Who's making the best 12AX7 these days?

[BluePat]

By best, I mean most consistent, reliable and best sounding tube.

Keep on pluckin'
Pat

[rooster]

As an amp builder who uses new stock tubes in my products on a regular basis, I can tell you that if you're a player, rather than a builder, the most consistant one is going to be a JAN from Mike a KCA (BlueStrat). He's got quite a few, and they aren't that expensive. If you HAVE to go for current production, try either the TungSol Reissue from a place that tests them thoroughly, or a JJ ECC803S (If you can use long plates) or a JJ ECC83S (shorter plates). I like them all and have had great luck with them (after a coupla hundred JJ's, I've not gotten any bad ones, others have had MUCH worse luck).

My opinion only.

[Timbre Wolf]

JAN
For those reading this that do not yet know it, "JAN" isn't a name of a tube manufacturer. There were many different tube manufacturers (Tung-Sol, RCA, Ken-Rad, Hytron/Sylvania, Raytheon, GE, etc.) in North America (not just USA) that labeled their tubes as Joint Army Navy, for sale to the US military, in this way.

- Thom

[Blue Strat]

In new production, the Tung Sol Reissues are doing quite well in terms of fewest rejects from the factory, low microphonics, and tone. No one can tell which tube has the best tone (for you), that's a personal issue.

[wingwalker]

Current priduction...I like (really like) the new Tung Sol, the EH is good, the Sovtek LPS is good in some amps, I have heard good things about the Ei but never tried them...I guess my 2 favs are the TS and the EH. It's a shame there are not more current production tubes that are better...

[CocoTone]

No one likes GT??? They are the most readily available tube here in Toronto area. I actually like the Mullard RI they have, when they work, they sound pretty good.

CT.

[Born2Blues67]

This may be an unpopular opinion,but i like the EH.(especially in V1) It has always sounded much better to my ears than JJ.

[FUCHSyea]

I love JJ tubes but have had great luck with some JAN tubes from RCA and GE bought online from TUBE DEPOT- but it's definately a personal thing I built myself a 5F1 just to play wth preamp tubes being that the amp is heavily effected by a single tube change. The lack of extensive wiring in the tweed champ (5F1) circuit makes you hear the "voice" of every tube you put in it-

Tonefully Yours,
Davis

[JeffreyC]

For new production preamps, my vote definitely goes to the Tung Sols.

[Blue Strat]

when they work, they sound pretty good.

CT.

Maybe it's me, but that doesn't seem like a "glowing" endorsement ;)

[Uma Floresta]

In new production, the Tung Sol Reissues are doing quite well in terms of fewest rejects from the factory, low microphonics, and tone. No one can tell which tube has the best tone (for you), that's a personal issue.

I just swapped out the cheap chinese tube in my little practice amp (Kustom Tube 12a) with a Tung Sol. Noticeable improvement, both clean and distorted.

[Padsy9]

GT 12ax7m is a nice tube. Some have found them unreliable but I've had several with no problems and they sound really nice.

[Blue Strat]

GT 12ax7m is a nice tube. Some have found them unreliable but I've had several with no problems and they sound really nice.

It's like anything else, when you get good ones, life is a joy....but when you don't......

Those have a very spotty past (and maybe present, I don't know). Some batches were fine, others were not fine.

[Old Tele man]

... it depends upon which importer/vendor you ask!

[CocoTone]

Maybe it's me, but that doesn't seem like a "glowing" endorsement ;)

I'm just going on the reports I've read. I personally have had good luck with them.

CT.

[Dale]

I have good luck with JJ, 12ax7-m, and 12ax7C. But each of us has a different experience I would guess.

[Ascension]

No one likes GT??? They are the most readily available tube here in Toronto area. I actually like the Mullard RI they have, when they work, they sound pretty good.

CT.
When they WORK is the definitive term here. The GT-M sounds GREAT IF you can find a good one. I had several NOS Mullard ECC-83's and 2 of the GT-M's I have sounded better and had more gain than any of the NOS Mullards did. I wish that was consistant---but it's not. Outta the last 400 he got my supplier found only 25 that were good enough to keep and has dropped the GT-M. It's a crying shame as they do sound good ----IF you can find a good one. I bought 5 and had my supplier send me the 5 highest gain GT-M's he tested out of the shipment of 1000 he got. Out of those 5 - 2 so far have failed in less than two years.

[Rod]

No one likes GT??? They are the most readily available tube here in Toronto area. I actually like the Mullard RI they have, when they work, they sound pretty good.

CT.
I bought 6 of the GT M reissues, and have had problems with over half of them...one side cutting out mostly!!!
My JJ's and EH and TS tubes have been great....tone wise, you gotta try them to see what you like...go out and buy 2 of each...then you'll know

[kingsxman]

When they WORK is the definitive term here. The GT-M sounds GREAT IF you can find a good one. I had several NOS Mullard ECC-83's and 2 of the GT-M's I have sounded better and had more gain than any of the NOS Mullards did. I wish that was consistant---but it's not. Outta the last 400 he got my supplier found only 25 that were good enough to keep and has dropped the GT-M. It's a crying shame as they do sound good ----IF you can find a good one. I bought 5 and had my supplier send me the 5 highest gain GT-M's he tested out of the shipment of 1000 he got. Out of those 5 - 2 so far have failed in less than two years.

There are a ton of threads on the 12ax7M's. The first couple I've gotten were great...everything, and I mean EVERYTHING I've gotten afterwards has failed. I've had 2 replacments sent 2 differnet times from GT...and each time they were bad. WE're trying one more time with the latest run that should be coming out within the next couple of weeks. After that...forget it. Shame is right as I compared them with a couple NOS Mullards I have and they were really close.

Now, I think we need to give GT some credit though for working on coming up with a new tube that....if working...rivals the NOS stuff. NOS wont last forever...and the price will continue to skyrocket. We need companies like GT coming up with these new tubes. On the other hand...when there are as many problems as they've had....there needs to be something done. They cant escape the critisicm...but they also deserve some Kudos for trying something new that will benefit all once its complete.

[Zero Point]

What a loaded question!

For what purpose will the 12ax7 be used? High overhead? Smooth overdrive? High gain? Warmth? Grit? :D

The Ei tubes are the best smooth overdrive tubes I've heard. Not the gold, the gold is more of a cleaner type of sound.

The EH tubes are pretty good for buffers and the like. high overhead, not that great for preamp overdrive.

JJ's, Tung Sol's, Ei Elite, for use in an amplifier's preamp section.

GT if you want that 80's Marshall tone.

It's a really strange world, this tube thing. And there really isn't a catch all tube out there.


-Z