Quote:
Originally Posted by ts31966
Thanks for the reply Marty.
What kind of tube tester do you own? I need to get one but haven't decided. I like the amplitrex but it is 2,550 dollars. It does hook to a computer and it comes with software. Which it should for that kind of money.
I saw you mention the other tube types. Does a 12DW7 have the same gain as a 12ax7? Have done any testing on a mullard 10M 12ax7. I was told the are nothing special.
As far as Eurotube goes, well I know what I was told. I also know what I read on his website back then which I don't see now. He said that he had done extensive testing against all NOS tubes and that the JJ's sounded just as good if not better.
I also see a tube seller on ebay that just by coincidence comes from the same place Eurotubes is. I also talked with the tube reseller that is recommended on the THD univalve forum. His name is Mike. He owns KCA tubes. He sells some of the JJ's. I asked him why he didn't sell more of them and he said I only sell good tubes. When I asked him what was wrong with them he said there were batches of tubes where he rejected 75%.
I am sure glad I stumbled upon this forum. I also own a line 6 vetta. I am a member over there. Or should I say what is left of it over there. I remember when I got it. I had it set up next to my tube rack rig, which sounds great by the way. I remember thinking what the hell did I do. I couldn't take the vetta back because of where I bought it. But I forged ahead, I actually got that thing to sound pretty good. But only because I could A/B it against a real tube rig. I remember telling the members of that forum my experiences and I got flamed and burnt to a crisp. You would have thought I was criticizing their mother. I told them how do you expect an amp that is trying to sound like a tube amp. Or in this case many tube amps. How do you expect it to sound better than the original.
I still have the vetta. It is good and very versital. I am glad I have it and it makes a great practice amp. I spent alot of time tweaking it. ALOT!!! Out of the box it is not good. Maybe the newest software is better. I don't know. And I am not going to find out because who cares. It will always be just an imitation of the original. It is probably the best amp if you want to be in a cover band.
Needless to say they didn't like me over there. Now the funny thing is they are almost all gone and have went back to tube amps. What a laugh!!!
Some people are pathetic. They will never admitt when they have made a mistake.
I have alot of testing to do. Marty, what do you think of telefunken 12ax7's? That is supposed to be a favorite of marshall amp people.
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I will try to answer all of your questions. Yes, there are superior tube testers available right now. Some are as much as $3500 and they come in kit form. I have a very old (60's) B and K 707 that I have replaced all of the caps and did a conversion to solid state rectification and then I calibrated the unit per the factory instructions. I've had three of them and I kept the best one.
A 12DW7 has 100 MU for triode number one and only 17 MU for triode number two. It works as a sub for a 12AX7 when only triode one is used in the circuit. All the other tubes mentioned have 100 MU like a 12AX7, but different plate resistance. In fact, a lot of this thread got started over my sending Josh a 12BZ7 to try in his amp. A 12BZ7 has 100 MU, but half the plate resistance of a 12AX7. In a tube circuit, it will create more gain than a 12AX7. Josh had great success with the tube I sent him.
I'm not familiar with the 10M Mullard? When was it made? Is this the Mullard with the shorter plates than the original Mullard?
Again, as far as Eurotubes statements, I took all of that with a grain of salt. I have tried various new tubes, Mullard, Tung-Sol, Sovtek, E-H and they all have one thing in common, they are all made in Saratov, Russia in the same plant. They all work as a 12AX7, but if they had a jaw dropping sound, I would be using them instead of buying USA NOS on Ebay.
The Vetta is an amp that I have been around a little, but I never spent a lot of time on it. The guy who owned it had it tweaked and when I played it, it sounded okay. I didn't think it had the thickness of harmonic overtones I get with my Marshall (and my other tube amps). In other words, I thought it sounded a little thin.
As far as Telefunken tubes, I think they are right up there in the top five of NOS tubes. I have a matched set of EL84's for my DSL401. I also have some ECC83 Telefunkens that are really great sounding. Their EL34's are to die for.
Like I said, I'm sorry for some of the crap that you have had to put up with. I'm okay around a computer, but when it comes to my amp, well it has to be all tube. Call me old fashioned, but I like an amp that has a soul. An amp that uses software is getting a little out in left field as far as I'm concerned.
If I can ever be of assistance, you can send me a private email or email me at:
meospeak@aol.com
Marty