recto-robbie
12-26-2007, 12:57 PM
Hello tube pro's,, recently I took a chance on ebay with two sets of Mullard 12ax7's from two different buyers. These tubes were all slightly used.
I have always assumed that Mullard preamp tubes would sound much the same.
One set I get was labeled 12ax7a/ecc83 with the mullard sign mostly wiped off and they had the etched B code.
The other set was labeled 12ax7/ecc83 with Mullard and BOGEN silk screened on them, also with B codes. And both say made in GB on them.
Both of these sets looked identical on the inside,, short plates.
After trying the two different sets I found the 12ax7a's to sound so much better. I was in complete awe and had never heard a tube sound so nice,, the best ive ever tried comparing them to the other set of Mullards and other NOS tubes I own.
Is there much difference in sound between different Mullards?
Is the Mullard 12ax7a a better known tube by Mullard?
Are long plates normally better sounding than shorts?
What do I need to look for to find those awsome sounding Mullards?
Both of the sets I listed above sounded very nice,, but the 12ax7a sounded extremeley nice. Awsome.
Id like to get a back up set of Mullards but now that ive bought two sets and found them to be very different,,, I dont know what direction to go now. Even paying a lower price for a slightly used Mullard isnt dirt cheap and I dont really want to start a crap shoot with tubes.
Any help or suggestions is greatly appreciated,,, thanks much,, Rob
I have always assumed that Mullard preamp tubes would sound much the same.
One set I get was labeled 12ax7a/ecc83 with the mullard sign mostly wiped off and they had the etched B code.
The other set was labeled 12ax7/ecc83 with Mullard and BOGEN silk screened on them, also with B codes. And both say made in GB on them.
Both of these sets looked identical on the inside,, short plates.
After trying the two different sets I found the 12ax7a's to sound so much better. I was in complete awe and had never heard a tube sound so nice,, the best ive ever tried comparing them to the other set of Mullards and other NOS tubes I own.
Is there much difference in sound between different Mullards?
Is the Mullard 12ax7a a better known tube by Mullard?
Are long plates normally better sounding than shorts?
What do I need to look for to find those awsome sounding Mullards?
Both of the sets I listed above sounded very nice,, but the 12ax7a sounded extremeley nice. Awsome.
Id like to get a back up set of Mullards but now that ive bought two sets and found them to be very different,,, I dont know what direction to go now. Even paying a lower price for a slightly used Mullard isnt dirt cheap and I dont really want to start a crap shoot with tubes.
Any help or suggestions is greatly appreciated,,, thanks much,, Rob