Ok. I've rolled a few different new production 12AX7's in th NT now. I also decided to try my NOS CV4024 12AT7 along with a 12AX7 in it. I like this combination so far. Now even with 12AX7's in the NT it is clear and very present sounding. What notes and chords are played really come through. Fuzz and mud are never a problem on the bright setting with gain maxed. The thick setting can get muddy with chords but single notes are effected less by the higher gain of this voicing.
With the CV4024 mixed in there the thick voicing really gets cleared up at higher gain settings. I would never play with the gain maxed on the thick setting. About 3 o'clock on the gain is as far as I go with it.
The chime and roundness is still intact and is not loss with the lower gain of the AT7. I was worried it might thin out a bit compared to the AX7. Guitar roll off is still there and expressive. So far using the NOS CV4024 has not thinned the tone in my Marshall or the NT.
Where I think using the Mullard AT7 pays off is the harmonic overtones and musical feedback it gives mixed with an AX7. If I'm not mistaken the lead notes sound a bit chewier. Its subtle but I think the bloom of the notes is better. It gives you that tone in the finger sound. Its overdriven enough to have body and bloom but not so much it loses expression/feel from the gain. Hard for me to describe but I'm trying.
Now all this tone posturing was done with humbuckers. All this can go out the window when I plug my Strat in.
Well I have done all the new production tube rolling I want to at this point. The field is set on both amps for the NOS tube party I'm going to have thanks to Marty. Again today I have little time for experimenting. Hopefully tomorrow I can start rolling the NOS AX7's in my beloved Marshall.
