"The best 12ax7s I've experienced for high gain amplifiers is those Shuguang 9th gen. Chinese tubes. Those tubes are low noise, low microphonics and have quite a bit of gain and clarity, they just seem to work the best for high gain amplification. Reinhold Bogner praises those tubes for the preamp section along with Winged C Svetlanas for the power amp section in his amplifiers. The man is right, even NOS tubes don't sound as good in his amp designs."
"I like the GT12AX7C because it's hot, but tight and defined sounding. I'm not positive, but I think they're just relabeled Shuguang 9th Generation tubes that are tested to fall withing certain tolerances. If you want to save money, and get great pre tubes, go on Ebay and type in shuguang 12ax7. Sometimes there's good deals on them, like $5 a piece.
I also like most Russian 12AX7's like Sovtek LPS, EH, the GT R's.
JJ's tend to be reliable, but I bought JJ's best pre tube, the ECC803S and the thing fried within a month. JJ ECC83 tend to be warm and medium output.
The Tungsols are great tubes too, but cost $20 a piece. The GT M's are good and expensive too, but I think they sound best in vintage amps, not modern preamps, because they can be a little bit muddy in preamps designed for highgain. I love the GT M's in my Gibson Goldtone and Chieftain though because they're clean amps I'm trying to make breakup better."
So it appears these seem to be a good means of replacement preamp valves for a high gain amp. What do you guys think? Any experience with these? Go nicely in a 5150? And how about some good power tubes?
Just want to get a set on the ready for whenever mine decide to end.
"I like the GT12AX7C because it's hot, but tight and defined sounding. I'm not positive, but I think they're just relabeled Shuguang 9th Generation tubes that are tested to fall withing certain tolerances. If you want to save money, and get great pre tubes, go on Ebay and type in shuguang 12ax7. Sometimes there's good deals on them, like $5 a piece.
I also like most Russian 12AX7's like Sovtek LPS, EH, the GT R's.
JJ's tend to be reliable, but I bought JJ's best pre tube, the ECC803S and the thing fried within a month. JJ ECC83 tend to be warm and medium output.
The Tungsols are great tubes too, but cost $20 a piece. The GT M's are good and expensive too, but I think they sound best in vintage amps, not modern preamps, because they can be a little bit muddy in preamps designed for highgain. I love the GT M's in my Gibson Goldtone and Chieftain though because they're clean amps I'm trying to make breakup better."
So it appears these seem to be a good means of replacement preamp valves for a high gain amp. What do you guys think? Any experience with these? Go nicely in a 5150? And how about some good power tubes?
Just want to get a set on the ready for whenever mine decide to end.