Marshall 12ax7

amplifier · 06-14-2008, 02:06 AM

I've managed to pickup an AVT and noticed the stock tube says "Marshall" but I can't seem to find them anywhere. Does anyone know what kind of tube most sounds like this one, i.e. Mullard, etc...?

plexipaul · 06-14-2008, 05:25 AM

Chinese (you name the brand) 12AX7 - A lot of guys like the Chinese 12AX7's as they are very "chimey". Lot's of brittle highs to brighten up dull amps. They actually sound very good in Bass heads where you want that high end harmonics to bring out the string attack.

Ruby, GT, Marshall, Fender, Tube Doctor, ARS, are just rebranded versions of these tubes.

jetiii · 06-14-2008, 10:10 AM

Try a Electro Harmonix 12ax7EH as they are good tubes too.

coldsteal2 · 06-14-2008, 11:44 AM

AVT's use JJ ECC83S's with a red Marshall label

amplifier · 06-14-2008, 10:20 PM

That's odd about the JJ's. I've heard they have lotts of bass response which seems to contradict Plexipaul's "chimey" tube post. Which one is it?

I've read Chinese tubes have a sweet, warm, midrange to them. I'm more confused now than ever...

plexipaul · 06-15-2008, 02:06 AM

CS2, i can see we meet again.

Amplifier, I have described the BLACK Marshall label.

coldsteal2 · 06-15-2008, 01:13 PM

Howdy!

Oh, dont know the Black marshall label,...
I have only seen the White and the Red labeled Marshall tubes.
I have a Red marshall ECC83 in my AVT50

amplifier · 06-15-2008, 02:56 PM

Mine is red as well... so I guess it's not a Chinese tube. So if it's a JJ, what kind of tube is that? Russian?

coldsteal2 · 06-15-2008, 02:59 PM

JJ's are made in Čadca Slavakia

plexipaul · 06-15-2008, 03:01 PM

Oops, my mistake (must be the UEFA Cup euphoria), i meant white Marshall label which is chinese.

coldsteal2 · 06-15-2008, 03:15 PM

AHH ok,

DragonSarc · 06-19-2008, 08:19 AM

how about Groove tubes 12ax7s? they any good?

MonstersOfTheMidway · 06-19-2008, 10:11 AM

As some of these other people have stated, many of the tubes you buy in music stores are simple relabled tubes from manufacturers located outside of the United States. Groove Tubes, Mesa Boogie tubes, Marshall tubes, etc. are all tubes that are purchased from manufacturers based in Europe (Eastern Europe). You can check out more information about this from websites such as <thetubestore.com>. The advantage of knowing this information is that you can save money when buying your tubes (Groove Tubes sells their tubes at substantial markup).

Peter · 06-20-2008, 08:03 AM

My usual tube is a 'made in holland' Rogers long plate tube, which is the best I have, and irreplaceable; however, I recently scored 15 12ax7s, including 1 marshall tube, mesa boogie chinese, mesa boogie russian, fender labeled groove tubes, groove tube 12ax7x7c (ecc83/7025), mesa 7025 str, etc. (with 4 boxes of electronics junk, with 10 6l6gc, and others) for 5$!!! For everything!!! I tried many 12ax7s in my avt50. For harmonic distortion and grind, the marshall ecc83 was the best (long plate). All the rest were short plate. Chinese mesas sounded flat, but I found 1 that sounded decent, but not superb. I like the sovtek 12ax7wa, and the sovtek 12ax7wb, especially the wb. The fender branded groove tubes were kind of on the extremely clean side, whereas the marshall was at the opposite end of the spectrum. If I was buying a new tube, I think I would go with the sovtek 12ax7wb, as it grinds, but will play well clean too. A good high gain tube, at a reasonable price. I am curious to hear more of your opinions...

PETER

MonstersOfTheMidway · 06-20-2008, 02:06 PM

I have stock Chinese tubes in the preamp section of my JVM 410H and the sound is amazing. Even at low volumes, the gain is there and all the growl that I would expect at higher volumes is definately present at lower volumes. Having said that, I feel that there are great alternatives to the chinese made 12AX7/ECC83 preamp tubes:

*Tung Sol
*Electro Harmonix
*Sovtek
*Svetlana
*JJ/Tesla
*Mullard (can be expensive)
*JAN Phillips (can be expensive)

Tung sol seem to be a favorite of musicians who write/play music that usually requires lot of gain (metal, punk, etc. Electro Harmonix produce a good tone in high gain amps. Its all really up to the musicians/guitarist to experiment and go with what sounds best.

