preamp tubes

[muttonchopsrule]

are electro-harmonix 12ax7's any good for high gain stuff? would they sound alright in a mesa? how would they compare to JJ's? (that's what i have in there now)

the only reason i'm asking is because i'd like to mess around with different tubes in my amp, just because i can, and electro-harmonix tubes are easily available to me. and i'll be able to afford a few when i get my check on thursday :smoker:

 

[Curly]

Re: preamp tubes

the EHs, Sovtek LPSs, JJs, Chinese 9th gen, and GT Mullards are some of the best current production 12AX7s

for high gain?
I can't say, but you might try asking here:
ask Myles

 

[aleclee]

Re: preamp tubes

EH 12AX7s are quite good for high gain applications. IMO they do a good job of balancing sizzle and smoothness. They're quite a bit brighter than the JJs.

 

[theodie]

Re: preamp tubes

They are brighter than JJ's, I like EH tubes when I want high gain.

 

[KLINKDETROIT]

Re: preamp tubes

I use 4 EH pream p tubes and 1 JJ ECC83S in the 2nd or 3rd position in my 2 channel Rectifier. The JJs alone sound too mid rangey and honkey and dark although all EH tubes aound a little scooped mid so I would experiment with 1 JJ in either # 2 or 3 position.

 

[DirrtyCraig]

Re: preamp tubes

I switched out a pair of GT's with a pair of the EH in my ADA MP-1 and it literally cut my gain in half. I was totally sucked into the hype of the EH's so I bought some and was so dissapointed. I still think the Groove tubes are the best for high gain although I haven't changed the Mullardsa and JJ's in my Splawn yet they seem really good.

 

[Duke of Metal]

Re: preamp tubes

I've used both JJ ECC83s and EH12ax7s. I think both will suck gain wise if you get them off the shelf from a store that doesnt grade or match them, which also seemed to affect their tone and make them suck even more.

When I ordered my tubes from Doug at www.dougstubes.com, I ordered both Highgain Graded JJ ECC83s at 110mu with balanced triodes and the same for the EH12ax7s. They were a big improvment over what I got from the local store first time I got them.

Tone wise... The JJs seemed to have a bit more tighter and thicker sound over the EHs, but the EHs have a bit more of the high-mid crunch, while the JJs have more of the Low-mid type tone, and thats why they sorta sound a bit dark. I didnt find them overally dark to a point where it sounds like a blanket over my cabinet type of a thing. Raise the presence a little bit and your done.

Ofcourse these results may be different from amp tp amp. I tried them in my ADA MP-1 3TM modded unit thats running through:
- Carvin T100 with EL34s
- Marshall JCM800 straight 412 cab

Since preamp tubes arent expensive as power tubes, then if you can, buy the same number of both tubes and try them in your amp and see how hey sound. Even mix them together as that could get some good results too. If you like highgain sounds, then I definitly suggest you getting them highgain graded at 110mu (seems to be the sweet spot) and for your phase invertor socket, get them with balanced triodes.


hope that helps,
Duke

 

[muttonchopsrule]

Re: preamp tubes

thanks guys.

i did find, coinsidentally, a EH 12ax7 lying around in my last batch of tubes that i forgot i had. i put it in V1 and i did notice a slightly different voice that it gave the amp....i think i'll get a few more and mess around with them to see how they compare.

one more thing...
if i wanted any tubes graded for more gain, can they do that at the store? or is there somewhere in particular where i'd have to get them in order for them to do that?

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: preamp tubes

I've done MUCHO testing with tubes and amps of all kinds.

Trust me when I tell you to get GT12AX7C's for highgain amps. They're $14 each, but they have the smoothest, tightest, preamp gain of all of them.
I think they're actually Chinese Shuguang 9th Gen tubes, which you can sometimes find cheaper in unlabeled boxes. The Sovtek 12AX7LPS is also king.

I also really like the GT mullard copies, although they can be a bit muddier than the C's in amps with complex preamps. I've tried everything in the Bogner, and Mr. Bogner is right.......Chinese GT12AX7C's are what he claims are the best for his highgain amps.

 

[Duke of Metal]

Re: preamp tubes

one more thing...
if i wanted any tubes graded for more gain, can they do that at the store? or is there somewhere in particular where i'd have to get them in order for them to do that?

If you order from Doug at www.dougstubes.com or Bob at www.eurotubes.com they will be able to do that for you. all you need to do is ask them for it and let me know what "grade" you want them at. I personally like using preamp tubes highgain graded between 110mu and 115mu. That sorta seems to be the "sweet" spot for gain. Anything over 115mu sounded too a bit too much gain and added too much noise. But remember, it depends on the circut of the amp it self.

I think they're actually Chinese Shuguang 9th Gen tubes, which you can sometimes find cheaper in unlabeled boxes. The Sovtek 12AX7LPS is also king.

I also really like the GT mullard copies, although they can be a bit muddier than the C's in amps with complex preamps. I've tried everything in the Bogner, and Mr. Bogner is right.......Chinese GT12AX7C's are what he claims are the best for his highgain amps.

Yes, the GT12ax7Cs are nothing but re-labeled Chinese 9th generation and tested further. Before they started making their own tubes, most of their tubes were just re-labeled JJs and Chinese tubes.


hope that helps,
Duke