What the cool new 12ax7 for amps?

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I've never heard of those....but, I do know back in the day where your choices in new tubes were Ruby, unbranded, and GT tested--all mostly coming from the same factories....GT were the best sounding.Much like TAD is now in power tubes and rectifiers. I specify because I've never had any of their preamp tubes--but, they do what GT used to--which is test big lots and sell the better end of the yield for a premium.

Svart....I dunno, man--I mean, it's pretty huge difference brand to brand for v1 whether it's a gainy amp or not-moresor the guinier it is, until maybe not--whether we're talking new or old being more irrelevant to a a degree....but, a TungSol will sound the opposite of the JJ. It will be smiley faced and snappy where the JJ makes the pick attack "hard" and the harmonics "not right" (IMO, obviously using "right")....I find that v1 and the power tubes are the two really noticeable changes in terms of brand changes. But, I don't own amps with tons of preamp tubes in elaborate configs--so, mostly all the gain's coming from v1. The Reinhardt uses both sides of the v1 tube for a footswitchable treble weighted gain boost.

I've often wondered about the Gold Lion and there are a handful of companies who build their own "premium" tubes....but, they sell for usually nearly as much as old stock, which I already know are cool. I figured that was a bridge I'd cross when I could no longer get old stock. Maybe we're there...price of even JANs has skyrocketed. But, I mostly was thinking of the new production $10-18 preamp tubes.

I played all afternoon yesterday stupid loud. Going guitar to guitar....that Reinhardt has never sounded/felt so good. I feel bad. That Mullard should probably go in a mic preamp or something where it's low noise test is more meaningful. But, damn, that sounded good.

I've been reading up on eh12ax7 per Jim Williams recommendation, but I've read about lots of early failure with these tubes.

Who is a reputable dealer that gaurantees the tubes will work as intended?

We have a JJ distributor here in pdx, but I'd rather try something different as I've been using JJ's for the past few years.

...with 6505 and Triple Wrecks, I'm not sure what kind of difference you'd hear. Even my "high gain" (and the one I stuck this Mullard in) is a simple Plexi circuit with a shaped footswitchable boost using the second half of the 12ax7 in v1....so, all minimal, as you put it. My experience with those Peavey and Mesas have been minimal...as in they've been brought in to be recorded. I only ever roll different tubes on amps I own, so....I guess "high gain" does have a whole nother level or three, YMMV.

I've had JJs for years....and never seen anything different. ECC83. I've had them come in numerous amps....I even retubed a Bassman like 15 years ago with all JJs....and everywhere in between--never seen a different variety other than their gold pin option, which I've never had because gold pins is shit of the bull for audiophoolery (IMO/E)....is there something ELSE different about the ones with gold pins?

yeah, its got to have the 803. They use to only make it with the gold pins then they changed and started making them with standard pins. I have re-tubed a few clients amps with them and they all liked them much better.  

I was surprised you'd not heard a difference before....but, the ultra high gain amps might factor into that....but, the surprise was that it's beyond the subjective of "better/worse", which we can always debate, particularly in something as "intentionally colored" as a guitar amp. They sound and feel very objectively different. I could see amps where someone like new stock EHs that tend to be on a bright'ish side better than old stock....you know? But, I would be damn surprised if someone can't tell A from B. We could enlessly debate the value of A vs B....which changes based onthe position in the circuit, IME--for my mostly "traditional with modern spin" amps, V1 is the biggest bang for the buck....power tubes after that.

Part of the reason I was asking is because my amps are getting to an age where they need new preamps tubes, prolly....AND because I was gifted a few ANOS gems at NAMM....anyhoo....I spent a good deal of playing time cycling various tube compliments a few years ago to find the best compliment for each amp....I mean--not all at once...but, as I bought them...I've since had to replace some due to failures....as well as some ANOS power tubes as I cam upon them....it's time to probably do it again. Part of what happened when I got these ANOS gems is that I pulled the box of replacement tubes out, and if you discard the JJ and Soveteks I wouldn't want near an amp, I'm running pretty low on stock on hand. You know?

