Tube Question
Moderator: jingle_jangle
Tube Question
I just bought a Peavey MAX bass preamp from Ebay to monkey around with (Im thinking Ricko-sound here), it has a 12AX7 tube in the preamp section. I know alot of people replace tubes with specific brands for whatever reason,, and I would appreciate any info I can get on the subject. Thanks.
"Knowledge is Power"
Hi Scott!
You'll get many comments, I'm sure, with this topic!
Many will talk all day long about NOS, while others will cut them down saying that there's little difference. Don't get caught up with "tube fever".
I would say that there are many great choices. IMO you should pick a price point, and work from there.
Playing a Hiwatt, I've used most the offerings both new and old. Some sound great and some less than great. Of the great ones I tried, some were new manufacture! NOS tubes, especially the 12AX7 (ECC83), are ALL expensive... not sure if you would bother putting one in the Peavy MAX.
Good ones to try:
JJ ECC83
JJ ECC83S (higher gain)
Tung-Sol reissue
Do some searching here on our forum, and the plexi palace forum. This is probably the most talked about tube made!
Good luck, and let us know what YOUR findings are!
You'll get many comments, I'm sure, with this topic!
Many will talk all day long about NOS, while others will cut them down saying that there's little difference. Don't get caught up with "tube fever".
I would say that there are many great choices. IMO you should pick a price point, and work from there.
Playing a Hiwatt, I've used most the offerings both new and old. Some sound great and some less than great. Of the great ones I tried, some were new manufacture! NOS tubes, especially the 12AX7 (ECC83), are ALL expensive... not sure if you would bother putting one in the Peavy MAX.
Good ones to try:
JJ ECC83
JJ ECC83S (higher gain)
Tung-Sol reissue
Do some searching here on our forum, and the plexi palace forum. This is probably the most talked about tube made!
Good luck, and let us know what YOUR findings are!
Rickenbacker '64 & '68 4001 basses ♦ Fender Pre-CBS J & P Basses and 1968 Telecaster Bass ♦ Moog Taurus III Bass Pedals ♦ Hiwatt (Hylight) Amplification
"A good bassist determines the direction of any band."- Ron Carter
"A good bassist determines the direction of any band."- Ron Carter
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soundmasterg
- RRF Consultant
- Posts: 1923
- Joined: Tue Oct 01, 2002 1:06 pm
With just a tube preamp with a single 12AX7 in it, you won't notice a heck of a lot of difference between brands and types. It probably has a Sovtek 12AX7 WA or WB in it now though, and these are one of the worst ones out there. They work fine but sound very bland. The JJ ECC83S is a short plate tube and has good gain and sounds good. The JJ ECC803S is a long plate tube and has a bit more highs and lower gain and also sounds good. I personally like the new Tung-Sol 12AX7 reissue a lot and would highly recommend it. NOS is of course the best, but it also costs the most too. Since you won't notice much difference in your application, then I would say to go with something reliable, and both of the JJ's, and the Tung-Sol will fit that requirement.
I agree one tube in a preamp doesn't do a hell of a lot, just mellows them a little. If I have to use a SS head which has a tube channel I invariably use the SS path, usually much clearer and brighter, most of the good tube sound from a tube head is from the power tubes not the preamp tubes. One tube in the audio path does not make a SS amp into a tube amp, with that being said buy NOS tubes from hams, they usually honest and don't charge an arm and a leg on the other hand they usually don't have much use for 12AX7's either. For new I like JJ tubes.
KB1OKL
KB1OKL
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soundmasterg
- RRF Consultant
- Posts: 1923
- Joined: Tue Oct 01, 2002 1:06 pm
Sorry for the delay..had a busy weekend.
The new Tung-Sol is copied after the old ones as far as the internal dimensions, but there were many eras for different NOS tubes and almost all of the manufacturers went with different size plates from one era to another. Tung-Sol was no exception and OS Tung-Sols will have short plates, long plates, and everything in between. The new one is copied after the shorter OS Tung-Sols, but of course like all new tubes the metallurgy and vacuum is inferior to old ones. The new ones may sound as good or better than old ones in some cases, but just will not last as long. That is the case will all new tubes.
Personally, I think the new Tung-Sol is the best sounding 12AX7 type for vintage style amps around. The best part is it's quality, which like most of New Sensor's stuff is top notch. In some applications the EI still sounds better, but EI doesn't make tubes any more and they always had microphonics issues.
The new Tung-Sol is copied after the old ones as far as the internal dimensions, but there were many eras for different NOS tubes and almost all of the manufacturers went with different size plates from one era to another. Tung-Sol was no exception and OS Tung-Sols will have short plates, long plates, and everything in between. The new one is copied after the shorter OS Tung-Sols, but of course like all new tubes the metallurgy and vacuum is inferior to old ones. The new ones may sound as good or better than old ones in some cases, but just will not last as long. That is the case will all new tubes.
Personally, I think the new Tung-Sol is the best sounding 12AX7 type for vintage style amps around. The best part is it's quality, which like most of New Sensor's stuff is top notch. In some applications the EI still sounds better, but EI doesn't make tubes any more and they always had microphonics issues.