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Recommend me a CURRENT production 12AX7?

Posted by adhoc (A) on August 13, 2006 at 07:37:36

Hullo all,

As per my thread title, I'm looking for CURRENT PRODUCTION ONLY 12AX7s. Why current production only? Well, read on till the end of the thread! :)

Firstly: what sort of sound am I looking for?

Well, I'm looking for a BIG sound: think something dynamic; bassy with sweet mids and slightly restrained highs.

Anything that sounds hard, etched, sibilant or metallic-sounding. I'm looking at 12AX7s >>ONLY<<; the circuit I intend to use them in will only accept 12AX7/ECC83 types, so no recommendations for other tube types please.

[On a side note, I'm constantly surprised and frightened by all the rampant tube-swapping that goes on here: if you're car was made for diesel, would you fill it up with kerosene? Me neither! Case-in-point: 6SN7 vs CV181]

In particular, I'm interesting in opinions regarding the following tubes:

Ei (non-Elite) 12AX7
Tungsram ECC83
Sovtek 12AX7LPS (>>only<< the LPS)
EH 12AX7 (NON-gold pin version)
JJ/Tesla 12AX7

If anyone has compared any of the above tubes, please share your opinions!

Please do NOT recommend me any NOS tubes - I'm a little burned after spending some silly money on NOS 12AU7s (only to be badly let down) and do NOT wish to go down that path right now.

Thanks in advance everyone! :)

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