Are MULLARDS ALL THAT? or is it hype?
- Thread starter OlinMusic
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shredaholic
New member
Re: Are MULLARDS ALL THAT? or is it hype?
If I had a Mesa I wouldn't use a Mullard - they're not the best for that type of sound. NOS differences aren't as apparent in high gain amps such as Mesa's.
Mullard is the best tube for blues/rock, it gives a sortof '3D quality' to the sound, and is chock full of nice sounding mids and no harsh frequencies. Best application is in V1 of a Marshall with 1 or 2 gain stages (ie 18w, jtm45, 100w plexi etc)
If I had a Mesa I wouldn't use a Mullard - they're not the best for that type of sound. NOS differences aren't as apparent in high gain amps such as Mesa's.
Mullard is the best tube for blues/rock, it gives a sortof '3D quality' to the sound, and is chock full of nice sounding mids and no harsh frequencies. Best application is in V1 of a Marshall with 1 or 2 gain stages (ie 18w, jtm45, 100w plexi etc)
Re: Are MULLARDS ALL THAT? or is it hype?
Mullard ECC83 is a nice tube---fat, a little gainy. Unfortunately, they are also a little fragile; the base is thin glass and swapping them around can break them pretty easily. I have a bunch of pulls that test good, but I also have a dozen or so with cracked bases that are toast...
Mullard ECC83 is a nice tube---fat, a little gainy. Unfortunately, they are also a little fragile; the base is thin glass and swapping them around can break them pretty easily. I have a bunch of pulls that test good, but I also have a dozen or so with cracked bases that are toast...
The Golden Boy
Fleecy Sweaterologist
Re: Are MULLARDS ALL THAT? or is it hype?
I think it really depends on the amp. I tried a set out in my Marshall and it didn't make much of a difference- but in my Park it made a world of difference.
I think it really depends on the amp. I tried a set out in my Marshall and it didn't make much of a difference- but in my Park it made a world of difference.
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Are MULLARDS ALL THAT? or is it hype?
NOS Mullard EL-34's and Mullard 5AR4's are two of my favorite tubes. I use either the Mullard 5AR4 or RCA 5AR4 in all of my old Fenders that use that kind of rectifier tube. Tone is full and rich...the best, IMO. Lew
NOS Mullard EL-34's and Mullard 5AR4's are two of my favorite tubes. I use either the Mullard 5AR4 or RCA 5AR4 in all of my old Fenders that use that kind of rectifier tube. Tone is full and rich...the best, IMO. Lew
RiffRaff
New member
Re: Are MULLARDS ALL THAT? or is it hype?
I'll go out on a limb and say - for most people they won't really make that big of a difference - current tube manufacturers such as JJ are making a great/consistent product - NOS tubes (especially mullards) are just so expensive they're not worth the investment on 99% of the amps on the market.
I'll go out on a limb and say - for most people they won't really make that big of a difference - current tube manufacturers such as JJ are making a great/consistent product - NOS tubes (especially mullards) are just so expensive they're not worth the investment on 99% of the amps on the market.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Are MULLARDS ALL THAT? or is it hype?
I don't know what to think anymore, because the quality of some new tubes is getting so good, there's less and less reason to pay big bucks for NOS tubes.
I have about 4 old 'made in Britain' ECC83's and 1 5AR4, and have A/B'd them against GT M's and other highend new tubes. I've debated selling them for enough to buy me twice as many new tubes. I put them in my Matchless, and it sounds about as good as it possibly could. I wouldn't go out and look for them though. Anytime I buy an amp, I raid the good tubes out of it, and resell it with cheapos. I don't see any reason to sell something and give them killer tubes or pickups.
I don't know what to think anymore, because the quality of some new tubes is getting so good, there's less and less reason to pay big bucks for NOS tubes.
I have about 4 old 'made in Britain' ECC83's and 1 5AR4, and have A/B'd them against GT M's and other highend new tubes. I've debated selling them for enough to buy me twice as many new tubes. I put them in my Matchless, and it sounds about as good as it possibly could. I wouldn't go out and look for them though. Anytime I buy an amp, I raid the good tubes out of it, and resell it with cheapos. I don't see any reason to sell something and give them killer tubes or pickups.
Re: Are MULLARDS ALL THAT? or is it hype?
Well, when it come to the GZ34, the Mullard/Amperex rectos are worth every dime. I am still using a Mullard GZ34 that was in my first good amp (FEI BF Deluxe Reverb) that I bought in 1974...still going strong. I don't think many of the newer 5AR4's will be around in 2045, but that Mullard just might make it.
