What's your favourite 12AX7/ECC83/7025 ?

jefrs · April 27th, 2008, 07:04 PM

What's your favourite 12AX7/ECC83/7025/etc ?

Pick one bottle only. What amp, which position, why ?

A sort of straw-poll. What does the panel think... choosing a replacement preamp tube from the sales blurb is a complete lottery, received wisdom needed. TIA. J--)

Paul G. · April 27th, 2008, 07:27 PM

Not a valid question. Different amps, different players, need different things.

A clear bright tube in a Super Reverb may be a shrill whistler in a Marshall.

Name your amp, talk about what you're looking for, and then you can get advice.

Asking "what is the best..." anything just makes no sense. At least not to me.

P.

gpower · April 27th, 2008, 07:43 PM

Check out eurotubes.com. There are a number of offerings for each of the tubes you listed. Accurate descriptions of each and how they should affect your tone are listed. Customer service is exceptional. You can email Bob with guitars and amp your using, tone you're seeking and he will make recommendations, tailoring sets to your specific want.

ce24 · April 27th, 2008, 07:49 PM

actually...5751 in V1

Cheers
ce24

jefrs · April 27th, 2008, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul G.

Not a valid question. Different amps, different players, need different things.

A clear bright tube in a Super Reverb may be a shrill whistler in a Marshall.

Name your amp, talk about what you're looking for, and then you can get advice.

Asking "what is the best..." anything just makes no sense. At least not to me.

P.

Quite right. That's why I said "What amp, which position, why ?" Do pay attention at the back.

I'm interested in other peoples' opinions of good preamp tubes, and what makes a tube good in particular amps for different styles of playing. With enough responses, the data can be collated.

Try again. You get to choose one tube and say why it's right, where, in which amp.

The idea is to get your opinions, not that of the sales guy at JJ Tesla.

And no, it makes no sense unless you also state the amp and why you chose the tube.

Axis29 · April 27th, 2008, 09:21 PM

I like the JJ ecc83 (12ax7) in V2 of my DRRI. I find it breaks up nicely around 4, is very musical when the volume opens up. At higher volumes, the breakup is not ridiculous or unruly at all, but notes bloom nicely. I describe them as very musical... I don't know how else to describe them. Much nicer than the GT and EH 12ax7's I tried in there before. Still looking for some NOS Mullards, Telefunkens or RCA's to try (at a reasonable price!).

Brent Hutto · April 27th, 2008, 09:41 PM

My favorite is any 12AX7-type tube that won't rattle and go all zingy on me after an hour in my combo amp. Hanging upside down an inch and a half from a 12" Neodym speaker can render the finest RCA blackplate (or any old multi-hundred dollar tube you like) into an expensive noisemaker.

TexGoneNW · April 28th, 2008, 12:52 AM

The GE NOS JAN 5751's that Mr. Hullet sold for $5 each on the old Telecaster Discussion Page. I use 'em in place of the V1 in Pro Juniors and they sound great.

Telefunken 12AX7 in the Silvertone 1482.

candh · April 28th, 2008, 01:00 AM

Mullard in V2 of pretty much every amp I have.

skeksis · April 28th, 2008, 01:15 AM

V1 in my princeton reverb is Telefunken 12ax7 - high gain, tames the bright character of the amp a bit, and complements the Brimar 6v6 output tubes for some lovely overdrive...

runners up:
V1 in my silvertone 1482 is stock 12ax7a, looks like RCA ribbed gray plates
V1 in my airline 9015a is Raytheon 12ax7a w/ black plates

I keep a small handful of RCA, Mullard (7025) and Telefunken on hand. Can't go wrong with USA or European old stock... just varies a little based on your tastes.

sjhusting · April 28th, 2008, 02:23 AM

Another vote for the GE 5751 in V1 of any multi-preamp-tube amp. Unless it's a 5e3, then it goes in v2. It's not always right, but it usually is.

