JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
.... specifically the ADA MP-1. What's the concensus?
Best 12AX7s for high gain preamps....
- Thread starter JB_From_Hell
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JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Best 12AX7s for high gain preamps....
It's got two EHs right now, one of them is silvery around the top, the other is blackened around the top (other than that they look identical). Is the blackened one bad? (I've never got inside a tube device before).
It's got two EHs right now, one of them is silvery around the top, the other is blackened around the top (other than that they look identical). Is the blackened one bad? (I've never got inside a tube device before).
bryvincent
New member
Re: Best 12AX7s for high gain preamps....
Groove Tubes 12AX7-C.
Groove Tubes 12AX7-C.
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Best 12AX7s for high gain preamps....
WHAT!
The EH 12AX7 is not a high gain tube at all, it's a great tube but not high gain nor is it low noise, and the 5751 is 70% of the gain of a 12AX7...thats almost as low as a 12AT7.
If you are looking for a high gain low noise 12AX7 the Sovtek 12AX7LPS is a great tube but I like the new Tung Sol reissues even better to be honest...that said the Sovtek LPS has more gain than the Tung Sol reissue. I hear that teh JJ's are also pretty high in gain but I hear that they are sort of dark sounding and have never tried them so I can't speak first hand.
FWIW, if I had another ADA MP-1 I'd get a pair of the Sovtek LPS's and call it a day.
idsnowdog said:
WHAT!
The EH 12AX7 is not a high gain tube at all, it's a great tube but not high gain nor is it low noise, and the 5751 is 70% of the gain of a 12AX7...thats almost as low as a 12AT7.
If you are looking for a high gain low noise 12AX7 the Sovtek 12AX7LPS is a great tube but I like the new Tung Sol reissues even better to be honest...that said the Sovtek LPS has more gain than the Tung Sol reissue. I hear that teh JJ's are also pretty high in gain but I hear that they are sort of dark sounding and have never tried them so I can't speak first hand.
FWIW, if I had another ADA MP-1 I'd get a pair of the Sovtek LPS's and call it a day.
idsnowdog
Imperator of Indignation
Re: Best 12AX7s for high gain preamps....
Some 12AX7's have black tops so if it works its ok. With two 12AX7's you can get a fairly thick distortion. With the tubes I have tried you get to about 7 on the drive for either tube and they start to lose definition and together they can sound dark. I like the 5751 in the last postion because it clips hard like a power tube and has bright lively harmonics.
Some 12AX7's have black tops so if it works its ok. With two 12AX7's you can get a fairly thick distortion. With the tubes I have tried you get to about 7 on the drive for either tube and they start to lose definition and together they can sound dark. I like the 5751 in the last postion because it clips hard like a power tube and has bright lively harmonics.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Best 12AX7s for high gain preamps....
Dark isn't a bad thing.... I actually have to fight the MP-1 to keep it from being too sizzley on top.
Thanks dude!Rainmaker said:
Dark isn't a bad thing.... I actually have to fight the MP-1 to keep it from being too sizzley on top.
Rainmaker
Bee Bee King
Re: Best 12AX7s for high gain preamps....
Speaking of gain factors...
If you have a pre-amp tube with gain factor 100, and two pre-amp tubes with gain factor 70... is the final resulting 'gain factor' 80?
100 + 70 + 70 / 3 = 240 / 3 = 80
Alllllllso........ does the position of the pre-amp tube make a difference?
Sorry for the hijack, JBFH :laugh2:
Speaking of gain factors...
If you have a pre-amp tube with gain factor 100, and two pre-amp tubes with gain factor 70... is the final resulting 'gain factor' 80?
100 + 70 + 70 / 3 = 240 / 3 = 80
Alllllllso........ does the position of the pre-amp tube make a difference?
Sorry for the hijack, JBFH :laugh2:
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Best 12AX7s for high gain preamps....
No problem man. I need to learn this stuff, too
Another tube question.... how much difference am I gonna notice putting in different ones? Are we talking different brand of strings different, or new pickup different?
No problem man. I need to learn this stuff, too
Another tube question.... how much difference am I gonna notice putting in different ones? Are we talking different brand of strings different, or new pickup different?
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Best 12AX7s for high gain preamps....
Cool.... since I'm very happy with my pickup, strings, picks, etc, I'll start the hunt for my favorite tubes
Thanks to everybody who had something to say.
Cool.... since I'm very happy with my pickup, strings, picks, etc, I'll start the hunt for my favorite tubes
Thanks to everybody who had something to say.
That90'sGuy
DyzaBoyzologist
Re: Best 12AX7s for high gain preamps....
The best 12ax7s I've experienced for high gain amplifiers is those Shuguang 9th gen. Chinese tubes. Those tubes are low noise, low microphonics and have quite a bit of gain and clarity, they just seem to work the best for high gain amplification. Reinhold Bogner praises those tubes for the preamp section along with Winged C Svetlanas for the power amp section in his amplifiers. The man is right, even NOS tubes don't sound as good in his amp designs.
