12AX7 Shootout!

[mrid]

So, what's THE BEST current production 12AX7 out there? Out of all the ones I've tried, the Sovtek 12AX7LPS sounds the best to me. I love the EH 12AX7, but it fuzzes out when I crank the preamp. JJ's are great, but they are a bit dark and they can smooth things out a bit too much. Has anyone tried that new GT Mullard copy?

[Gearjoneser]

Re: 12AX7 Shootout!

MRID, your opinion pretty much mirrors mine on 12AX7's.

I have a drawer of every 12AX7 I raided from "seller" amps.
I've done my own shootout of 12AX7's, when I was truly bored.

My favorite's for highgain are Sovtek LPS, EI Gold Elite, EI, Telefunken,
GT Chinese, and JJ's for that smoothed out gain.

For clean amps, I like Tesla JJ's, GE, Sylvania, GT blackplate copies,
and other ones that are in my highgain list, as well.

The pre's I don't like are most cheap Chinese tubes, Sovtek A's, Ruby tubes,
These are what the amp companies usually use, cause they're less than $4 each.

I love Svetlana power tubes, but have been told that their pre's aren't as
desireable. One of these days, I'll try them, so I know for sure.

[mrid]

Re: 12AX7 Shootout!

I need to try EI's...do they fuzz out when you crank the amp? I've heard that the EI gold pins and plain EI's are made by completely different manufacturers...true?

[Stevo]

Re: 12AX7 Shootout!

My opinions:

JJs for Marshall plexi styles
EH for Marshall jcm800 styles
Sovtek LPS for classic Fender amps

[Gearjoneser]

Re: 12AX7 Shootout!

I'd imagine your new Tonemaster is a perfect amp for testing tubes.
The clean is very open and will show differences in tone. The OD channel is the same way. The Tonemaster has a pretty hard sounding OD, so I'd imagine trying to get it as smooth as possible would be the goal. You should try a Holier Grail or Nanoverb
through the FX loop to give it some air. I'm using a Holy Grail on my Ecstasy, but only because it has a mixable FX loop that allows me to let just a certain amount of verb in.
Since your FX loop isn't adjustable, I'd get a reverb unit that has it's own mix control.
Then, your clean channel will have the verb like a Vibroking.

[Gearjoneser]

Re: 12AX7 Shootout!

I need to try EI's...do they fuzz out when you crank the amp? I've heard that the EI gold pins and plain EI's are made by completely different manufacturers...true?

EI's are great toned pre tubes that are a bit gainy.

They don't sound that good in my Matchless, but sound great in my Jubilee.

To me the one's that sound fizzy are the Sovtek 12AX7A's, but it's hard to say, because different pre tubes react different in different amps.

The best thing to do is start a collection of all the best pre tubes, then anytime you have a new amp, start swapping the first pos. tube.
When you find a winner, order a set of 3, and you're done!

I just put a Sovtek LPS in an amp that isn't technically a tube amp,
my Vox Valvetronix head. Essentially, the tone of that tube gets fed to
the solid state power section. It's hard to tell, but I think that amp does sound a little better now. It came with a Sovtek WA I think.

[stratvox]

Re: 12AX7 Shootout!

If i may add my two cents......We spend thousands on guitars and amps and pedals. Why not spend a wee bit more for NOS? In fact you can get used for almost the same as new production. I just got three used mullard 12ax7s( headed right for my marshall combo) for 41 bucks off ebay. They test good and will last years. The groove tubes "mullard copy" yeah right, is 20 plus bucks itself. But if you need new, look for someone who checks out the Eis first, try lord valve. they tend to be microphonic.

[lastwinj]

Re: 12AX7 Shootout!

mrid,

the EH 12ax7 is a bright tube, so thats probably the reason it fuzzes out. also has alot of gain. the JJ is a darker tube, as you described.
as gearjoneser said, "because different pre tubes react different in different amps". thi is sooo true.

germ

[shred-dog]

Re: 12AX7 Shootout!

which pre amp tubes for a soldano hot rod 50 and a marshall jcm900 SL-X ? i was thinkin JJ in the soldano and no clue for the marshall

[JfromHouston]

Re: 12AX7 Shootout!

I have had both JJ and EH pre's in my DSL and 5150. I ended up using the EH in my DSL because the JJs sounded to dark in the DSL. The JJs in the 5150 worked out great because the Sheffield speakers are so bright that it tamed them down a bit.

.02

[AmpliFIRE]

Re: 12AX7 Shootout!

I agree with the different tubes for different amps theory as well. That being said, I find EH's to be the best current production model. Very clear and consistent with great all arounnd tone.

However, RFT's are my preamp tube of choice!

[mrid]

Re: 12AX7 Shootout!

mrid,

the EH 12ax7 is a bright tube, so thats probably the reason it fuzzes out. also has alot of gain. the JJ is a darker tube, as you described.
as gearjoneser said, "because different pre tubes react different in different amps". thi is sooo true.

germ

Yes, the EH's sound great in my Marshall...I guess it really depends on the preamp design.

shred-dog: I'd give the JJ's a try in a bright/fuzzy amp like the JCM 900. If they're too dark, put an EH 12AX7 in V1.

JfromHouston: Have you tried mixing EH's and JJ's? That's one thing I regret trying before I sold my DSL. With the EH in V1, the amp should brighten up, but the JJ's in the other positions should smooth out the preamp.

[JfromHouston]

Re: 12AX7 Shootout!

JfromHouston: Have you tried mixing EH's and JJ's? That's one thing I regret trying before I sold my DSL. With the EH in V1, the amp should brighten up, but the JJ's in the other positions should smooth out the preamp.

Actually that was the first thing I did when I got the EHs in. Yes it worked well. Some of it my have had to do with the Eminence speakers I was running with the DSL as well though. I was selling the 5150 and the JJs were older so I just loaded them all in the 5150 before I sold it. Figured keep the newest tubes (that sounded best anyways) in the Marhsall.


J

[Budweiser]

Re: 12AX7 Shootout!

So what, in your opinion would work best in a Marshall AVT50?

[dystrust]

Re: 12AX7 Shootout!

I agree with Stevo.

In my Jubilee 2555 I love the way EH 12AX7s sound, but exactly the same tubes really didn't do it for me in a '73 Super Lead 100. They still sounded good, but I had to very carefully balance the volumes (bridged) to avoid buzzy distortion.