12AX7 and EL84

[CraigB]

If I'm building a Liverpool (not a clone, just following schematic, but using correct spec Heyboers) what are the favorite choices of current production 12AX7 and EL84 to run?

What are you all running NOS, and who do I get them from? I've paid for NOS before from one vendor (I'll leave their name out of it) and been disappointed at what I got (microphonic and/or rattle problems).

Thanks, Craig

[captain_rusty]

They're not NOS, but I've been very pleased with JJ EL84s...

[CaseyJones]

What are you all running NOS, and who do I get them from? I've paid for NOS before from one vendor (I'll leave their name out of it) and been disappointed at what I got (microphonic and/or rattle problems).

For EL84s I'd buy from Cold Springs Electrical Works. They'll sell you RCA, GE or Sylvania at a decent price. If you want to pay more buy NOS Mullard or Telefunken from Hi-Test.

I'm shocked at the prices of NOS 12AX7s from larger vendors, they seem to run about $75 each for relatively mundane Sylvania or GE, then more for RCA and up to around $125 each for Telefunken or Mullard. I'd go with eBay and take my chances. The trick is to buy many and keep a few, I'm not going to screw around buying dozens of $125 tubes to find three good one ones of which one should be a really good one.

If you buy "microphonic or rattle problems" first you need top contact your vendor, if you're paying $125 each for 12AX7s you should get premium tubes. That's why they're expensive, the vendor should sort out anything that isn't first rate and sell it as "B" merchandise if they need to recoup their "investment". Anyone who charges a premium price should to supply a premium product. If you deal with a vendor who charges a premium price and doesn't provide a premium product we need to know about it. I don't want to waste my money on junk, either.