Tubes

[beaubrummels]

So pulling back up my old dead thread, finally got around to ordering new tubes and wanted to see what you guys thought of my selection. I ordered 2 Mullard EL34 power tubes, 1 Tung-Sol 12AX7 new production, 1 Mullard 12AX7 new production and 1 Sovtek 12AX7LPS, should arrive on Friday. I also requested the 2 EL34s to be matched.

Ended up ordering them from Tube Depot, found a 5% off coupon and with upgraded shipping still came in just over $100, seems TD has pretty decent prices compared to other vendors.

I've used all those tubes and that selection seems perfectly fine. I'd put the Tung-Sol in V1.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

I've used all those tubes and that selection seems perfectly fine. I'd put the Tung-Sol in V1.

Love the 12AX7 Tung Sols...They have good gain,are full sounding and have been very reliable tubes since day 1.

 

[Gtrjunior]

I've used all those tubes and that selection seems perfectly fine. I'd put the Tung-Sol in V1.

Ha!
I would have suggested the TS in V2.
I find it to be very bright. Too bright for me.
The Mullard 12ax7 seems smoother and less high end-y to me.
Of course, it depends on the amp, guitar, speakers etc too.

 

[beaubrummels]

Ha!
I would have suggested the TS in V2.
I find it to be very bright. Too bright for me.
The Mullard 12ax7 seems smoother and less high end-y to me.
Of course, it depends on the amp, guitar, speakers etc too.

Yeah I had the opposite with mine. Depends on the amp, I suppose. The new production Mullard was bright and plain, no character. My Tung-Sol was a bit smoother on the top end. But they were very close to each other - it was really nit-pickin. My old Mullard 10M is definitely smoother and less high-endy to me.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Yeah I had the opposite with mine. Depends on the amp, I suppose. The new production Mullard was bright and plain, no character. My Tung-Sol was a bit smoother on the top end. But they were very close to each other - it was really nit-pickin. My old Mullard 10M is definitely smoother and less high-endy to me.

Oh....you have a 10M, do you. Lol. I’m jealous. A few years back I was on the hunt for one but I just couldn’t spend the money.
I’ve got a pretty good collection of NOS tubes of all brands including a handful of Blackburn Mullards.
My JCM 800 loves the NOS tubes but my Splawn seem to prefer the new production. Go figure...

 

[beaubrummels]

Oh....you have a 10M, do you. Lol. I’m jealous. A few years back I was on the hunt for one but I just couldn’t spend the money.
I’ve got a pretty good collection of NOS tubes of all brands including a handful of Blackburn Mullards.
My JCM 800 loves the NOS tubes but my Splawn seem to prefer the new production. Go figure...

I got super lucky - I was at Radio Shack buying replacement tubes for a stereo in 1978 and they ran out of RS-branded 12AX7s and there happened to be an International-branded 10M in their display (they don't even know why - wasn't on their price list). At the time, I had no idea what was the difference, but now it's my holy grail. I keep moving it from amp to amp!

 

[dystrust]

So pulling back up my old dead thread, finally got around to ordering new tubes and wanted to see what you guys thought of my selection. I ordered 2 Mullard EL34 power tubes, 1 Tung-Sol 12AX7 new production, 1 Mullard 12AX7 new production and 1 Sovtek 12AX7LPS, should arrive on Friday. I also requested the 2 EL34s to be matched.

Ended up ordering them from Tube Depot, found a 5% off coupon and with upgraded shipping still came in just over $100, seems TD has pretty decent prices compared to other vendors.

I'm not familiar with the Mullards, but my Jubilees love the Tung-Sol in V1 and Sovtek LPS in V3. I've tried a ton of different tubes in V2, but if there's any difference in tone I can't hear it. I'm currently using JJ EL-34s in both of mine after running EHs for years. Ironically enough the change was prompted by a few tube issues, and Savage Audio recommended the JJs as more reliable. This was back in 2017, so things may be different now.

 

[Hsb]

The original responses here definitely shaped my tube purchase. Think it was Dytrust that suggested the Sovtek, Tung Sol and maybe it was a Shuguang, but TD didnt have any of the Chinese Sino/ Shuguang tubes in 12ax7s, so went with Mullard instead.

Ill keep the GTs around too, just for chits and giggles. Cant hurt once I figure out if its just one or a cpl of the tubes that are getting weak.

Id read some recent posts that some were statinf they were having issues with of the JJ EL34s, kinda sounding like a blanket over thr amp. Ordered the Mullards and then read some good reviews of the EHX, Ill give these a try and if I dont care for the Mullard 34s, the EHX are relatively inexpensive

 

[dystrust]

The original responses here definitely shaped my tube purchase. Think it was Dytrust that suggested the Sovtek, Tung Sol and maybe it was a Shuguang, but TD didnt have any of the Chinese Sino/ Shuguang tubes in 12ax7s, so went with Mullard instead.

Ill keep the GTs around too, just for chits and giggles. Cant hurt once I figure out if its just one or a cpl of the tubes that are getting weak.

Id read some recent posts that some were statinf they were having issues with of the JJ EL34s, kinda sounding like a blanket over thr amp. Ordered the Mullards and then read some good reviews of the EHX, Ill give these a try and if I dont care for the Mullard 34s, the EHX are relatively inexpensive

Compared to JJs the Tung-Sol EL-34s are REALLY bright, so I could see the blanket analogy. In my 2555 at least I found the JJs and EHs virtually identical in overall tone, though power tubes don't influence the sound of that amp very much unless you're playing loud enough to rearrange furniture.

