical.

But for the record, I've put 'em in my Hagen, VH4, 20thA-X, and am currently hosting one in the V4 position of a TwinJet. Oh, and my Mako Mak4 has 4 of them in the 6 positions available

you are talking about the new sensor new production tubes

 

[9ball]

That said, are they worth the $45 for a high gain monster? Mmmmmmmmmkay maybe not. I mean, by the time you bash the shit out of the signal with stacked gain stages, does it really matter? Hard to say. If you've got a channel switching high-gain head, definitely could help for the clean and maybe crunch channels. Again, decipherable differences are hard when you've got lots of stacks. I'd see these really shine in something like a Fender, Two-Rock, or the like, where cleaner tones are where tone is critical.

Hm...i was.thinking about trying one or two in my tsl 60. Its modded and has tons of gain, i recently put a jan phillips 5751 in V1, and that turned out pretty good actually. A bit more versatility in the gain knobs anyway. So i was gonna put the mullard 12ax7(new production) in v4, and a couple of tung sols in v2&3, i was just wondering if getting a gold lion would be worth it to switch around in v1&2 with the 5751.

 

[madrigal77]

I've heard they're not much better than New Sensors other stuff; they just go through higher QC. I don't have personal experience with them though, so I don't know how true that is.

 

[Ventura]

you are talking about the new sensor new production tubes

Talking about these: http://www.thetubestore.com/Tubes/Genal ... ECC83-B759

Hm...i was.thinking about trying one or two in my tsl 60. Its modded and has tons of gain, i recently put a jan phillips 5751 in V1, and that turned out pretty good actually. A bit more versatility in the gain knobs anyway. So i was gonna put the mullard 12ax7(new production) in v4, and a couple of tung sols in v2&3, i was just wondering if getting a gold lion would be worth it to switch around in v1&2 with the 5751.

I've been using the 5751 tube as a "tamer" in high-gainers. For instance, the TwinJet's a bit too hot of an amp, most of the gain range is a waste (as stock) into sheer compression. I've stuck a 5751 in V1 to knock down the gain to a 70% ceiling (give or take). It makes the amp - in this case, a TJ - more growly. I then follow up with an LPS in the V2 but have also tried the GLECC-83, and definitely keeping the GLECC-83 in the V4 do-all slot.

I've really liked them in the Bogner 20thA as the tone was already sick in that head as stock. I've also loaded a Peavey Classic 30 with these, the tone was sick. More along the "mature blues" lines of pure dripping tone, but there it is - an example of a non-high-gain head where these really shone. I just like 'em, so I've also plunked them in V1 of the Hagen and am working with them on a few other amps.

They're nice to have around. But at near $50 a crack, I think you really need to determine how important the crap shoot is in really making a difference to your sound.

 

[9ball]

you are talking about the new sensor new production tubes

I've been using the 5751 tube as a "tamer" in high-gainers. For instance, the TwinJet's a bit too hot of an amp, most of the gain range is a waste (as stock) into sheer compression. I've stuck a 5751 in V1 to knock down the gain to a 70% ceiling (give or take). It makes the amp - in this case, a TJ - more growly. I then follow up with an LPS in the V2 but have also tried the GLECC-83, and definitely keeping the GLECC-83 in the V4 do-all slot.

My tsl's the same way - seriously - i had it modded like 6 years ago, and fja gave me two clips to choose from, i went with the higher gain sound because i was just like "whatever" lol - but since then i've played in some cover bands and getting older lol - i never turn the gain up past 3 on the lead channel. Ever. 5 had been the highest the crunch channel goes without turning into the lead channel lol. That one tube actually opened it up a bit and did make it a little growly as you say lol. I'm thinking avout maybe even tying two of them but i dunno. Might be overkill lol. But for an ultra high gain amp - they work pretty good

 

[9ball]

I've heard they're not much better than New Sensors other stuff; they just go through higher QC. I don't have personal experience with them though, so I don't know how true that is.

Yeah i dunno. 45 bucks a piece for new production pre amp tubes is getting pretty high lol. I got some gold lion KT77's the other day with that 5751, and decided to wait a few more days to put them in and ordered some tung sols to replace the rest of my pre amp tubes. I'll see if the GL 77's are an improvement over the jj KT77's in it now - if they are i might have to get one or two of the gl12ax7's and try them out. The description says "lows deeper than the marianas trench and mids that butter the air" haha....i dunno...maybe lol

 

[baron55]

50.00 bucks for a Sovtek tube... I think I will pass

 

[steve_k]

I've started using the Sovtek LP in my amps in V1 through all the gain spots, including the CF. LPS is always good in the PI.

