Preamp tube options?

[metropolis_4]

What are good options for 12ax7’s these days?

I hate JJs, love the sound of Tung-Sols but they always seem to have problems with microphonics. What are some other good options out there?

I’m fine with going NOS if there are some I can get from a reliable dealer at reasonable prices

 

[Deadpan]

What amp and style of play?

 

[CorrosiveMatter]

My answer might be worthless but in May I went full Tung-Sol for my Mark V except the 5U4GB and so far I have no microphonics.

 

[EOengineer]

I’ve had totally hit and miss experiences with tubes, regardless of modern production or NOS. I tend to use JJ in lower impact positions and then tung sol, EHX, occasionally old glass in more important positions.

Most of the NOS stuff out there now is actually ANOS and a lot of it is crap. The biggest issue is usually noise and microphonics.

 

[laxu]

• JJ ECC83S sucks. It IMO makes amps sound dark and harsh at the same time.
• JJ ECC803S long plate is a nice tube. It's good as a V1 tube for giving darker amps/speakers some sparkle. Can work well as a phase inverter tube too. The only drawback is that it can be microphonic.
• JJ ECC83MG is a solid all rounder tube.
• Tung-Sol 12AX7 is a good high gain tube.
• TAD 7025 Highgrade is a good V1 tube with low microphonics.
• TAD ECC83-WA is alright, nothing bad to say.
• TAD 12AX7-C is a bit brighter than the ECC83-WA.

 

[EOengineer]

• JJ ECC83S sucks. It IMO makes amps sound dark and harsh at the same time.
• JJ ECC803S long plate is a nice tube. It's good as a V1 tube for giving darker amps/speakers some sparkle. Can work well as a phase inverter tube too. The only drawback is that it can be microphonic.
• JJ ECC83MG is a solid all rounder tube.
• Tung-Sol 12AX7 is a good high gain tube.
• TAD 7025 Highgrade is a good V1 tube with low microphonics.
• TAD ECC83-WA is alright, nothing bad to say.
• TAD 12AX7-C is a bit brighter than the ECC83-WA.

I’d nominate the jj803s as one of the best current production V1 tubes IF you can get a quiet one. I’ve been pretty lucky using it in V1 on high gain heads. It has no resemblance to the sickly JJ ECC83s, fortunately. Honestly a great sounding preamp tube regardless of era.

 

[laxu]

I’d nominate the jj803s as one of the best current production V1 tubes IF you can get a quiet one. I’ve been pretty lucky using it in V1 on high gain heads.

I really liked the only one I have as a phase inverter too. Sounded nice in my Mesa Mark V...until it started doing weird shit and cutting out. I think it's just a goner now.

I've basically crammed all my "best" from my tube stash into the Mark V as it's my only tube amp and needs so god damn many tubes.

 

[metropolis_4]

What amp and style of play?

Vox AC30C2

Pretty much all styles except metal

 

[metropolis_4]

• JJ ECC83S sucks. It IMO makes amps sound dark and harsh at the same time.
• JJ ECC803S long plate is a nice tube. It's good as a V1 tube for giving darker amps/speakers some sparkle. Can work well as a phase inverter tube too. The only drawback is that it can be microphonic.
• JJ ECC83MG is a solid all rounder tube.
• Tung-Sol 12AX7 is a good high gain tube.
• TAD 7025 Highgrade is a good V1 tube with low microphonics.
• TAD ECC83-WA is alright, nothing bad to say.
• TAD 12AX7-C is a bit brighter than the ECC83-WA.

I’d nominate the jj803s as one of the best current production V1 tubes IF you can get a quiet one. I’ve been pretty lucky using it in V1 on high gain heads. It has no resemblance to the sickly JJ ECC83s, fortunately. Honestly a great sounding preamp tube regardless of era.

I guess I should give some of the other JJs a chance. I had just written off all JJ preamp tubes as junk based on my experience with the ECC83S and never bothered to try any of the others

 

[Deadpan]

Vox AC30C2

Pretty much all styles except metal

For more chime I like old RCA 7025.

The Tong Sols sound nice but I find the different years can sould different.

Psvane have an interesting twist on the Tung Sol sound in my experience. Not quite as bright but a very musical top end.

 

[CorrosiveMatter]

I really liked the only one I have as a phase inverter too. Sounded nice in my Mesa Mark V...until it started doing weird shit and cutting out. I think it's just a goner now.

I've basically crammed all my "best" from my tube stash into the Mark V as it's my only tube amp and needs so god damn many tubes.

 

[EOengineer]

I guess I should give some of the other JJs a chance. I had just written off all JJ preamp tubes as junk based on my experience with the ECC83S and never bothered to try any of the others

The hesitation is understandable especially since you’ve spent time with the ECC83s and identified it as not your speed. The 803s uses a design that is more prone to microphonics and mechanical noise from vibrations which might make it a poor choice for a combo amp. I’m using it solely in heads - just calling that out as it might be an issue with your Vox.

I’d probably still give it a shot but we may not have the same risk tolerance.

 

[newholland]

TADs are far and away my faves for most things.

 

[metropolis_4]

The hesitation is understandable especially since you’ve spent time with the ECC83s and identified it as not your speed. The 803s uses a design that is more prone to microphonics and mechanical noise from vibrations which might make it a poor choice for a combo amp. I’m using it solely in heads - just calling that out as it might be an issue with your Vox.

I’d probably still give it a shot but we may not have the same risk tolerance.

It’s a head these are going into, and most of the time it won’t be sitting on a cab. But it will be getting transported and moved around a lot, so that’s something to consider.

Why is it that the best sounding preamp tubes also seem to be the ones most prone to microphonics and mechanical noise?

 

[newholland]

It’s a head these are going into, and most of the time it won’t be sitting on a cab. But it will be getting transported and moved around a lot, so that’s something to consider.

Why is it that the best sounding preamp tubes also seem to be the ones most prone to microphonics and mechanical noise?

heads i worry a little less about.. combos though... woof. my iib i haveta try to avoid the rattleys... i used a pile of jj small guts. eventually you come to peace with em in a mesa.