JJ ECC83s or Tung-Sol 12AX7 current production?

[PINKBITS]

Re: JJ ECC83s or Tung-Sol 12AX7 current production?

It really depends on the amp and cab you are using. I hated JJ's in my laneys in the v1 and v2 positions. Muddy and mushy. The Tungsols sounded fantastic, brighter and much more clarity and punch. Unfortunatley in my GH50l they added hum. They work great in my Lionheart in v1 though.

I generally use a mixture of Tunsol for the punch and clarity and use Penta Labs and maybe a single JJ to add a little chewiness to the tone, if that makes any sence.

As I said one tube may sound great with one setup but will sound terrible with another.

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: JJ ECC83s or Tung-Sol 12AX7 current production?

The new TS's are killer...brighter and more articulate than the JJ's but not brittle at all...I much prefer them to the JJ FWIW...

[B Bent]

Re: JJ ECC83s or Tung-Sol 12AX7 current production?

I have had very mixed luck with microphonics and them just quitting way too soon or being DOA. The ones that have actually worked seem OK to me. I honestly need a few X7s right now and will not be ordering the Tung Sols. I am just scared of the shottyness I have experienced thus far.

[wixedmords]

Re: JJ ECC83s or Tung-Sol 12AX7 current production?

I don't have any problem with either but choose for sound in the various amps I use tubes in. I'd never load any amp up completely with either tube.

[ken361]

Re: JJ ECC83s or Tung-Sol 12AX7 current production?

Im a tube whore! i tried a few, best bet is getting used or new nos tubes. I was surprised that the sovtek lps sounded very close to the nos tubes, well worth it IMO.

[PINKBITS]

Re: JJ ECC83s or Tung-Sol 12AX7 current production?

I don't have any problem with either but choose for sound in the various amps I use tubes in. I'd never load any amp up completely with either tube.

Great advice as usual Wixed.

[StrangeSound]

Re: JJ ECC83s or Tung-Sol 12AX7 current production?

Im a tube whore! i tried a few, best bet is getting used or new nos tubes. I was surprised that the sovtek lps sounded very close to the nos tubes, well worth it IMO.

I just installed 2 sovteks LPS and one EI tube which all replaced JJ tubes in my Engl Screamer. The amp sounds so much better now o.O Clear but not harsh, smooth really.

The problem I have with the sovtek is, that they don't glow so bright as the other tubes, does it mean I got some duds altough it sounds good?

[Boogie Bill]

Re: JJ ECC83s or Tung-Sol 12AX7 current production?

I'm interested in the Tung-Sol 12AX7s for use in some of my Mesa amps. I agree that the JJ's are a little too dark. I've used the EH 12AX7s, but the Groove Tubes GY12AX7-M "Mullard clone" sound the smoothest and creamiest in the Mark Series amps. I gather these are hard to find now; and some have reported them to be noisy and short-lived. The Mesas need a very high quality tube in the V1 socket: durable, with low-noise, and it must be non-microphonic.

Can anyone give me a rundown on the Tung-Sol versus the EH, and the GT 12AX7-M? The New Sensor Mullard looks interesting, too.

TIA.

Bill

[FuseG4]

Re: JJ ECC83s or Tung-Sol 12AX7 current production?

I use Tung-sol in the pre-amp and a JJ el84. The Tungsol is bright and grittier by a lil bit in my amp. I like it!

[ken361]

Re: JJ ECC83s or Tung-Sol 12AX7 current production?

I just installed 2 sovteks LPS and one EI tube which all replaced JJ tubes in my Engl Screamer. The amp sounds so much better now o.O Clear but not harsh, smooth really.

The problem I have with the sovtek is, that they don't glow so bright as the other tubes, does it mean I got some duds altough it sounds good?

its normal for those tubes.

[Rowan]

Re: JJ ECC83s or Tung-Sol 12AX7 current production?

I just installed 2 sovteks LPS and one EI tube which all replaced JJ tubes in my Engl Screamer. The amp sounds so much better now o.O Clear but not harsh, smooth really.

The problem I have with the sovtek is, that they don't glow so bright as the other tubes, does it mean I got some duds altough it sounds good?

Yeah I have the LPS in my Screamer too and they sound amazing. Much better than the JJ ones or stock tubes. I did test drive a gold pin Tung Sol in the V1 for a couple days though. Its a nice tube but the LPS suit this amp so much better.

