Peter, why Shuguang/Chinese over Tung Sol, etc?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ventura
  • Start date Start date
Ventura

Ventura

Well-known member
Herr Peter,

Is there a reason you recommend the Chinese/Shuguang 12AX7's over higher quality preamps like Tung Sol, etc?

Thank you,
V.
 
I recommend them soundwise, but You have to take effort
to get low microphonic ones.

Tung Sol are good tubes of course but I miss the high
midrange to cut through.
 
THAT is the answer I really needed to read - thank you.

V.
 
Peter Diezel":2evrn4rg said:
I recommend them soundwise, but You have to take effort
to get low microphonic ones.

Tung Sol are good tubes of course but I miss the high
midrange to cut through.
Click to expand...

So Tung Sols Are Less Bright, and Warmer?? :confused:

Roid RAGE
 
RoidRage":25l391m1 said:
Peter Diezel":25l391m1 said:
I recommend them soundwise, but You have to take effort
to get low microphonic ones.

Tung Sol are good tubes of course but I miss the high
midrange to cut through.
Click to expand...

So Tung Sols Are Less Bright, and Warmer?? :confused:

Roid RAGE
Click to expand...

In my last VH4, I installed all new TS 12AX7's from front to back and it sounded dyno! I've been using TS preamps in pretty well all my amps. I was really just wondering why Peter was so into the Chinese lower drawer 12AX7's compared to other higher end models out there, seeing as these amps are pretty high end themselves. I'm tempted to go with the gold tipped TS 12AX7's to get rid of this intermittent pop and crackle I get on my Channel 1 periodically.

Will keep you posted. Overall though, the TS tubes OD well, they have linearity throughout the spectrum, and they last long.

V.
 
I have been addicted to the tung sol reissues since they came out. Love this tube!
 
moltenmetalburn":1dq0xqqr said:
I have been addicted to the tung sol reissues since they came out. Love this tube!
Click to expand...

This makes me feel a hella better... I was starting to think I was off my top, thinking Tung Sol's sounded better and seemed more stable and were overdriven smoother than Chinese/Shuguang tubes. :loco:

Phew!! :clap:
V.
 
I thought Peter recommended Chinese/Ruby HG/HG+ for reliability's sake. If not, I'd love to dump them and get preamps that are less prone to microphonics and noise. I started getting a weird pop/crackle on all channels and I JUST put in new tubes 3 or 4 weeks ago. When I got the amp it had Tung Sol in V1 and V2 and it sounded a little better.
 
From what I've gathered en masse, Chinese/Shuguang are a) plentiful, b) not too expensive, c) consistent and d) easy to push into overdrive. I believe it's for these reasons Peter (and many other amp manufacturers) have used them as the default go-to tube. And all in all, they are awesome little tubes, but there's better out there for sure - and as I'm just not into a crap shoot of buying re-branded Chinese/Shuguang (which is exactly what Ruby's, Groove's and Penta's are) tubes, I'd like to upgrade in my next purchase to something with a bit more quality.

Please correct me if I am wrong here Peter.

Namaste,
V.
 
chinese 12ax7s are the most reliable hands down to any new production tube. They sound good but most importantly they work. I use these and then some times in the first slot the tungsol. Dave
 
OKAY ALRIGHT.....Enough already.... I GET IT!!! :doh:

Thanks to you BOTH :cheers2: for chiming in and explaining things a weeeeeeee bit better. I just have this hard time getting around generic no-name Chinese preamp tubes being 'da bomb' for a pimp amp like Diezel. Mr. Friedman, thanks too, for adding yer 2 cents.

Shuguang HG+ it is.... :cry:

V.
 
This thread made me order some Shuguang 12AX7Bs for my Einstein. Paid $6.50 each from ebay with $5.00 shipping for the whole order. I will link to the guy's ebay store if everything with shipping works out good.

I like Peter's comment that these have the high mids. I have all Tung-sol's in my Einstein, and I find it a bit lacking in the high mid area. that might make the Einstein sound even better for me (if that is possible :confused: )
 
Just as an aside (also noted on the VH4S Channel 1 crackle/pop thread), I went ahead and ordered 2 x TAD 7025 and 7 x Chinese 12AX7B for my VH4S. The TAD's will go into V1 and V2, and the Shugs into the rest... I passed this by Herr Diezel before pulling the trigger on the order and he totally gave it thumbs up. As mentioned in the other thread, I didn't go full out with TADs as they're pretty f'n expensive.

This oughta do it. Really, at the end of the day, I probably could have just replaced V3 and V4 (I think) to see if this eliminated the pop and crackle, but wtf, go big or go home :thumbsup:

Peace,
V.
 
Just an update...

I received my order of new preamps today and installed them almost immediately.

V1 and V2 are adorned with TAD 7025S 12AX7's
V3 through V9 with Shuguang 12AX7B (what's considered High Grade)

I turned on the amp, let 'er warm up, and then hit the "TRUTH" button, namely "RUN". The amp was DEAD quiet... Ah, then I see, it was on Channel 1, so I play through it for a while - no popping or crackling. Then Channel 2...hey is it me or does this sound more rich and full of warm grunt? Still VERY quiet. Then the ubiquitous Channel 3 - as always, surgically tight and clinical in its attack...get this - DEAD quiet. Channel 4?? All the balls in the world as usual, and gain dimed JUST to see if...it...um...well...would it....could it........YEP!!!! Quiet!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think either I lucked out, or this TAD/Shuguang config just solved a LOT of problems.

Best,
V.
 
Ventura":3jv11uwh said:
I think either I lucked out, or this TAD/Shuguang config just solved a LOT of problems.

Best,
V.
Click to expand...

Let me rephrase that, not problems per se, but some things that sought potential improvement. I don't have problems with my Diezel gear! :gethim:

Peace & Love, and INCREDIBLE TONE :D
V.
 
Ventura":qgsvt476 said:
Just an update...

V1 and V2 are adorned with TAD 7025S 12AX7's
V3 through V9 with Shuguang 12AX7B (what's considered High Grade)
Click to expand...

Hey Ventura!

Just a quick question for you:

Why did you go for the TAD 7025S (Mullard style?) and not the TAD 7025 HIGHGRADE Premium Selected?

Was it to get a more classic/vintage-style tone?
Thinking about those TADs myself...
 
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