 

[Capulin Overdrive]

50.00 bucks for a Sovtek tube... I think I will pass

I get what you're saying, but i'm still a go with Gold Lion stuff.


New Sensor has upped the bar with some of thier offerings over the regular old Sovtek stuff.


New Tung-sol preamp and power tubes are nice. The Gold Lion power tubes are nice as well.


I don't like the Mullard Reissues preamp tubes and would stick with Sovtek over them, but the Tung-sol preamp is a step up over a fizzy Sovtek.


So my 2 cents is that i ok with a $50 V1 and chinese in the rest.

 

[9ball]

50.00 bucks for a Sovtek tube... I think I will pass

I get what you're saying, but i'm still a go with Gold Lion stuff.


New Sensor has upped the bar with some of thier offerings over the regular old Sovtek stuff.


New Tung-sol preamp and power tubes are nice. The Gold Lion power tubes are nice as well.


I don't like the Mullard Reissues preamp tubes and would stick with Sovtek over them, but the Tung-sol preamp is a step up over a fizzy Sovtek.


So my 2 cents is that i ok with a $50 V1 and chinese in the rest.

So have you tried one? Is there a noticeable difference over a tung sol?

 

[9ball]

50.00 bucks for a Sovtek tube... I think I will pass

Thats what im starting to think lol

 

[Capulin Overdrive]

50.00 bucks for a Sovtek tube... I think I will pass

I get what you're saying, but i'm still a go with Gold Lion stuff.


New Sensor has upped the bar with some of thier offerings over the regular old Sovtek stuff.


New Tung-sol preamp and power tubes are nice. The Gold Lion power tubes are nice as well.


I don't like the Mullard Reissues preamp tubes and would stick with Sovtek over them, but the Tung-sol preamp is a step up over a fizzy Sovtek.


So my 2 cents is that i ok with a $50 V1 and chinese in the rest.

So have you tried one? Is there a noticeable difference over a tung sol?

No i haven't tried a Gold Lion 12AX7 yet. However i'm running a Gold Lion 12AU7 in my DAR and really liking it.

 

[baron55]

Well based on some info I have received. Take it at what it is worth, again second hand info.


12AX7LPS = Mullard Reissue = Gold Lion: If you look at these tubes, they look identical, the halo might be different (doesn't mean they are the same but .......)

12AX7EH= Tung Sol

New Sensor purchased all the defunct NOS tube company names and is selling pretty much the same tubes under these names. I will say the power tubes are different for the most part.

New Sensor did confirm to many tube re-sellers that the 12AX7LPS and Mullard Reissue are the same. So it would not surprise me at all that the Gold Lion is the same as well.

From what I understand is they test and grade tubes and then slap the brand name that represents the highest quality.

I see 3 types of New Sensor preamps (12AX7)

The Small compact short plates: 12AX7WA and 12AX7WB, 12AX7WC (these used to be the main preamp tubes and they were terrible, but were stock in every SLO for years)
The Small Plate 12AX7EH and Tung Sol:
The Large Plate 12AX7LP, and LPS, Mullard and Gold Lion.

I am not debating the sound quality on these, just the markup on the same tubes is ridiculous considering the new tubes don't have a good useful operating life.

 

[Capulin Overdrive]

I'll try and do some visual comparisons on the tubes after awhile.

Think the Mullard RI plates are shorter than LPS, could maybe be an LP?

Not sure on the Tung vs EH?

 

[9ball]

Well based on some info I have received. Take it at what it is worth, again second hand info.

New Sensor purchased all the defunct NOS tube company names and is selling pretty much the same tubes under these names.

That really wouldn't surprise me coming.from an american factory let alone coming out of russia lol

 

[baron55]

Well maybe he has to raise the prices to help pay off the Russian Mob.

Several years ago a group of "Russian Investors" were trying to force him out of his Saratov Plant at a very low-ball price to build a resort. Things like power lines to the factory were being mysteriously cut and other bad things. So they bought themselves their own power generator. I know Mike Mathews (owner) met with Putin about keeping his factory there. I guess it worked because this was about 5 years ago.


Here is the original strory

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/09/busin ... .html?_r=0