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I need some preamp tubes for an amp that tends to be a little on the bright side...high gain is not really needed but would be ok...really, I just want something fat and smooth sounding...the Alnico II of preamp tubes if you will.

Ei. Yugoslavian tube. ECC83. Fat, round, smooth. Incredibly smooth to be precise, even the highs are smooth. Mesa isn't a bad choice either. Both run around 15-20 dollars a tube.

I'm tellin you dude, electro harmonix

got mine for $8 apiece, too


Originally Posted by drew_half_emptyI'm tellin you dude, electro harmonix

got mine for $8 apiece, tooWhich one are you using?

all just the standard EH12ax7 or 12ax7eh or whatever they're calling it

as far as i know they only have 1 kind of 12ax7

I have vintage Siemens that I really like.

If you're looking for something NOT too expensive, try the Groove Tubes 12AX7-M.

Ben, I am looking for current production tubes...my stash of NOS stuff is running slim on the pre amp tubes and I don't feel like paying out the nose for more! How are the 12XA7-M's?

If you are looking for something that isn't so bright or alot of gain- maybe you should try a 12AY7 or 12UA7- the AY7 has about 60% of the gain of a AX-the AU about 40%, and they both will sound a little fatter sounding. they are used sometimes for a bluesier sound and they will allow you to use more volume and turn your tone controls up hene a fatter sound

I like JJ's for fat and smooth. Also, the GT 12AX7-M's are suprisingly warm and smooth.

Marvar...I don't care to loose that much gain but thanks.

Jeff...those are the 2 tubes that everybody seems to mention...I think I'll give the JJ's a shot first!

Christian....give Bob at Eurotubes a call. There are several different flavors of the JJ's, and he will know just what set you need for the sound you want.


Originally Posted by the guy who invented fireMarvar...I don't care to loose that much gain but thanks.

Jeff...those are the 2 tubes that everybody seems to mention...I think I'll give the JJ's a shot first!

Hey man..

just 1 advice.. if you were to go with the JJ ECC83s preamp tubes.. i'd suggest you get them highgain graded at 110mu per side.

reason i say that is I find the quot;standardquot; ones to lack the gain and the tone.

The highgain graded ones seem to have a better overall gain defintion, tighter tone, and no where nearly as dark as the quot;standardquot; off the shelf ones.

I may also add that these suckers like to be driven hard. They'll just sound better and better the louder you crank them.

Merry christmas, good luck amp; Hope that helps!Cheers

OK does anyone have expertise on this matter? I want an answer too, and this thread hasn't quite helped.

I Use RUBY's as of now.

I thought Scott said the newer JJ ECC 803s sound nice. I haven't tried mine yet though.

The new tung sol reissue kicks man! Plus the chinese are always good. Sovtek LPS as well. check out dougstubes.com and send him an e-mail, he'll set you up. I'm not too big on the JJ pre's. although the 803s is pretty good.


Originally Posted by Jeff_HI like JJ's for fat and smooth. Also, the GT 12AX7-M's are suprisingly warm and smooth.

So are the Chinese made Groove Tube 12AX7s, the 12AX7-C's.

As are the 9th generation chinese quot;15 bucks for 4 tubesquot; deals you find on eBay, all the time.

12ax7C, 12AX7M, JJ depending on the amp

I have a couple of these RFT 12AX7's that I got from KCA NOS Tubes. The following is his description:

NOS RFT 12AX7/ECC83
East German 12AX7. Less bright and earlier breakup than other 12AX7s.
VERY nice guitar amp tube in this price range. A bit less clean headroom than some of the others. Perfect for Marshalls, Voxes and clones of these amps. Sound nice in Fenders and Fender clones too. Various tube markings including United, Pinnacle, RWN, etc. quot;These are so much better than the stock tubes in my Diesel quot;Herbertquot; amp, I can't believe the difference!These things smoke! I'd like one more pleasequot; Dave Gerlach

I have two. I bought these because I thought I wanted a less bright tone, but in the Reverend HellHound they we much less bright than I wanted.

Chris,
My experience recently with the 12ax7m has been wonderful. I've tried it both my Vox and the little Silvertone and it is round, smooth and warm but not overly so.

Originally Posted by the guy who invented fireBen, I am looking for current production tubes...my stash of NOS stuff is running slim on the pre amp tubes and I don't feel like paying out the nose for more! How are the 12XA7-M's?