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Best NOS 12ax7?


Guest Buck Dharma

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Guest Buck Dharma
Posted

I have a single ended amp enroute that is about 6-10 watts depending on output tube. It currently has a GT KT66 and Electro Harmonix 12ax7 in it. I would like to know what 12ax7's sound good and the best place to get them. I'm not talking $100 tube but more like $50 RCA, Sylvania, Brimar? Whats a nice tube for the money????? Any good review sites? Thanks for any suggestions!!

Posted

Look for a slightly used Mullard or smooth plate Telefunken. A close second would be an Amperex Bugle Boy. After that the Valvo, Brimar, Sylvania, RCA, GE, etc....are all fantastic tubes. Also...the Tung-Sol 12AX7 is a real sleeper that can be had comparatively cheap.

Posted

I have a bunch of Mullard and Amperex tubes. LOTS. Call me.

I like 50s RCAs for a tighter sound, Mullards for a richer sound.

Guest Buck Dharma
Posted
I have a bunch of Mullard and Amperex tubes. LOTS. Call me.

I like 50s RCAs for a tighter sound, Mullards for a richer sound.

I'll call you tomorrow Greg. Thanks!

Posted

I have some Jan Philips that are sweet and I'm looking to sell a couple, these are NOS, I bought several and have about 5 that are unused if you're interested.

scottcrud at yahoo dot com

Guest teefus2
Posted

if you are looking for higher gain the rft/siemens are really great for that and pretty good values still.

tungsram 12ax7's are good too.

Posted
I have some Jan Philips that are sweet and I'm looking to sell a couple, these are NOS, I bought several and have about 5 that are unused if you're interested.

+1 on the JAN Philips from the '80s. They may not be the last word relative to the exotics -- Telefunken, Bugle Boy, etc., but they give you a lot of that, are very liquid and smooth without harshness, and are quite a bit less money than the ultimate exotics.

Don't know what they fetch now, but I got mine about 7 yrs ago for about $12 ea. There is the occasional microphonic one in the batch, but mine have been consistently sweet and smooth with nice bass, and being JAN (joint Army/Navy), are real well built and still work like new.

Posted

Man, toobs is toobs...they just have to "work" ...just get some new JJ's, and save some "NOS" money! -Bob-

Posted

I'm selling my NOS Jan Philips for a few more dollars than JJ's and mine will probably last longer.

Posted
Man, toobs is toobs...they just have to "work" ...just get some new JJ's, and save some "NOS" money! -Bob-

Right. And parts is parts. Quality control, quality of material, and building to closer tolerances has no effect, right?

I ran thru JJ EL84's every 6 mos. or less in a Trace Elliot Velocette. I've had a pair of '60s NOS GE's in there for 5 years and counting.

That means that if they'd cost ten times as much as JJ's (the didn't), they would have paid for themselves already.

Posted

50' RCA's have the best compression. 60's Sylvania's have an awesome tone. Mullard's are hit and miss. Some though, are truly amazing.The net has been great to hype them.

Posted
60's Sylvania's have an awesome tone

Big +1 on this. The Sylvania have an awesome bottom end and absolutely wicked headroom. That may or may not be what you are looking for, but I have yet to have them sound bad in any amp.

Posted

There's been a guy on ebay selling NOS Brimars for 37.99 BIN, handle is tejastubes. They sound real good in V1 if you want gain/crunch, not so hot if you want headroom...

  • 2 weeks later...
Guest galejt
Posted
I have a bunch of Mullard and Amperex tubes. LOTS. Call me.

I like 50s RCAs for a tighter sound, Mullards for a richer sound.

Got any teles?

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