Yet another toob question

[tomteriffic]

Is there any brand/make of current production or reasonably priced JAN 12AX7 out there that is known for its low noise? This is for a very nice working dog amp (but a working dog amp nonetheless), so I'm leaving the NOS and corksniffer stuff off to the side for now.

At band practice last night, I was fooling with the amp in the "Everything on 10 pus the internal Gonzoboost" neighborhood. And the master was getting pretty close. Needless to say it was pretty hissy, even though the amp, under just about any other conditions, is remarkably quiet.

Anyway, besides the hiss, I heard a little bit of sputter buried back in there. To me that has always been a sign that a preamp tube is nearing the end of its service life. So I figured I'd go find the offender and maybe lower the noise level under those extreme gain situations.

The upshot was that played tube roulette, using 6 or 7 different new or like-new tubes with the first three tube positions and did eliminate the sputter as well as lowering the noise level slightly.

Without getting away from the 12AX type, is there anything that is considered to be noted for its low noise?

[murkat]

TAD branded gold pin. mojo has them at a good deal. very fine tube.

[JohnnyB]

I think this page at Torres Engineering could be enlightening. According to your requirements, the Electro-Harmonix 12AX7 may be what you're looking for--high gain, low noise, and sale-priced at $11.95.

[Brewmaster]

Dirty little secret, I like the EH as well but mainly in Fender/ Fender type amps.

The TAD is excellent, they are Chinese premium selected and are pretty quiet.

Alternative..........got to Tube Depot and buy one requesting low noise and low microphonics on the pull down tab.

I recommend the Tung Sol, I like the gain and overall tonal balance. Select low noise and low microphonics and you should be happy. I buy from them when my supplier is out and haven't had any issues with the Tung Sol from them.

NOS - Jan Philips have served me well over the years but even they have become cost prohibitive.

I have a couple of NOS Sylvania with short plates lying around. Let me know if you want one. I won't kill you on the price. Payback for past favors.

http://tubedepot.com/12ax7.html

[tomteriffic]

Dan, I may take you up on that. For what it's worth, while I didn't try everything in the 12AX7 box (and there are a whole bunch of them in there), what wound up in those three positions were 2 older (10 years old or so) but new JJ ECC33-S and a Tung-Sol reissue. The Tung-Sol wound up in the second position which carries the second gain stage for the rude channel so it makes sense that it should have quieted things down some.

I know you can't base an opinion of an entire brand/make on one tube, but a "Mullard" reissue and a pre-Fender cherry picked GT Gold Elite were pretty microphonic in there.

IN spooking around the tube sites yesterday, I see that EH has a proper 6CA7 out now. My Music Man amps should like those.

[Brewmaster]

I know you can't base an opinion of an entire brand/make on one tube, but a "Mullard" reissue and a pre-Fender cherry picked GT Gold Elite were pretty microphonic in there.

IN spooking around the tube sites yesterday, I see that EH has a proper 6CA7 out now. My Music Man amps should like those.

The Mullard RI 12ax7 is identical to the the Sovtek LPS 12ax7.That is unless they changed since I first compared them back when the "mullard" first came out. It's a good tube but not for combo amps. Buying one from a supplier that screens for low noise and microphonics will increase your odds of getting a good tube.

Check that "Gold Elite". It may also be the same, although some "Gold Elite" 12ax7's were JJ's or even E.I. at one point.