I'd like to hear Gearjoneser chime in with this, but I have a feeling he'll agree with me, after all, the man turned me onto them in the first place
The best 12ax7s I've experienced for high gain amplifiers is those Shuguang 9th gen. Chinese tubes. Those tubes are low noise, low microphonics and have quite a bit of gain and clarity, they just seem to work the best for high gain amplification. Reinhold Bogner praises those tubes for the preamp section along with Winged C Svetlanas for the power amp section in his amplifiers. The man is right, even NOS tubes don't sound as good in his amp designs.
I'd like to hear Gearjoneser chime in with this, but I have a feeling he'll agree with me, after all, the man turned me onto them in the first place
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Best 12AX7s for high gain preamps....
How much do they usually cost?
How much do they usually cost?
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Best 12AX7s for high gain preamps....
I like the GT12AX7C because it's hot, but tight and defined sounding. I'm not positive, but I think they're just relabeled Shuguang 9th Generation tubes that are tested to fall withing certain tolerances. If you want to save money, and get great pre tubes, go on Ebay and type in shuguang 12ax7. Sometimes there's good deals on them, like $5 a piece.
I also like most Russian 12AX7's like Sovtek LPS, EH, the GT R's.
JJ's tend to be reliable, but I bought JJ's best pre tube, the ECC803S and the thing fried within a month. JJ ECC83 tend to be warm and medium output.
The Tungsols are great tubes too, but cost $20 a piece. The GT M's are good and expensive too, but I think they sound best in vintage amps, not modern preamps, because they can be a little bit muddy in preamps designed for highgain. I love the GT M's in my Gibson Goldtone and Chieftain though because they're clean amps I'm trying to make breakup better.
I like the GT12AX7C because it's hot, but tight and defined sounding. I'm not positive, but I think they're just relabeled Shuguang 9th Generation tubes that are tested to fall withing certain tolerances. If you want to save money, and get great pre tubes, go on Ebay and type in shuguang 12ax7. Sometimes there's good deals on them, like $5 a piece.
I also like most Russian 12AX7's like Sovtek LPS, EH, the GT R's.
JJ's tend to be reliable, but I bought JJ's best pre tube, the ECC803S and the thing fried within a month. JJ ECC83 tend to be warm and medium output.
The Tungsols are great tubes too, but cost $20 a piece. The GT M's are good and expensive too, but I think they sound best in vintage amps, not modern preamps, because they can be a little bit muddy in preamps designed for highgain. I love the GT M's in my Gibson Goldtone and Chieftain though because they're clean amps I'm trying to make breakup better.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Best 12AX7s for high gain preamps....
I read your review from last year, but thanks for chiming in here. Dave's selling me some JJs for cheap, so I'm gonna go ahead and get them, but I think I'm gonna go for a pair of the GT12AX7Cs, too.
What really sucks is there's an electronics surplus joint about 20 min from me, and they stock every tube EXCEPT 12AX7s. Bastards.
I read your review from last year, but thanks for chiming in here. Dave's selling me some JJs for cheap, so I'm gonna go ahead and get them, but I think I'm gonna go for a pair of the GT12AX7Cs, too.
What really sucks is there's an electronics surplus joint about 20 min from me, and they stock every tube EXCEPT 12AX7s. Bastards.
ParameterMan
New member
Re: Best 12AX7s for high gain preamps....
NOS Tesla E83CC. Supposed to be identical in every way to the Telefunkens. Came from the same factory. Fantastic crunchy tone, full and rich, without the top end snazz of chinese tubes. I can only find them on ebay, mostly from sellers in Britain. You must try 'em.
NOS Tesla E83CC. Supposed to be identical in every way to the Telefunkens. Came from the same factory. Fantastic crunchy tone, full and rich, without the top end snazz of chinese tubes. I can only find them on ebay, mostly from sellers in Britain. You must try 'em.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Best 12AX7s for high gain preamps....
If they're more than $15 a pop, chances are they won't see any time in my preamp.
If they're more than $15 a pop, chances are they won't see any time in my preamp.
Dave
New member
Re: Best 12AX7s for high gain preamps....
FWIW-I had GT's in my amp and replaced with EH's. I agree w/GJ that the GT's were more defined. My overall impression was that the EH's were a bit gainier, and therefore "gainier". But perhaps a proper conclusion is that they just weren't as tight-rather than hotter and gainier.
Listening to others with more exposure to these things It's a good way to learn, indeed-can bolster and redefine one's impressions. I'll probably get some JJ's next time around.
idsnowdog said:
FWIW-I had GT's in my amp and replaced with EH's. I agree w/GJ that the GT's were more defined. My overall impression was that the EH's were a bit gainier, and therefore "gainier". But perhaps a proper conclusion is that they just weren't as tight-rather than hotter and gainier.
Listening to others with more exposure to these things It's a good way to learn, indeed-can bolster and redefine one's impressions. I'll probably get some JJ's next time around.
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