DragonSarc · 06-21-2008, 04:39 AM

sweet info thanks

DragonSarc · 06-21-2008, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter

I like the sovtek 12ax7wa, and the sovtek 12ax7wb, especially the wb.

PETER

whats the difference with the sovtek 12ax7wb and wc? Guitar center has the wc i might pick it up today.

Peter · 06-21-2008, 01:41 PM

I have never tried the WC. The WB is used by Rivera amps as their stock choice, because they have high gain, and a kind of dark tone, which I like. WA is good as well, but lower gain than WB. If you get the WC, please leave a review here, thanks.

PETER

DragonSarc · 06-23-2008, 12:58 AM

hey pete
yeah ill have to order it online sux GC dont have it, quick question - whats the order of the preamp tubes is v1 to v3 right to left from the back side of the amp? are all 5881s the same if i replace my 5881s marshall with 5881 tungssol or groovetube i wont need to rebias right?

Peter · 06-23-2008, 07:48 PM

Dragonsarc, I don't have the slightest clue as to what amp you have, so I can't help you with tube order. Always rebias when replacing power tubes though, in my opinion.

I dug up a sovtek 12ax7wc (fender labeled). It has much lower gain, and less brightness than a sovtek 12ax7wb. I'll take the wb, thank you very much. It sounds much more lively, in IMHO.

PETER

DragonSarc · 06-24-2008, 04:47 AM

Sorry pet - I got the JCM900 100watts - oh man i just orderd them too maybe ill go return them and get it replaced.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter

Dragonsarc, I don't have the slightest clue as to what amp you have, so I can't help you with tube order. Always rebias when replacing power tubes though, in my opinion.

I dug up a sovtek 12ax7wc (fender labeled). It has much lower gain, and less brightness than a sovtek 12ax7wb. I'll take the wb, thank you very much. It sounds much more lively, in IMHO.

PETER

amplifier · 06-26-2008, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plexipaul

Oops, my mistake (must be the UEFA Cup euphoria), i meant white Marshall label which is chinese.

Oh my god I'm so color blind!!! My Marshall 12ax7 has a WHITE label not red. So that would make it a Chinese tube. I need to see an eye doctor. What's the difference in tone between a Chinese and a:

1) JJ
2) Electro Harmonix
3) Mullard (reissue)
4) Sovtek WB

Any info would be appriciated!

DragonSarc · 06-26-2008, 04:20 AM

any body knows the position of the preamp tubes on the JCM 900 100watts looking from behind V1 2 and 3 is it from left to right or right to left?

DragonSarc · 06-28-2008, 08:08 PM

pete I got my amp to work 1 of the preamp tube was busted sux i still went with sovtek 5881wxt and sovtek 12ax7wc the sound it bright and a lot of gain its more for grunge , punk and death metal. i might try the el34s with different 12ax7s.

thanks for the help again

RachelMorgan · 06-30-2008, 06:15 PM

I think the JJs are Czech. -- remember they split the nation into Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Geography. Can't keep up.

stryker59 · 06-30-2008, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RachelMorgan

I think the JJs are Czech. -- remember they split the nation into Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Geography. Can't keep up.

yeah the border changes every few days or so!

coldsteal2 · 07-01-2008, 09:31 PM

all i know is they have some hot chicks!!

stock_hippie · 07-01-2008, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amplifier

I've managed to pickup an AVT and noticed the stock tube says "Marshall" but I can't seem to find them anywhere. Does anyone know what kind of tube most sounds like this one, i.e. Mullard, etc...?

im lookin at an ATV50hx....no experience with Marshall heads...is this a good chouce for a nnewbie lookin to get into marshall...i have a small marshall now and its cool...thankx

Marshall AVT50HX Guitar Amplifier Head at AmericanMusical.com

Kendall124 · 07-01-2008, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coldsteal2

all i know is they have some hot chicks!!

+1 for Eastern Block Ladies!!!

stock_hippie · 07-01-2008, 11:55 PM

i got a new chix backup singer...shes cool...when i sing she doesnt try to her part relly loud ...that really distracts me when that happens...way cool

06-14-2008, 02:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
amplifier Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 117	Marshall 12ax7 I've managed to pickup an AVT and noticed the stock tube says "Marshall" but I can't seem to find them anywhere. Does anyone know what kind of tube most sounds like this one, i.e. Mullard, etc...?

06-14-2008, 05:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
plexipaul Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Netherlands Posts: 39	Re: Marshall 12ax7 Chinese (you name the brand) 12AX7 - A lot of guys like the Chinese 12AX7's as they are very "chimey". Lot's of brittle highs to brighten up dull amps. They actually sound very good in Bass heads where you want that high end harmonics to bring out the string attack. Ruby, GT, Marshall, Fender, Tube Doctor, ARS, are just rebranded versions of these tubes.