The only EL-34s I've tried in the 2525H are JJ & Tung-Sol; liked the former and hated the latter.

Sent from my SM-G973U1 using Tapatalk

 

[Gtrjunior]

I have a set of JJ 6CA7 in my Blackstar and they sound phenomenal.
But yes, overall JJ’s are darker than most other brands.

 

[Leon Of Late]

I just ordered some Tung Sol EL34B’s for my DSL40C. It has Groove Tube R 5’s in it now, and they are very dark and uninspiring. My speaker is a Creamtone 65 and I also have a 75 if I need to switch. Right now I have all NOS pre amp tubes, but I ordered some Tung Sol and EH Gold Pin to replace them. Don’t think they make that much diff in a DSL. I have a Bugle Boy, RCA Black Plate, a GE, and RFT and one more I can’t recall right now. They were great in my old JCM 800, but not so needed in a modern amp. I want to see how the Tung Sol’s do.

I had also ordered a set of Sylvania EL34’s (NOS) for this amp, and my tech couldn’t even get them to bias up. The tubes were too hot for the amp, so I had to go with the Groove Tubes instead. Guess I need to sell these Sylvania’s.

 

[Hsb]

I just ordered some Tung Sol EL34B’s for my DSL40C. It has Groove Tube R 5’s in it now, and they are very dark and uninspiring. My speaker is a Creamtone 65 and I also have a 75 if I need to switch. Right now I have all NOS pre amp tubes, but I ordered some Tung Sol and EH Gold Pin to replace them. Don’t think they make that much diff in a DSL. I have a Bugle Boy, RCA Black Plate, a GE, and RFT and one more I can’t recall right now. They were great in my old JCM 800, but not so needed in a modern amp. I want to see how the Tung Sol’s do.

I had also ordered a set of Sylvania EL34’s (NOS) for this amp, and my tech couldn’t even get them to bias up. The tubes were too hot for the amp, so I had to go with the Groove Tubes instead. Guess I need to sell these Sylvania’s.

Or buy an amp to use the tubes in

 

[Leon Of Late]

Well, I would love to do that. I am itching for an old JCM 800 again, or a Friedman or a Splawn. Those are the main 3 that I would buy if I could have anything I want, though there are other tube amps I would be happy with. Even the new DSL40CR is supposed to be a big improvement.

Funds are lacking for a head and cab, or a $1500 combo.

 

[Hsb]

Just trying to help a brotha out. Ill probably be able to get the pre-amp tubes in on Friday nite or Saturday at the latest and give them a go, should have the 34s in by next week. I am off after Friday thru the new year. Ill report back when I have each of the tubes installed.

 

[NegativeEase]

Man, I haven't seen anyone's tube pic yet,.... this thread sucks :lmao:

I always bought Svetlanas or the GT version of them (I think it's an S designation. -maybe an R cant remember) when I was burning up tube replacing them every year. The are owned by New Sensor (Electro Harmonic) and still made in the original Reflektor plant in Russia and are rebadged as other brands often.

 

[jeremy]

gt s tubes are jjs. r is new sensor but new sensor owns a bunch of brands so what tube you get depends on what model you are looking at. gt used to have 12ax7 r1, r2 and r3 at the same time, all different russian tubes

 

[NegativeEase]

gt s tubes are jjs. r is new sensor but new sensor owns a bunch of brands so what tube you get depends on what model you are looking at. gt used to have 12ax7 r1, r2 and r3 at the same time, all different russian tubes

remember which was Svetlana? The Reflektor factory?

I've got a box of them packed away I guess I could check.

 

[jeremy]

off the top of my head, i dont. the 12ax7 r1 was sovtek wa, r2 was the sovtek lps, r3 was eh. s was always jj. cant remember much past that since its been so long. i only remember those cause i still have those tubes. wish i could get a set of the gt-kt66hp which were reflektor tubes. closest ive had to the set of gec kt66 i have

 

[Gtrjunior]

I just ordered some Tung Sol EL34B’s for my DSL40C. It has Groove Tube R 5’s in it now, and they are very dark and uninspiring. My speaker is a Creamtone 65 and I also have a 75 if I need to switch. Right now I have all NOS pre amp tubes, but I ordered some Tung Sol and EH Gold Pin to replace them. Don’t think they make that much diff in a DSL. I have a Bugle Boy, RCA Black Plate, a GE, and RFT and one more I can’t recall right now. They were great in my old JCM 800, but not so needed in a modern amp. I want to see how the Tung Sol’s do.

I had also ordered a set of Sylvania EL34’s (NOS) for this amp, and my tech couldn’t even get them to bias up. The tubes were too hot for the amp, so I had to go with the Groove Tubes instead. Guess I need to sell these Sylvania’s.

Is it a set or a quad of the Sylvania?

 

[Gtrjunior]

Man, I haven't seen anyone's tube pic yet,.... this thread sucks :lmao:

I always bought Svetlanas or the GT version of them (I think it's an S designation. -maybe an R cant remember) when I was burning up tube replacing them every year. The are owned by New Sensor (Electro Harmonic) and still made in the original Reflektor plant in Russia and are rebadged as other brands often.

I’ll try to post some pics of my NOS 12ax7 collection.