thoughts on the new Mullard Groove tube pre amp tube

[Usurper666]

Re: thoughts on the new Mullard Groove tube pre amp tube

I just put three of the GT "Mullards" in my JCM800 2204, DAMN!! They sound fantastic AND they are very quiet as well, I have much less hiss now than I did with my old tubes. I'm going to try the new GT 6CA7 GE reissue in the power section next.

Cheers,

CJ

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: thoughts on the new Mullard Groove tube pre amp tube

Alright! I just checked the mail today, and www.revolutionguitar.com Todd got me that Tungsol 12AX7, which is made in Russia, and has a stellar reputation.

It's another brand that Todd has decided to start selling. I think he told me that the Tungsols will be around $16 a piece. I'm at work now, but I can't wait to get to my rehearsal space and compare my current GT 12AX7C to this Tungsol. This tube looks like the highest quality pre tube I've ever seen......the only one that rivals it by pure looks is the EI Gold Elites with goldplated pins. I can almost hear some of you guys laughing......I know, I'm splitting hairs like one anal mofo!!!! hahaha

 

[KLINKDETROIT]

Re: thoughts on the new Mullard Groove tube pre amp tube

Let me know how you like the 6ca7 tubes. I am very interested in a tube with the good qualities of a 6l6 and el34.

 

[kannibul]

Re: thoughts on the new Mullard Groove tube pre amp tube

I've posted it numerous times on HCAF - that they have some serious reliability problems.

If you have these, or are thinking of buying them, do a search on Harmony Central's Amp Forum.

I love the tone, I hate the (lack of) reliability.

 

[MSGfan]

Re: thoughts on the new Mullard Groove tube pre amp tube

I have not had a chance to try the GT12AX7M's yet but I'm wondering how they compare to a Sovtek 12AX7LPS or EH12AX7.
I find the LPS' are a little fatter sounding than the EH's but the EH's have a little more gain. I like a combo of both tubes in my Mesa's.

 

[aleclee]

Re: thoughts on the new Mullard Groove tube pre amp tube

I've posted it numerous times on HCAF - that they have some serious reliability problems.

If you have these, or are thinking of buying them, do a search on Harmony Central's Amp Forum.

I love the tone, I hate the (lack of) reliability.

Reported reliability is much better on the newer ones than on the early ones. Good news but it sucks to use your customers for QC testing.

 

[KLINKDETROIT]

Re: thoughts on the new Mullard Groove tube pre amp tube

I bought 2 of the gt12ax7m tubes and I think 1 is microphonic and makes my guitar feedback more than the other gt12ax7m.

 

[kannibul]

Re: thoughts on the new Mullard Groove tube pre amp tube

Reported reliability is much better on the newer ones than on the early ones. Good news but it sucks to use your customers for QC testing.

The last ones I bought were only a month ago, from a very reliable source. I've bought 3 sets from 3 vendors, my first ones were directly from Groove Tubes - Myles told me it was from Run 5. The others I got were from later runs.

They are consistently inconsistent. Love the tone though - but not enough to be a tester for them, unless they want to pay me for my time.

 

[KLINKDETROIT]

Re: thoughts on the new Mullard Groove tube pre amp tube

I like the Mullard in V1 position but when I replace the EH 12axy in V2 with a Mullard the gain goes way down, about 2-3 notches. I love just the one in V1. tTHE GT12AX7M SEEMS TO FATTEN UP THE TONE LIKE THE V30 DOES FOR SPEAKERS COMPARED TO THE G12T75. I am curious about the GT12ax7c compared tp the Mullard. Any comments on these 12ax7c tubes?

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: thoughts on the new Mullard Groove tube pre amp tube

I think the 12AX7C is not quite as fat sounding as the Mullard, but it's tighter and more focused with it's gain. I still haven't gotten a chance to mess with that Tungsol yet, but in a day or so, I want to do a listening test with a couple amps, using the Groove Tube C & M, the Tungsol, Sovtek LPS, EI Gold Elite, and NOS Telefunken.
The difference is very slight, but I'll at least see which one or two sound like clear winners. Wouldn't it be ironic if the Sovtek won?? LOL

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: thoughts on the new Mullard Groove tube pre amp tube

I've been dying to try these . I've always used GT's and have never been disappointed.

