C8 in B Standard - Also: 12AT7 vs 12AX7 in Cathhode F

[surface54]

tuned my C8 to B standard, first time ever and ive been playing for 23 years. the C8 does a very good job at keep it pretty tight.

i tried a little test for which tube goes in v3 (CF), i finally wanted to hear how my vintage tung sol 12at7 really affects the tone in a higher gain situation.

in order
vintage Tung Sol 12at7
https://home.comcast.net/~musicalsx/sounds/vintageTS-12at7.mp3
no label chinese 12ax7
https://home.comcast.net/~musicalsx/sounds/Chinese12ax7.mp3
GT 12ax7r
https://home.comcast.net/~musicalsx/sounds/GTR12ax7r.mp3

i didnt change anything on the amp, no volume changes or anything.
you can really tell the at7 just has less volume and push/bass
i personally like the GTR. it just sounds more tame than the Chinese.

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: C8 in B Standard - Also: 12AT7 vs 12AX7 in Cathhode F

That GT definitely has more bass to it. Not as raspy or trebly as the Chinese either but just as loud.

I vote for the GT!

 

[surface54]

Re: C8 in B Standard - Also: 12AT7 vs 12AX7 in Cathhode F

That GT definitely has more bass to it. Not as raspy or trebly as the Chinese either but just as loud.

I vote for the GT!

thanks man! how ya been! go browns!!

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: C8 in B Standard - Also: 12AT7 vs 12AX7 in Cathhode F

I've been great! Bout to record some more guitar vids, finally!

And yes, go brownies!

 

[surface54]

Re: C8 in B Standard - Also: 12AT7 vs 12AX7 in Cathhode F

I've been great! Bout to record some more guitar vids, finally!

And yes, go brownies!

cool man, your vids just shred my a$$ off. i mean really you are a premier lead guitarist do0d.

i must say i sometimes forget about the browns and the broncos..
but the way the bears are playing if there's any pressure on the bears offensive line cutler gets beaten up and angry.

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: C8 in B Standard - Also: 12AT7 vs 12AX7 in Cathhode F

Thanks, man. You're too kind.

Bears are lookin' good! If Cutler can stay healthy they'll definitely be back in the playoffs.

 

[surface54]

Re: C8 in B Standard - Also: 12AT7 vs 12AX7 in Cathhode F

 

[CTN]

Re: C8 in B Standard - Also: 12AT7 vs 12AX7 in Cathhode F

interesting comparison.

The 12AT7 sounds the most crisp and articulate but also seems slightly lower volume than the other two, and the GT has the most warm low-mids and all out GRIND.

I think i'd prolly keep the GT in.

 

[surface54]

Re: C8 in B Standard - Also: 12AT7 vs 12AX7 in Cathhode F

interesting comparison.

The 12AT7 sounds the most crisp and articulate but also seems slightly lower volume than the other two, and the GT has the most warm low-mids and all out GRIND.

I think i'd prolly keep the GT in.

ya the GT is staying it. its a pretty good tube actually, even though its just a glorified sovtek-wa, but the standards of the tube are very intact and not too shabby. its old too. its probably way past its prime in tube life..

interesting fact.
since the volume differences were noticeable, i tried bringing the GT 12ax7R clip volume down to identical levels with the AT7 and the "only" difference is volume, the tone was identical. the AT7 didnt like going up in volume, only the AX7 coming down.
its cool how much a AT7 can change an amps aggression level.
important stage for an amp i now understand.

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: C8 in B Standard - Also: 12AT7 vs 12AX7 in Cathhode F

Maaaaaan, I can hear that Industrial Processes clip leading into a seriously kick ass song.

 

[P.A.Foholic]

Re: C8 in B Standard - Also: 12AT7 vs 12AX7 in Cathhode F

Maaaaaan, I can hear that Industrial Processes clip leading into a seriously kick ass song.

True dat! I can already hear some meshuggah/scar symmetry -like riffs in there

 

[surface54]

Re: C8 in B Standard - Also: 12AT7 vs 12AX7 in Cathhode F

scar symmetry FTW
they got me back into metal after a 6 year hiatus while i was making electronic music.

