Let's talk current production 12ax7, good as NOS?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kapo_Polenton
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Kapo_Polenton

Kapo_Polenton

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So I found two RFT ecc83 I had wasting away in an unused Randall mts module. Popped them in my JCM800 with a JJ in V3 with 6ca7's and damn , what a sound. With a tube screamer I have the perfect balance between crunch and fullness. What current production preamp tubes do you guys like? I have tried tung sol and they are good, I stay with Chinese or JJ but the svetlanas have my interest. Has anyone tried these or the reissue mullards? How are they on life and tone ? What do you guys like in the PI ? I am sold on RFT in v1. Looking for cheaper alternatives should these bite the dust.
 
IMO nothing current sounds as good as those RFTs. Those Tung Sol pres sound nice but they don't seem to last very long. I'm also a big fan of the Amperex 12ax7's and a nice Telefunken in the PI. Not cheap, but it really does sound better and for longer too.
 
I bought some Mullards recently to go in my Marshall's (one a 6100 and a 74 MKII) and they added some gain; amps still sond great. The 6100 especially sounded good because i had some old Marshall preamps in it.

i really like the sound of the Mullards
 
There are bad NOS as there are bad new tubes. Tested new tubes that are from a reputable tubes seller will offer the best bang for the buck
 
It is always a gamble ... I just pulled the trigger on two more rft matched ecc83 so hopefully they make their way safely over from the Ukraine ! But moving forward I think I will try the Svetlana or stick with the Chinese shuagang. The tungsols do have crappy life.
 
-NOS-(#1)-Amperex-(#2)-basically anything long plate.
-C.P. Gold Lion-(gold pin)-(standards or EH)-

-Least favorite-JJ-(and I have a few for anyone wanting to trade)-
 
Anybody on the Sovtek LPS train? Read about these for PI. Thought I had bought one and had it somewhere but don't think I ever did... I am thinking RFT v1, chinese v2 (or another RFT), the PI still up for grabs. I am thinking something that keeps things tight.
 
i don't have alot of experience with a bunch of different tubes - but i do have a jan phillips 5751 in v1 of my jvm and i really like it alot. i was thinking aboout even trying another one in v2 lol.... they are lower gain than 12ax7's and it just seemed to give my amp a slightly warmer/smoother sound? i always have the gains mostly turned down under half way anyways so i figured i'd try it and it sounds good to me!
 
^I like the LPS in the PI position because it adds some clean fatness and tames the harshness a bit. Don't really like it in any other position, personally.

I really like gritty tone of the Ruby 12AX7A C5's, but they have also been the least reliable in my experience. I stick with JJ ECC83S's for gain stages because they seem to be less noisy and seem to tame some harshness and boominess on my amps as well.

With my amps, I'm not a fan of the Tung Sols. They tend to be too scooped with my already scooped-sounding amps. EHX's are pretty much unusable for me for the same reason, except the EHX's are harsher even.
 
On newer tubes, I've always felt the Ruby 7025's are the most consistent. But nothing touches the old Amperex Bugle Boy's if you can find em.
 
I've had really good luck with NOS..Sylvanias..GE....but especially the Raytheon long black plates for V1..just fantastic...I've rolled through quite a few of the new stuff...even paid the $$ for the Tube Store Northern Electric..that sounded better in the PI than V1. As far as the new issue..I stick with the Tung Sol..I've gotten pretty good life out of them, too. I also like the ECC 803...Nice big sound..good clarity too. The Chinese and JJ always sound compressed and smaller..
I tried a bunch of stuff in the Loop/PI spots..5751..AT7...but always come back to the Sovtek LPS...big, and clear...nice push into the power section. EH is good but a bit brighter for V1 than I like..The Svetlanas are really nice, but almost too nice...not overtly alive sounding...but as we all know with tubes...they are not all gems but when you find one it's like hitting the lotto...makes playing so much more fun!
 
there are no new production equivalents of the RFT ECC83 design. fantastic V1 tubes. if you like them, better buy you a few to stash away.
 
steve_k":26eolq49 said:
there are no new production equivalents of the RFT ECC83 design. fantastic V1 tubes. if you like them, better buy you a few to stash away.
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Steve, you using them in Boogies by chance? I have a few and they seem extremely bright in a Mark IV and also my Diezel Einy... They were tested before I bought em and my tester reads the same so I know they are not bad, but up againt say a new Ruby 12AX7 they are just really bright in those amps.. :confused:
 
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