I do hear you on audiophile mentality. The thing is....I tend to probably come at these type situations differently than you....my experience tells me to assume they are right about the effect (the what they hear) and usually completely incorrect with the attempt to technically explain it.

As to swapping tubes for tone....no--better for a particular amp is better-beyond that, yes you turn the knobs as intended. So, there's not really any swapping here after I find a set working well. Other than switching v1 to a 12au7 to play bass with my 1x15 clean combo....but, that's functional--just to give it more clean headroom.

Anyway, so since this one that blew me away is a ANOS Mullard....I've been looking around....looks like everyone now has their "take" on that design of 12ax7.....it also seems like electro Harmonics bought JJ? Or someone who owns EH bought JJ? Now they're labeled EH Slovakian (but same silk screen) ECC83...and EH Mullard are silk screened just "mullard"--so, I assume they are the Russian Mullard reissues....and Groove Tubes' take

www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/GT12AX7MSel
www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/EHX12AX7M

I see TungSol (who "won" for me last go round of new production) has an 803 as well as an 83....as does the JJs mentioned earlier.

So, that covers the traditional players....but, I'm intrigued by new brands I'm seeing. Gold Lion being one....they were maybe around last time, but they were as expnesive as NOS at the time, so I didn't really see the point. With old stocks going up and up and up....I'm considering some of these new "premium" tubes---are they made and tested like they would be for military use? What is the reasoning behind the pricing? Hand made? Stress tested?

www.thetubestore.com/Tubes/12AX7-ECC83-Tube-Types/Northern-Electric-12AX7
www.thetubestore.com/Tubes/12AX7-ECC83-Tube-Types/Genalex-Gold-Lion-ECC83-B759

Then I ran across this....new player? Anyone know the story on these guys?

www.tubeboutique.com/preamp/

I will also point out that I have some old stock RCAs and maybe a GE? that don't really seem worth it. I mean, they are smoother/nicer, but not by enough to justify the insane prices. Why the last round went into the LA610....

You do have to bias most amps for power tubes. My VVT is the only one I own that does self cathode biasing. Not preamp tubes, though.

But, like I pointed out, it's been my experience that the two "bang for the buck" spots are v1 and the power tubes. They seem to change the character most between brands. Rectifiers are recfitifers, IME. I know I've heard NOS ones sound different, but I mean, I have two....and new chinese and slovak ones....I can't tell any difference in sound....that said--longevity is a whole different deal and why I have them. I've blown more JJ GZ34s than I can count in various amps--and when they go, they nearly always take the power tubes with them unless you catch it SUPER quickly....so, a fucking shitty $18 rec tube can cost hundreds if you're using old stock or even remotely premium power tubes. My advice is if you have a working rec....and it's been solid--leave it alone. The failures were always first year. Sometimes within 6 months. Once they make it a while in an amp, I assume they're solid. this is unrelated to preamp tubes, but TAD's GZ34s have been solid AND--they're guaranteed for AT RETAIL replacement if they fail. Otherwise--walk into whatever TAD dealer with the dead one--they give you another. I've never had to do it because they've been solid, but....just saying...if anyone needs a good rec--I think they KNOW they're good is why they offer the replacement deal. They ARE a company who just tests and doesn't manufacture....

I compared some Yugo EI "smooth plate" knock-offs in a Peavey mic pre with good caps. I thought they would sound ok but they have no air on top. The EH's sounded hi-fi in comparison. The Russian LP and LPS also don't sound as open. I keep going back to those EH's except for hi gain guitar preamps.

I prefer the open sounding tubes in the guitar amps too, that way less top boost is needed.

FYI....all I could find locally was the stock EHs....clean amp they were OK....the dirty stuff? No way. Old worn out TungSols are better.

I never called Sweetwater about the Mullards....I need to do that....but, man, the Reinhardt just sounds so good I don't....I KNOW I need to so I can get some spare ax7s--I have a bunch but they're either worn or dogshitty Sovteks. I have too many amps to not have some good spares. I used the new EHs in v2&3 in a few amps where I still had an old stock for v1....they did "fine" in those less important spots.