Well, when it come to the GZ34, the Mullard/Amperex rectos are worth every dime. I am still using a Mullard GZ34 that was in my first good amp (FEI BF Deluxe Reverb) that I bought in 1974...still going strong. I don't think many of the newer 5AR4's will be around in 2045, but that Mullard just might make it.
aleclee
Major General GAS
Re: Are MULLARDS ALL THAT? or is it hype?
I don't have any NOS Mullards but I have some GE, Raytheon, RCA, and Telefunken 12AX7s. In some amps they sound bad while in other amps they're sonic joy.
In a gain monster like a Recto, some NOS tubes are too microphonic to be useful.
+1The Golden Boy said:
I don't have any NOS Mullards but I have some GE, Raytheon, RCA, and Telefunken 12AX7s. In some amps they sound bad while in other amps they're sonic joy.
In a gain monster like a Recto, some NOS tubes are too microphonic to be useful.
Re: Are MULLARDS ALL THAT? or is it hype?
Some folks selling "almost NOS" tubes on Ebay never bother to test them in a real amp. Probably most don't. So, microphonics is a real issue.
There are some killer new production tubes out there with more to come. Buy new, employ a guy overseas!
Some folks selling "almost NOS" tubes on Ebay never bother to test them in a real amp. Probably most don't. So, microphonics is a real issue.
There are some killer new production tubes out there with more to come. Buy new, employ a guy overseas!
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: Are MULLARDS ALL THAT? or is it hype?
I use the Mullard GZ34/5AR4 in my BF Fender stuff.....I don't feel the rectifier tube changes the tone though? Iit just change ac to dc so the rest of the amp works via dc,but obviously your ears hear a tonal difference? The 5AR4 has to be reliable and have longevity and the Mullard has that in spades...I do know that the rectifier tube has alot more to do with "feel" and things like "sag" and "tightness".....Not so much overall tone.
I still have a brand new set of NOS Mullard EL34s that I'm saving for later years...I do like the Svetlana series as much as the original Mullards...They are close enough that I don't remember(that much)the differences between the tubes....
I still keep a nice ole Mullard in V1 of my Marshall and then strong tubes in V2 and V3...To date,none of the new preamp tubes sound as good or as "right" in V1 as this Mullard....Haven't tryed the new Tung Sols,but the EH,EI,and JJ tubes didn't impress me in V1....The GT 12AX7M is way too pricey and I don't feel "any" current preamp tube is worth over about $20....I still have alot of mixed reviews about the GT12AX7M? Some guys love em and just as many complain that they suffer longevity issues....
Lewguitar said:
I use the Mullard GZ34/5AR4 in my BF Fender stuff.....I don't feel the rectifier tube changes the tone though? Iit just change ac to dc so the rest of the amp works via dc,but obviously your ears hear a tonal difference? The 5AR4 has to be reliable and have longevity and the Mullard has that in spades...I do know that the rectifier tube has alot more to do with "feel" and things like "sag" and "tightness".....Not so much overall tone.
I still have a brand new set of NOS Mullard EL34s that I'm saving for later years...I do like the Svetlana series as much as the original Mullards...They are close enough that I don't remember(that much)the differences between the tubes....
I still keep a nice ole Mullard in V1 of my Marshall and then strong tubes in V2 and V3...To date,none of the new preamp tubes sound as good or as "right" in V1 as this Mullard....Haven't tryed the new Tung Sols,but the EH,EI,and JJ tubes didn't impress me in V1....The GT 12AX7M is way too pricey and I don't feel "any" current preamp tube is worth over about $20....I still have alot of mixed reviews about the GT12AX7M? Some guys love em and just as many complain that they suffer longevity issues....
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STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: Are MULLARDS ALL THAT? or is it hype?
I have a ton of NOS tubes that you could say I'm saving and I use them sparingly and in key places in my tube amps....I agree with you though that there are some really good output tubes available today....Preamp tubes to me,still don't quite have it with alot of the ones I've tryed..
RiffRaff said:
I have a ton of NOS tubes that you could say I'm saving and I use them sparingly and in key places in my tube amps....I agree with you though that there are some really good output tubes available today....Preamp tubes to me,still don't quite have it with alot of the ones I've tryed..
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Uncle Unborn
New member
Re: Are MULLARDS ALL THAT? or is it hype?
They work great in my Vox...
They work great in my Vox...
