Lets Talk About V1 Tubes

[Carltone]

What do ya like for bright and punchy...

Right now I'm running a full set of discontinued GT12AX7-M Mullard reissues, and using an eq to boost high mids.

Thinking about a current Tung Sol, or old RCA or Old Raytheon Baldwin for V1

[David Root]

Try an old long plate Sylvania from the '50s. They are usually fairly bright, and long plates in general are usually fairly punchy & tight in the low end. There's lots on Ebay. Buy a strong one or a real NOS with the original box.

[brentm]

Some of the best tubes I've found, at prices that aren't off the charts, are the Matsushita 12ax7 with the angled getters. I'm not a tube identification expert, but the tube in this photo looks exactly like my "grail" tubes.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Matsushita-12AX ... 232662b73e

Although mine is labeled "Amperex Holland" but it's clearly not from Holland and is from Japan after researching it.... same sharp angle on the getter and flash.. amazingly musical tubes. really. Buy this tube, and if it sucks, I'll buy it from you at your cost.

[brentm]

And for the record, I was disappointed in my Raytheon Baldwin tubes. I have about 6 of them... YMMV.

[Carltone]

Thanks guys I'm looking into these suggestions!

[ER]

My fave for V1 are the telefunkens, mine just gave up the ghost and not ready to spring for another yet. Thanks for the tip Brent, I'll have to check out my matsushitas again, I have mullards in V2 and V3(12at7), I'll have to check which of my matsushitas get the heater flash at start up too.

[David Root]

Currently I like T'Funkins in the PI and the buffered loop tube. Long plate Mullard in V1 and probably an Amperex long or short plate in V2. Or the other way around but always a long plate in V1.

[Carltone]

Anybody try a Gold Lion?

[LeftyStrat]

For new production, give the JJ EC803 a try. Seems to have added chime over the JJ ECC83.

Most of my NOS preamp tubes go in the opposite direction, more butter than clang; Mullards, Eico (rebranded Mullard, I think).

[Carltone]

For new production, give the JJ EC803 a try. Seems to have added chime over the JJ ECC83.

Most of my NOS preamp tubes go in the opposite direction, more butter than clang; Mullards, Eico (rebranded Mullard, I think).

Oh yeah...thanks...a longplate!

[212Mavguy]

Old stock only... strong RCA 7025 shortplate, followed by RCA shortplate 12ax7a/7025 is my preference due to the Fender roots of the circuit and those being the go to tubes fender used in several glorious years of those earlier amps.

I like using a euro tube alternating with an american one in order for nicer sounding "vowels" in attack, sustain and bloom. Old longplates nice in PI spot, T-funken ribbed in V2 is nice as well as PI. +1 for old gray longplate Syl's, but too microphonic as a rule for V1 spots, but some have the most gain of any 12ax7 make ever built. If I want an American tone, American tube in V1, Euro tone, Euro tube in v1.

[aflynt]

I like the ECC803 a lot in V2. I don't quite trust it in V1, though, but it certainly sounds great there too. Big and smooth.

-Aaron

[talbany]

Here is a post/review I did on the JJ 803's a LOONGG time ago..

https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.ph ... ht=ecc+803

Tony

[212Mavguy]

I like the sound of Tesla ecc803s/e83cc shortplate in V2 as well as Siemens e83cc. Real and old 10k rated tubes uber quality build. Very musical and also different soundng between the two brands, the Tesla labels being the first generation descendant of the original frame grid Telefunken ecc803s original T-funken tooling used... The Siemens exhibiting the Philips family of short plate 12ax7 type tone palette.

A lot of the content in the first couple pages of that thread was on new production tubes.

[Carltone]

OK well you guys are gonna be shocked that I am actually liking an old Penta an an old JJec83s in V1 and V2 respectively. Some well reputed american nos got bumped by those tubes which were 'just laying around'.

The penta is actually a sweet display of all the wanted frequencies and a fair amount of overtones...sound like a $ tube.

I like the strong mid focus of the jj in V2..but I'm hoping a V1 with some high end can counter the lack of highs in the jj.

If not I'll roll both spots.

Just not sure if nos or anos can push as hard as that jj.


I do have some newly acquired Matsushita, Mullard, Bugle, and Shuguang (gt12axm types) coming to play around with...but if I could just get the tone I have...with a little less high end compression...I'd be set.