[StrangeSound]

Re: JJ ECC83s or Tung-Sol 12AX7 current production?

Yeah I have the LPS in my Screamer too and they sound amazing. Much better than the JJ ones or stock tubes. I did test drive a gold pin Tung Sol in the V1 for a couple days though. Its a nice tube but the LPS suit this amp so much better.

I wanted to sell the amp but it was just the stoopid JJ preamp tubes, it sounds really great now. Cheers

[ken361]

Re: JJ ECC83s or Tung-Sol 12AX7 current production?

good deal man

[Dark Order Lord]

Re: JJ ECC83s or Tung-Sol 12AX7 current production?

I made my comparisons with an 18 watt Marshall clone 1x12 w/Greenback RI and an LP with Seths and 500K CTS pots.

To my ears (and with my particular tube samples), the JJ 12AX7's were more compressed than the Tung Sols. The seemed to lop off the initial attack and had a slower, longer decay...literally as if a compressor effect was put into the signal chain. The JJ's had a low-mid emphasis which gives them that "warmer" sound, but they still had plenty of high-treble bite. The midrange was slightly fatter. I have an older GT-labeled version that is not as compressed with a slightly darker character that I like better. The test samples above were too compressed and "sterile" to me.

The Tung Sol reissue 12AX7's were more open with better touch sensitivity and dynamics. They had less apparent sustain due to a lack of relative compression. They are very detailed with nice upper-end harmonics and complexity. They are not sterile sounding. They are brighter than the JJ's and have a slighly scooped midrange to my ears along with a stronger low bass response; low notes were a bit too bassy. Although they sound very nice, they thinned out the tone of this particular amp. They sound more "Fender" than "Marshall."

I agree with this assessment, but I will add how this applies to the Marshall JCM2000 TSL100, of which I own two of them. In regards to JJecc-83s, the have a much quicker pick attack than the Tung Sols, tighter low end, fuller more even midrange, and are not harsh on the top end, no spickyness or twang that the Tun Sols suffer from. They are perfect with the JJ-ECC803 I have in the PI position. I currently have ecc-83s in V1-2-3, replacing my Tung Sols.

The Tung Sold have a tendancy to die in the V3 cathode follower of these amps, I have lost 2. As you mentioned " They are brighter than the JJ's and have a slighly scooped midrange to my ears along with a stronger low bass response; low notes were a bit too bassy", in my Marshalls the TOO BASSY part means flubby mud to these Marshalls.

My current Power Tubes are the JJ E34L in one amp (going to change soon to the JJ-EL34II), and my main amp JJ-EL34II, which I absolutely love. Tried Tung Sol EL34B's, Winged C's, Mullard RI, Svetlana S, and the JJ-EL34II just tops them all.

[Gtrjunior]

Re: JJ ECC83s or Tung-Sol 12AX7 current production?

I agree with this assessment, but I will add how this applies to the Marshall JCM2000 TSL100, of which I own two of them. In regards to JJecc-83s, the have a much quicker pick attack than the Tung Sols, tighter low end, fuller more even midrange, and are not harsh on the top end, no spickyness or twang that the Tun Sols suffer from. They are perfect with the JJ-ECC803 I have in the PI position. I currently have ecc-83s in V1-2-3, replacing my Tung Sols.

The Tung Sold have a tendancy to die in the V3 cathode follower of these amps, I have lost 2. As you mentioned " They are brighter than the JJ's and have a slighly scooped midrange to my ears along with a stronger low bass response; low notes were a bit too bassy", in my Marshalls the TOO BASSY part means flubby mud to these Marshalls.

My current Power Tubes are the JJ E34L in one amp (going to change soon to the JJ-EL34II), and my main amp JJ-EL34II, which I absolutely love. Tried Tung Sol EL34B's, Winged C's, Mullard RI, Svetlana S, and the JJ-EL34II just tops them all.

The reason that V3 is killing your tubes is that the voltage is higher in that slot. I had the same problem in my JVM. There are a couple of times on the market that can handle V3. Off the top of my head the only one I can remember for sure is TAD. Iirc, it can handle up to 180v. You’ll need to look at the spec sheets for whatever tube you’re thinking of installing in V3.
I can’t speak to your amps, but this issue is known with the JVM. If you google it you’ll find lots of info on it.