steven

April 27th, 2008, 07:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
jefrs Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Newbury, England Age: 54 Posts: 1,489	What's your favourite 12AX7/ECC83/7025 ? What's your favourite 12AX7/ECC83/7025/etc ? Pick one bottle only. What amp, which position, why ? A sort of straw-poll. What does the panel think... choosing a replacement preamp tube from the sales blurb is a complete lottery, received wisdom needed. TIA. J--)

April 27th, 2008, 07:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
Paul G. Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 904	Not a valid question. Different amps, different players, need different things. A clear bright tube in a Super Reverb may be a shrill whistler in a Marshall. Name your amp, talk about what you're looking for, and then you can get advice. Asking "what is the best..." anything just makes no sense. At least not to me. P. __________________ Listen to your mother

April 27th, 2008, 07:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
gpower TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Halifax, NS Age: 53 Posts: 77	Check out eurotubes.com. There are a number of offerings for each of the tubes you listed. Accurate descriptions of each and how they should affect your tone are listed. Customer service is exceptional. You can email Bob with guitars and amp your using, tone you're seeking and he will make recommendations, tailoring sets to your specific want. __________________ Whether you think you can...or you can't...you're right!

April 27th, 2008, 07:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
ce24 Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Idaho Age: 58 Posts: 725	actually...5751 in V1 Cheers ce24 __________________ www.motagator.net/slackwater "you can be happy or you can be miserable..the amount of work is the same"

April 27th, 2008, 09:21 PM	#6 (permalink)
Axis29 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Virginia, USA Age: 41 Posts: 1,444 1 Photos	I like the JJ ecc83 (12ax7) in V2 of my DRRI. I find it breaks up nicely around 4, is very musical when the volume opens up. At higher volumes, the breakup is not ridiculous or unruly at all, but notes bloom nicely. I describe them as very musical... I don't know how else to describe them. Much nicer than the GT and EH 12ax7's I tried in there before. Still looking for some NOS Mullards, Telefunkens or RCA's to try (at a reasonable price!). __________________ John F. TDPRI # 1764

April 27th, 2008, 09:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
Brent Hutto Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: South Carolina Posts: 657 6 Photos	My favorite is any 12AX7-type tube that won't rattle and go all zingy on me after an hour in my combo amp. Hanging upside down an inch and a half from a 12" Neodym speaker can render the finest RCA blackplate (or any old multi-hundred dollar tube you like) into an expensive noisemaker. __________________ ON HIATUS

April 28th, 2008, 12:52 AM	#8 (permalink)
TexGoneNW Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Victoria, TX Posts: 929 4 Photos	The GE NOS JAN 5751's that Mr. Hullet sold for $5 each on the old Telecaster Discussion Page. I use 'em in place of the V1 in Pro Juniors and they sound great. Telefunken 12AX7 in the Silvertone 1482.

April 28th, 2008, 01:00 AM	#9 (permalink)
candh Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ito city, Japan Posts: 183	Mullard in V2 of pretty much every amp I have.

April 28th, 2008, 01:15 AM	#10 (permalink)
skeksis Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: phoenix Posts: 558	V1 in my princeton reverb is Telefunken 12ax7 - high gain, tames the bright character of the amp a bit, and complements the Brimar 6v6 output tubes for some lovely overdrive... runners up: V1 in my silvertone 1482 is stock 12ax7a, looks like RCA ribbed gray plates V1 in my airline 9015a is Raytheon 12ax7a w/ black plates I keep a small handful of RCA, Mullard (7025) and Telefunken on hand. Can't go wrong with USA or European old stock... just varies a little based on your tastes. __________________ http://www.myspace.com/jswattsmusic http://www.myspace.com/worrymenmusic

April 28th, 2008, 02:23 AM	#11 (permalink)
sjhusting Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Germany Posts: 856 15 Photos	Another vote for the GE 5751 in V1 of any multi-preamp-tube amp. Unless it's a 5e3, then it goes in v2. It's not always right, but it usually is. steven