Hey Lew...Please Tell Me About The Tung Sol 12AX7s?

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: I'm not Lew but...

Re: I'm not Lew but...

No probs with the half dozen or so 12AX7Ms I've used. OTOH, I buy from Lord Valve so the tubes are tested pretty rigorously.

When I hear "dark & smooth", I think JJ.

Maybe you have the newer series and your's are the "good ones"...Hopefully for your sake they are....:bigthumb:

Providing they give you long term tone and reliability,I'd hate spending $25 per tube to only get a few months out of em....I really need to buy just 1 and try it for myself though...Thanks Aleclee

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Hey Lew...Please Tell Me About The Tung Sol 12AX7s?

OK...the findings are in and the new Tung Sols have an excellant tone!

Much richer than the Chinese made 12ax7 tubes...the Tung Sols are smoother and not so shrill. Nice gain too!

Didn't have any NOS Tung Sols to compare them to but I think the new Tung Sols compare to some of the nicer sounding NOS GE 12ax7's I have.

(I tend to use NOS RCA and GE preamp tubes in my old Fenders that use 12ax7's)

Didn't notice any microphonics...seems like many of the Chinese tubes are microphonic.

Seems like the new Tung Sols would be an excellant tube in a bright amp like a Marshall.

Lew

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Hey Lew...Please Tell Me About The Tung Sol 12AX7s?

OK...the findings are in and the new Tung Sols have an excellant tone!

Much richer than the Chinese made 12ax7 tubes...the Tung Sols are smoother and not so shrill. Nice gain too!

Didn't have any NOS Tung Sols to compare them to but I think the new Tung Sols compare to some of the nicer sounding NOS GE 12ax7's I have.

(I tend to use NOS RCA and GE preamp tubes in my old Fenders that use 12ax7's)

Didn't notice any microphonics...seems like many of the Chinese tubes are microphonic.

Seems like the new Tung Sols would be an excellant tube in a bright amp like a Marshall.

Lew

Excellent Lew......I'll need a couple off of you buddy.....To start off with at least...:bigthumb:

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Hey Lew...Please Tell Me About The Tung Sol 12AX7s?

I was interested in some reviews on the new Tung-Sols as well.

When I re-tube my Marshall again I think I'm going to pick up a few of the JJ 803S' in addition to the high gain 83S'. I talked to Bob at Eurotubes about them, he said that they are very warm and rich (which is what I also read on the Dr. Z forum). However due to the very long plate (1/8" longer than the old Telefunken) construction he won't warranty them in a combo.

Luke

 

[B Bent]

Re: Hey Lew...Please Tell Me About The Tung Sol 12AX7s?

Christian is right!! I put the TS 12AX7s in my VHT late last week and I got to put them through the ropes this Saturday when I went to my brother's house to jam(he's a drummer). The VHT was cool before but holy cow this amp really came to life with all new tubes.I also bought a set of JJ EL34s before I got to his house. The amp has a much cleaner gain. There is a ton of gain but it doesnt start to get raspy or cluttered sounding. My guitar felt like an extension of my fingers. The amp was so much more responsive and smooth. I really cant say enough about the difference that these tubes made in my already killer amp. I do not claim to have the kind of ear that can hear some of the more minor things that some of you guys can hear. So realize I am reviewing these tubes from that aspect. The are like budda!!!

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Hey Lew...Please Tell Me About The Tung Sol 12AX7s?

Christian is right!! I put the TS 12AX7s in my VHT late last week and I got to put them through the ropes this Saturday when I went to my brother's house to jam(he's a drummer). The VHT was cool before but holy cow this amp really came to life with all new tubes.I also bought a set of JJ EL34s before I got to his house. The amp has a much cleaner gain. There is a ton of gain but it doesnt start to get raspy or cluttered sounding. My guitar felt like an extension of my fingers. The amp was so much more responsive and smooth. I really cant say enough about the difference that these tubes made in my already killer amp. I do not claim to have the kind of ear that can hear some of the more minor things that some of you guys can hear. So realize I am reviewing these tubes from that aspect. The are like budda!!!

That's great to hear brother! I'm going to contact Lew really soon here and order some new Tung Sols to try out....I'm still using early run Svetlana EL34s in my Marshall and I Like them....It's really the preamp tubes I'd like to try out....I wanted to try the GT EL34LS tubes that Trace uses in his V Plex amps and Trace is sending me one of his MM O Transformers and a MM choke for my amp...The amp sounds great now and if the choke and OT make any difference,Holy sh$t! :bigthumb:

 

[B Bent]

Re: Hey Lew...Please Tell Me About The Tung Sol 12AX7s?

^^^^^BTW John^^^^^^^
The El34s I used were the JJ El34Ls which are "supposed" to be a little hotter than normal 34s. They freakin smoke man!! I am a self proclaimed 6L6 guy, but these 34s blew me away coupled with the Tung sols!!!!!

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Hey Lew...Please Tell Me About The Tung Sol 12AX7s?

^^^^^BTW John^^^^^^^
The El34s I used were the JJ El34Ls which are "supposed" to be a little hotter than normal 34s. They freakin smoke man!! I am a self proclaimed 6L6 guy, but these 34s blew me away coupled with the Tung sols!!!!!

I haven't tryed the JJs,but I spoke to Trace(Voodoo Amps) the other day about them..He said "He hates JJ tubes"... ;o) I do know alot of people love them though....That's great news though for you! Too many variables with gear,guitars,etc...to say you hate something....I say anyway..:bigthumb:

 

[marvar]

Re: Hey Lew...Please Tell Me About The Tung Sol 12AX7s?

^^^^^BTW John^^^^^^^
The El34s I used were the JJ El34Ls which are "supposed" to be a little hotter than normal 34s. They freakin smoke man!! I am a self proclaimed 6L6 guy, but these 34s blew me away coupled with the Tung sols!!!!!

The EL34Ls is a true 30 watt tube- the other EL34 tubes are generally 25 watt.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Hey Lew...Please Tell Me About The Tung Sol 12AX7s?

The EL34Ls is a true 30 watt tube- the other EL34 tubes are generally 25 watt.

Is this the same tube as the Groove Tube EL34S?

 

[marvar]

Re: Hey Lew...Please Tell Me About The Tung Sol 12AX7s?

I don't think so- all the one's I've used had EL34Ls silkscreened on them- you can also tell because they have the 'heat wings' a much beefier element.
http://www.groovetubes.com/product.cfm?Product_ID=1690
And don't confuse them with the ST EL34L-S silver series, which are not tested as well or matched.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Hey Lew...Please Tell Me About The Tung Sol 12AX7s?

a great new EL34 is the reissue Mullard...they sounds VERY similar to my NOS Mullards...I like them a lot!

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Hey Lew...Please Tell Me About The Tung Sol 12AX7s?

a great new EL34 is the reissue Mullard...they sounds VERY similar to my NOS Mullards...I like them a lot!

Ahhhhhhh very cool buddy! Another tube I've read about and have had my eyes on...Finally a whole slew of decent tubes.....If you like them,they'd be worth me trying them....I have to get around to buying a couple of new Tung Sol 12AX7s from lew....Just busy as always!

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Hey Lew...Please Tell Me About The Tung Sol 12AX7s?

John: When i bought my Sound City it had just gotten a brand new set of NOS Mullards...I played it for about a week then tried the reissue Mullards...the reissues were actually a little tighter and articulate. Great sounding tube for sure!