What are your opinions on the New Sensor Tung-Sol?

[somedude]

What are your opinions on the New Sensor Tung-Sol (edit: 12AX7)?

I've seen alot of recommendations for them recently, so I'm kinda curious.

And while we're at it, no one mentions the Groove Tubes 12AX7-M anymore....was it a flavour of the week thing?

[Blue Strat]

Originally Posted by screamingdaisy

What are your opinions on the New Sensor Tung-Sol?

I've seen alot of recommendations for them recently, so I'm kinda curious.

And while we're at it, no one mentions the Groove Tubes 12AX7-M anymore....was it a flavour of the week thing?

I guess you mean the 12AX7? They're generally thought to be very good sounding 12AX7s. The few customers that haven't liked them were die hard NOS tube fans.

If you do a search on this board, you'll find plenty of stuff about the Groove Tubes 12AX7Ms.

[somedude]

Originally Posted by Blue Strat

If you do a search on this board, you'll find plenty of stuff about the Groove Tubes 12AX7Ms.

I remember reading all the good reviews, and I remember some people complaining about reliablity. I'm more wondering why no one talks about them anymore?

[Lution]

The new Tung Sol 12AX7 is my favorite new production tube. In V1 of my Blackbird, it created such a sweet tone. It was perfect for that spot.

And I am running it in V1 and V2 in my 6L6 Shiva with very satisfying results. I highly recommend them. Big tone and very sweet touch-sensitivity.

So far, out of 10 that I've purchased, none of them were duds. All of them were consistent. That could also be because Lord Valve does a very good job of weeding out the baddies.

-Lution

[Blue Strat]

Originally Posted by screamingdaisy

I remember reading all the good reviews, and I remember some people complaining about reliablity. I'm more wondering why no one talks about them anymore?

There was a 10+ page thread here only a few weeks ago. I imagine it's still out there unless it got pulled due to overheated discussion.

[Blue Strat]

Originally Posted by Lution

The new Tung Sol 12AX7 is my favorite new production tube. In V1 of my Blackbird, it created such a sweet tone. It was perfect for that spot.

And I am running it in V1 and V2 in my 6L6 Shiva with very satisfying results. I highly recommend them. Big tone and very sweet touch-sensitivity.

So far, out of 10 that I've purchased, none of them were duds. All of them were consistent. That could also be because Lord Valve does a very good job of weeding out the baddies.

-Lution

They seem to be very reliable and there are relatively few duds right from the factory. Both good indications.

[somedude]

Originally Posted by Blue Strat

There was a 10+ page thread here only a few weeks ago. I imagine it's still out there unless it got pulled due to overheated discussion.

I didn't know about that one....I'll do a search.

[Red Planet]

The Tung Sols arent like any Tung Sol I've ever played. However thay do sound good. Nice and bright. I had a number of em go Microphonic on me after a few hours usage.

Oddly enuff its the same tube as the EH except for the getter but in fairness they do sound different.

The GT 12AX7M's sounded amasing. Nice smooth and creamy. I got a bunch of em over a year and a half and all of em went bad. They went to Motor Boating. I kept trying to find good ones and never did.

For current Production I like a JJ ECC83 in V1, followed by JJ ECC803's in everything else. I've got JJ's that have been working for years. I've got all kinds of NOS 12AX7's laying around and allways end up sticking the JJ's back in.

I may try to get some more of the Tung Sols to see if they last any longer in V1. They are nice and bright and I like that. A good sound also was a Tung Sol in V1 and some LPS's in everything else but they went bad too soon. Basically this coomes down to a Short Plate in V1 and Long Plates in V2, and V3. Long Plates are usually to noisy in V1 though I have some real Mullards (50's) that aint.

[Blue Strat]

Originally Posted by Red Planet

The Tung Sols arent like any Tung Sol I've ever played. However thay do sound good. Nice and bright. I had a number of em go Microphonic on me after a few hours usage.

Oddly enuff its the same tube as the EH except for the getter but in fairness they do sound different.

.

If you're comparing the new ones to NOS Tung Sols, I can understand why they don't sound or look the same to you. The "Reissues" aren't a reissue of anything. The company that makes them bought the Tung Sol name and uses it at will.

Good to see you're keeping your "Eyeball Guru" moniker intact. While the EH and Tung Sol "Reissue" 12AX7s have plates that look alike, there's a lot more happening inside a tube than the shape of the plates or getters.

[Red Planet]

Originally Posted by Blue Strat

If you're comparing the new ones to NOS Tung Sols, I can understand why they don't sound or look the same to you. The "Reissues" aren't a reissue of anything. The company that makes them bought the Tung Sol name and uses it at will.



Good to see you're keeping your "Eyeball Guru" moniker intact. While the EH and Tung Sol "Reissue" 12AX7s have plates that look alike, there's a lot more happening inside a tube than the shape of the plates or getters.

Isnt that implying a relationship to the old? No matter your answer there are a lot of folks who take it that way and thats what they are banking on.

Dont make me get my Optical Comparator back out.:AOK

[rockon1]

I too had a couple of my New Sensor Tung Sols go microphonic in a very short time. Sounded decent enough though. I like the JJ's(both) also for NP stuff.

[somedude]

Originally Posted by Red Planet

For current Production I like a JJ ECC83 in V1, followed by JJ ECC803's in everything else. I've got JJ's that have been working for years. I've got all kinds of NOS 12AX7's laying around and allways end up sticking the JJ's back in.

Is this for a combo?

I have a combo (Orange AD30) that's super sensitive to microphonics in the V1.....I'm considering the Tung-Sol for it but am leaning towards JJ ECC83.

[Blue Strat]

Originally Posted by rockon1

I too had a couple of my New Sensor Tung Sols go microphonic in a very short time. Sounded decent enough though. I like the JJ's(both) also for NP stuff.

What kind of amps were the Tung Sols microphonic in? High gain or "normal" gain?

[Blue Strat]

Originally Posted by Red Planet

Isnt that implying a relationship to the old? No matter your answer there are a lot of folks who take it that way and thats what they are banking on.

.

It's not my question to answer, it's just reality. Actually, does New Sensor call them "reissues" or is that something some of us have adopted? I honestly don't believe that 80% of today's tube buyers have any idea that there was an original Tung Sol company, so I use the term "Reissue" to indicate that today's "Tung Sols" aren't really Tung Sols to indicate that detail.

[rockon1]

Originally Posted by Blue Strat

What kind of amps were the Tung Sols microphonic in? High gain or "normal" gain?

High gain. All of my amps are high gain.Maybe they were an early batch.