 

[mrfjones]

Re: thoughts on the new Mullard Groove tube pre amp tube

i took a sovtek lps out of my dr z today and i replaced it with the gt12ax7m. i will tell you guys more about it when i get to play it a little more. i also plan on switching to a jj just to see which one i like the best

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: thoughts on the new Mullard Groove tube pre amp tube

I did a listening test late last night with my Matchless Chieftain. My neighbors loved that! With that amp, I'm not looking for highgain, just an edgy clean tone that sings, and is fat. I think my favorites for the V1 position on that amp was in this order.

#1 GT12AX7M
2. GT12AX7C
3. Tungsol
4. Sovtek LPS
5. EI Gold Elites.

I ended up realizing that I didn't need the expensive M's in all the positions, so I retubed the whole amp with JJ's, and kept the Mullard copy in the V1 position.
I'm saving the other two M's I have for later. They really are a great tube for clean and midgain amps, to get them singing. They can be a bit of overkill for a highgain amp. That's where the C's are better, because they're tighter and more focused, but not quite as fat.

 

[FretFire]

Re: thoughts on the new Mullard Groove tube pre amp tube

Great to hear GJ, I'm going to drop an M into V1 of my Rectoverb tonight, and it sounds like it will fit my style very well as I don't play with much gain most of the time. There's two C's (basically, they're 9th gen Shuguangs) right after it in V2 and 3, and the other two spots are JJs (one a balanced tube in the PI).

 

[kjrocks]

Re: thoughts on the new Mullard Groove tube pre amp tube

Just as Aleclee said, I found them to be the best in V1 & 2 of my Rivera.Theyre powerful ,quiet and sound great.I would try them in any of your channel gain slots,whatever they might be.

Garrett

 

[mrfjones]

Re: thoughts on the new Mullard Groove tube pre amp tube

well i only have one 12ax7 in my amp and while it didn't make a huge difference it did sound better than the sovtek lps. next for a jj. i don't think there will be much of a differnce with those two tubes. i just think the jj's will have more gain.

 

[casblah]

Re: thoughts on the new Mullard Groove tube pre amp tube

I just put three of the GT "Mullards" in my JCM800 2204, DAMN!! They sound fantastic AND they are very quiet as well, I have much less hiss now than I did with my old tubes. I'm going to try the new GT 6CA7 GE reissue in the power section next.

Cheers,

CJ

+1. My 2204 loves these tubes as well. Great tube, IMO.

 

[KLINKDETROIT]

Re: thoughts on the new Mullard Groove tube pre amp tube

I compared the Mullards to the 12ax7c tonight and I like the Mullards the best. The 12ax7c is cool but not as real sounding as the M. I think it lacks the gain of the C or of the EH though. Cant beat the thickness and rawness though.

 

[FretFire]

Re: thoughts on the new Mullard Groove tube pre amp tube

I dropped an M in V1 of my amp today before I went to band rehearsal (I played with a C in that spot the night before for comparison), and I must say after spending a few hours with the amp running hot I am sold on the M's. I was actually surprised how much of an audible difference they made, they were fatter and more articulate. I don't use gobs of gain (maybe 12 o'clock at the MOST) so any "loss" of gain due to the tube swap was negligible, but it was definitely a bit thicker, more sustaining, and solos sang just a bit sweeter. The Schecter and the strat both sounded KILLER tonight, I was in heaven .

Just for reference the tubes in my amp are the M in V1, C's in V2 & V3, JJ's in V4 & the PI, and two JJ 6L6GC power tubes.

 

[KLINKDETROIT]

Re: thoughts on the new Mullard Groove tube pre amp tube

I also like the Mullard in the 3rd position with Chinese in 1 & 2 in my buddies Marshall. My Mesa rectifier seems to like them in all positions.