which of these are 'better' (if you could say why they are better that would also be helpful)? they're a 64 vibroverb custom... 1. JAN GE 12AX7WA or NOS RCA 12AX7A 2. JAN Philips 7581A or NOS GE 6L6GC Thanks :NUTS
I like the second choice of each best, but it's all up to your ears in the end. I think the RCA's are a smoother, sweeter sounding tube, and if you like some breakup the GE's will give it up earlier than 7581's which are known for lots of headroom. Hope that helps.
Oh, come on Mike - everyone knows that green is the "Mullard" of the color spectrum. - T p.s. for what it is worth, I prefer the RCA 12AX7A to the GE 12AX7WA - the RCA has real fat, tight lows, somewhat scooped mids, and bright but somewhat indistinct treble. The GE also has good low end punch, but is a bit less dynamic than the RCA. Both tubes lack the clarity of many other (mostly older) 12AX7.
I had an amp tech replace the tubes in a 1966 Super Reverb. He replaced the 6L6 with the 7581A. He said he would swap them with 6L6 if I didn't like tham but wanted me to try them first. I loved the JAN Phillips 7581a. They really worked in that amp. Like others have said, huge clean hedaroom from that amp.
cool thanks for the replies... i think ill go with the RCA 12AX7A's and the 7581A's anyone know where i can get some matched 7581a's? cheers...
I have Phillips 7581As & RCA 6L6GCs, and while the 7581As have more clean headroom, they don't break up as nice, ie: the OD tones aren't as sweet, IMHO. That's the trade off. They do take pedals well though.
