GE 12ax7 ?

[devideva]

Worth a shit? Cheap. Better than new tubes?

[AxAxSxS]

made in america NOS tubes are normally pretty awesome. I think the GE ones are kinda bottom of the barrel for that though. Probably better than new chinese or russian tubes but the other brand NOS tubes that command High prices are better. I just got a bunch of old RCA's that are pretty sweet, also fairly cheap.

[devideva]

cause they're 5 bucks each - they look like tung sols

[dubkitty]

old GEs are the shit. especially in Fender amps, they have a beautiful upper mids/highs quality i call "pearly." RCAs are crunchier, and a better choice for gainy applications. either are miles better than anything made today. if you want super-cheap NOS, look at Sylvanias, some of which were made in the Canadian Philips works. stop me before i go on for half a page about different types of old 12AX7s. i am a total toob slut.

[AxAxSxS]

Don't stop, Preach on man!
Just dont tempt me with telefunkens and stuff that to pricey

[dubkitty]

for a nice neutral NOS 12AX7 i like Amperex; the newer (70s) orange-label ones are just as good as the "bugle-boy" ones that are highly sought after. Philips-branded tubes are often iddentical to Amperex from the same period, and were made in some of the same plants. if you want Telefunkens, you can find used-test-as-new diamond-bottom tubes on eBay made for Telefunken for US hi-fi manufacturers, e.g. Fisher...since they don't say "Telefunken" on the outside you can get good ones for $30-40, as compared to $200+ for a minty Telefunken in box. People love Telefunkens because they're very clean, don't distort much, and have a very balanced, uncolored sound.

i've never gotten to try old Mullards...they're just too dear. I rather like the new "reissue" Mullards, which look like long-plate Telefunkens and likely are produced on old Telefunken machines.

in my Laney VC30 i use three old 12AX7s in the preamp stage: an Amperex in V1, a GE in V2, and a Telefunken in V3 because half of V3 runs the "Drive" function and i don't like excess breakup on 12AX7s even when they're driven into distortion. in my little Electar practice amp i use an RCA 12AX7 and an ancient TungSol 6V6 i found in a box of old tubes my ex once brought home from a swap meet back when she still liked me.

[rustywire]

old GEs are the shit. especially in Fender amps, they have a beautiful upper mids/highs quality i call "pearly." RCAs are crunchier, and a better choice for gainy applications. either are miles better than anything made today. if you want super-cheap NOS, look at Sylvanias, some of which were made in the Canadian Philips works. stop me before i go on for half a page about different types of old 12AX7s. i am a total toob slut.

+1.
I have a black plate RCA in the Ibanez TK999HT that's been for sale in the B/S/T for the past 2 months...you'd think it would be gone by now


OP: get them. Try for yourself.

My Selmer head is loaded with old glass, because I got into this shit for hifi before ever owning/picking up an instrument.

Its no placebo effect; you can completely change the core character of many vintage amps with a single swap...and because the old stuff was produced to much higher standards and therefore tends to have longer life...while producing "better" results for the duration of said life...

Worthwhile investment IMO, especially if you play old gear; try some era-correct glass. Any of it.

But careful, it's a whole other rabbit hole...and gets quite expensive very quickly...

[rustywire]

for a nice neutral NOS 12AX7 i like Amperex; the newer (70s) orange-label ones are just as good as the "bugle-boy" ones that are highly sought after. Philips-branded tubes are often iddentical to Amperex from the same period, and were made in some of the same plants. if you want Telefunkens, you can find used-test-as-new diamond-bottom tubes on eBay made for Telefunken for US hi-fi manufacturers, e.g. Fisher...since they don't say "Telefunken" on the outside you can get good ones for $30-40, as compared to $200+ for a minty Telefunken in box. People love Telefunkens because they're very clean, don't distort much, and have a very balanced, uncolored sound.

i've never gotten to try old Mullards...they're just too dear. I rather like the new "reissue" Mullards, which look like long-plate Telefunkens and likely are produced on old Telefunken machines.

in my Laney VC30 i use three old 12AX7s in the preamp stage: an Amperex in V1, a GE in V2, and a Telefunken in V3 because half of V3 runs the "Drive" function and i don't like excess breakup on 12AX7s even when they're driven into distortion. in my little Electar practice amp i use an RCA 12AX7 and an ancient TungSol 6V6 i found in a box of old tubes my ex once brought home from a swap meet back when she still liked me.

Good advice & insight....but the new Mullards do not compare to any of the old glass you've mentioned. Not even close.

I have a few examples of the most desirable Mullards, including the elusive 10M Master Series (in my bass amp which takes 6eu7, the ecc83s go for like $300/ea ).

The 50s and 60s glass are wayyyyyy overpriced, but the demand is there for a reason.

In my HiFi secret 2ch, ultralinear push-pull power amp (class A) I have a 50s ecc82 as the 'v1' type drive-tube, box plate m8136 in the PIs, GE Canada 5881s and an RCA 5U4 rectifier. British miniatures, North American octals.
The best part is its ability to use ANY tubes with matching pinout, and no need to buy matched pairs because they auto bias...and last a very long time.

It's a giant killer.

Both of my instrument amps (Guitar-Selmer & Bass-Oliver) are Tweed Bassman (ultimately RCA) derived.
The Oliver is a similar story as the Hifi amp with American power & British preamp/PI, but the Selmer is fully loaded with 60s Mullards excluding the v3 Telefunken PI.

Thinking I should start listing tubes in the B/S/T....I have a cigarbox stash full of them, for rolling

[dubkitty]

Good advice & insight....but the new Mullards do not compare to any of the old glass you've mentioned. Not even close.

i didn't mean to imply so. i think i was on the way to talking about modern 12AX7s and then realized that the only ones i like are the "Mullards" and "TungSols." i do not like Rubys or JJs, which are way too toppy and brittle for my taste, and the other brands i've tried just sound like mush.

[devideva]

well, the jerkwad now isn't selling them

but what are your favorite high gainers like ruby 12ax7ac5HG+
sort of rock to me

[dubkitty]

RCA all the way. they really snarl when you push them. (real NOS) Mullards are supposed to excel here as well...when my ship comes in and i can afford to buy them, i'll let you know

[AxAxSxS]

RCA all the way. they really snarl when you push them. (real NOS) Mullards are supposed to excel here as well...when my ship comes in and i can afford to buy them, i'll let you know

[devideva]

Yeah, I want some RCAs, actually I just need one but I could use four. If you find some let me know.