 

[surface54]

Re: C8 in B Standard - Also: 12AT7 vs 12AX7 in Cathhode F

ok test #2
which tube for slot v2, which is the extra gain stage of my marshall dsl100. it applies on the lead channels, this is chan lead 1.

in order
vintage Tung Sol 12at7
https://home.comcast.net/~musicalsx/sounds/v2-TungSolAT7.mp3
no label chinese 12ax7
https://home.comcast.net/~musicalsx/sounds/v2-Chinese.mp3
LPS
https://home.comcast.net/~musicalsx/sounds/v2-LPS.mp3

i think its a good tie between the AT7 and the LPS.
AT7 sounds alot smoother, LPS is bigger

 

[CTN]

Re: C8 in B Standard - Also: 12AT7 vs 12AX7 in Cathhode F

yep, AT7 is smoother, Chinese is more saturated, and LPS is the perfect in-between of those two.

if you were going for articulation, I'd say stay with the LPS or AT7, and if you want balls out gain, Chinese.

 

[surface54]

Re: C8 in B Standard - Also: 12AT7 vs 12AX7 in Cathhode F

yep, AT7 is smoother, Chinese is more saturated, and LPS is the perfect in-between of those two.

if you were going for articulation, I'd say stay with the LPS or AT7, and if you want balls out gain, Chinese.

dude im just happy that you guys are hearing the same thing as me.
what you described is exactly how i felt.

i like the AT7 for its lack of gain it helps cut the clarity out of the mess of noise, but so does the LPS.
the chinese just doesnt feel open enough, it compresses the volume down and feeds gain more.
the cool thing is i can use the LPS and then back down the volume of the SD-1 from 100% to say 75% and it sounds very close to the AT7 with the boss on 100% volume. so LPS in my mind wins for overall versatility it cleans up and loosens the gain better than the chinese does.
but i wonder though, if the chinese wouldnt sit better in a full mix cause its not as big sounding.
all in all a good tube testing day.

 

[CTN]

Re: C8 in B Standard - Also: 12AT7 vs 12AX7 in Cathhode F

do it up! :headbang:

as for the chinese tube sitting in a mix, I dunno, I'm not a production guru, but I would guess that if the LPS sounds too articulate in the mix, you can always remedy it by smoothing off the treble/mids with an EQ, or you can compress it. The nice thing about that is you can play around with the compression settings to get exactly what you want, instead of having to be limited by the compression of the chinese tube.

besides, there's still plenty of thump and grind to balance out the articulation with the LPS

 

[RobSoundtrack]

Re: C8 in B Standard - Also: 12AT7 vs 12AX7 in Cathhode F

Ugh. Do not try these Links from your Android phones

 

[surface54]

Re: C8 in B Standard - Also: 12AT7 vs 12AX7 in Cathhode F

Ugh. Do not try these Links from your Android phones

what happened? android is probably a rival network to comcast and blocks there pages

 

[surface54]

Re: C8 in B Standard - Also: 12AT7 vs 12AX7 in Cathhode F

ok last but not least v1 test

in order
vintage Tung Sol 12at7
https://home.comcast.net/~musicalsx/sounds/v1-TungSolAT7.mp3
no label chinese 12ax7
https://home.comcast.net/~musicalsx/sounds/v1-Chinese.mp3
Penta 12ax7b
https://home.comcast.net/~musicalsx/sounds/v2-Penta.mp3

the AT7 sounds nice layered and panned but, by itself there is no sustain.
i have to boost gain on the SD-1 to even get lead solo notes to sustain nicely.
i can keep the boost gain at zero if i use the penta or chinese in v1 which i prefer doing.

 

[CTN]

Re: C8 in B Standard - Also: 12AT7 vs 12AX7 in Cathhode F

again, the AT7 is lower gain, more articulate, but lacking in muscle
chinese is once again the most saturated
the penta has a really nice muscular vibe, a good amount of saturation, and is still nice and articulate. I vote penta.