Tell me about the 5751

Rich_S

HomeGrownToneBrewologist
Sometimes my 18 Watter clone has a bit too much gain. Because of its unusual PI & output stages, the only tube I can really mess with is the preamp, which is now a 12AX7.

I know a 5751 would give me slighlty less gain, but what are its other characteristics? Brighter, darker? Ideally I'd like a little less gain and a little more clarity.
 
Re: Tell me about the 5751

I have a BOATLOAD of GE 5751s that I got when my last company closed their physical location.

Make has as much a difference as model in this case because a JJ 5751 will be as different from a GE as their 12AX7 counterparts will be.

However, in GENERAL, what I've found is that the 5751 is a LOT cleaner in the V1 slot. You will find that the preamp will take gain pedals a lot better if you're not looking for crushing gain.

If you're looking for clarity as well as less gain, your best bet would probably be a JAN 5751.

PM me your address and I'll send you one of my 5751s if you like. Just gotta cover shipping. :)
 
Re: Tell me about the 5751

12AX7 has a gain rated factor of 100...

The 5751 is normally about 70...
This is correct. The 5751 is otherwise the same as a 12AX7. I often used a 5751 in the V1 slot of my Splawn Quickrod (JAN or green label GE), and now I use one in the V1 slot of my EAST Studio 2 (white label GE). My Bumbox sounds best with original Mullard ECC83s in the V1 slot; with a 5751, it sounds TOO clean and that's not what the amp is voiced to do correctly. I currently have 4 Mullards, but they are all pretty old! I will be crying when they die!
 
Re: Tell me about the 5751

i use a jan 5751 in v2 of my deluxe reverb and love it. i keep meaning to try a ge and rca to see if there is a difference.
 
Re: Tell me about the 5751

The 5751 distorts differently than a 12ax7. Instead of overdriving smoothl and dark, it clips bright and crunchy like a power tube. The clipping is very active harmonically. I have always used them in the second position to make the distortion sound more harmonically complex. Putting a 5751 in the second position of a Fender Champ with a 12at7 in the first is instant SRV and Knoppfler. With this setup you get that bright, clean spanky edge.
 
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Re: Tell me about the 5751

I think Twilight Odyssey just gave a great example of how cool a place this can be.

I tried to give Kam a pair of Sovtek EL34's and the bastard shot me down, and I mean bastard in the nicest possible way. :chairshot :wave:
 
Re: Tell me about the 5751

I tried to give Kam a pair of Sovtek EL34's and the bastard shot me down, and I mean bastard in the nicest possible way. :chairshot :wave:

Well, I am pretty sure he's the illegitimate son of a washerwoman and a leprechaun. So it makes sense in that context.
 
Re: Tell me about the 5751

The JAN 5751 is the only one I've used. Very precise and musical. I experimented with other lower output preamp tubes like 12au7, 12at7, etc and several 12ax7's and the JAN 5751 made them all sound pretty sterile.
 
Re: Tell me about the 5751

5751s to me have more of a crunchy characteristic than 12AX7s but that all depends on the amp and what brand 12AX7s you compare to. To me they seem less compressed and have more of a roundness to them as far as tone goes. I have a JAN Philips 5751 in the V1 slot of my Marshall JVM now and I like it. I might go and get another JAN GE 5751 though. I used to have one and now its missing. I dont remember why but I do know that I preferred it more than my JAN Philips 5751 though. Don't remember why.. I compared them years ago so I'm not sure.
 
Re: Tell me about the 5751

I dug out my most-easy-to-locate vintage preamp valves last night; this is most of em, aside from a few 5751s located elsewhere as well as a couple more Mullards which are in my Bumbox Cieo.

Family snapshot:
VintageValves.jpg


Sylvania ECC83s:
SylvaniaECC83.jpg


A couple of my better-condition Mullards:
MullardECC83.jpg


White-label "USA" stamped GE 5751s:
GEWhiteLabel.jpg


GE JAN green-label 5751s:
GEJAN.jpg
 
Re: Tell me about the 5751

Cool! I wonder what one of these in the V1 of my Metaltronix would do. If they really do have a cranky, power section kind of drive to them I might have to give one a shot. The M1000 has so much gain on tap that even with an au7 or an at7 it STILL gets into metal gain levels easily. I'm really starting to appreciate what a fun amp it is.
 
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