RCA 12ax7

[TravisW]

I don't know what the hell magic RCA put into their tubes, but I just stuck an old RCA 12ax7 into the V1 position on my 5150 (replacing a Sovtek).

It's a big improvement. Clearer low mids, more articulate treble, and a more usable volume knob. Wish I had a recording rig set up, I'd do clips. This thing wasn't even NOS...it was from an old RCA reel-to-reel recorder that crapped out and was disassembled years ago.

 

[TheWinterSnow]

From what I have read and understood when Vacuum tubes fell to the transistor most companies either went out of business or consolidated by selling to other companies which massively downsized and in some cases opened factories overseas (from Europe and the US). At the same time there where many new laws passed almost all around the world when it was discovered that some of the manufacturing material was hazardous for the workers so new materials had to be used. The result is that they can"t be made exactly like they used to and the more hazardous cancer and other disease causing methods of manufacture actually sounded better.

 

[nwright]

I've got a couple RCA 12ax7's pulled from a 72 Fender Bassman 10. I had debated on whether or not to put them in my 5150 III...May give it a try.