06-14-2008, 10:10 AM	#3 (permalink)
jetiii Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Ringwood, NJ USA Posts: 19	Re: Marshall 12ax7 Try a Electro Harmonix 12ax7EH as they are good tubes too.

06-14-2008, 11:44 AM	#4 (permalink)
coldsteal2 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Chico, CA Posts: 846	Re: Marshall 12ax7 AVT's use JJ ECC83S's with a red Marshall label __________________ http://www.myspace.com/coldstealii http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page...?bandID=678085 http://youtube.com/user/lamschuchart

06-14-2008, 10:20 PM	#5 (permalink)
amplifier Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 117	Re: Marshall 12ax7 That's odd about the JJ's. I've heard they have lotts of bass response which seems to contradict Plexipaul's "chimey" tube post. Which one is it? I've read Chinese tubes have a sweet, warm, midrange to them. I'm more confused now than ever...

06-15-2008, 02:06 AM	#6 (permalink)
plexipaul Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Netherlands Posts: 39	Re: Marshall 12ax7 CS2, i can see we meet again. Amplifier, I have described the BLACK Marshall label.

06-15-2008, 01:13 PM	#7 (permalink)
coldsteal2 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Chico, CA Posts: 846	Re: Marshall 12ax7 Howdy! Oh, dont know the Black marshall label,... I have only seen the White and the Red labeled Marshall tubes. I have a Red marshall ECC83 in my AVT50 __________________ http://www.myspace.com/coldstealii http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page...?bandID=678085 http://youtube.com/user/lamschuchart

06-15-2008, 02:56 PM	#8 (permalink)
amplifier Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 117	Re: Marshall 12ax7 Mine is red as well... so I guess it's not a Chinese tube. So if it's a JJ, what kind of tube is that? Russian?

06-15-2008, 02:59 PM	#9 (permalink)
coldsteal2 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Chico, CA Posts: 846	Re: Marshall 12ax7 JJ's are made in Čadca Slavakia __________________ http://www.myspace.com/coldstealii http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page...?bandID=678085 http://youtube.com/user/lamschuchart

06-15-2008, 03:01 PM	#10 (permalink)
plexipaul Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Netherlands Posts: 39	Re: Marshall 12ax7 Oops, my mistake (must be the UEFA Cup euphoria), i meant white Marshall label which is chinese.

06-15-2008, 03:15 PM	#11 (permalink)
coldsteal2 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Chico, CA Posts: 846	Re: Marshall 12ax7 AHH ok, __________________ http://www.myspace.com/coldstealii http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page...?bandID=678085 http://youtube.com/user/lamschuchart

06-19-2008, 08:19 AM	#12 (permalink)
DragonSarc Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: San Leandro, CA Posts: 128	Re: Marshall 12ax7 how about Groove tubes 12ax7s? they any good?

06-19-2008, 10:11 AM	#13 (permalink)
MonstersOfTheMidway Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 18	Re: Marshall 12ax7 As some of these other people have stated, many of the tubes you buy in music stores are simple relabled tubes from manufacturers located outside of the United States. Groove Tubes, Mesa Boogie tubes, Marshall tubes, etc. are all tubes that are purchased from manufacturers based in Europe (Eastern Europe). You can check out more information about this from websites such as <thetubestore.com>. The advantage of knowing this information is that you can save money when buying your tubes (Groove Tubes sells their tubes at substantial markup).

06-20-2008, 08:03 AM	#14 (permalink)
Peter Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 38	Re: Marshall 12ax7 My usual tube is a 'made in holland' Rogers long plate tube, which is the best I have, and irreplaceable; however, I recently scored 15 12ax7s, including 1 marshall tube, mesa boogie chinese, mesa boogie russian, fender labeled groove tubes, groove tube 12ax7x7c (ecc83/7025), mesa 7025 str, etc. (with 4 boxes of electronics junk, with 10 6l6gc, and others) for 5$!!! For everything!!! I tried many 12ax7s in my avt50. For harmonic distortion and grind, the marshall ecc83 was the best (long plate). All the rest were short plate. Chinese mesas sounded flat, but I found 1 that sounded decent, but not superb. I like the sovtek 12ax7wa, and the sovtek 12ax7wb, especially the wb. The fender branded groove tubes were kind of on the extremely clean side, whereas the marshall was at the opposite end of the spectrum. If I was buying a new tube, I think I would go with the sovtek 12ax7wb, as it grinds, but will play well clean too. A good high gain tube, at a reasonable price. I am curious to hear more of your opinions... PETER

06-20-2008, 02:06 PM	#15 (permalink)
MonstersOfTheMidway Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 18	Re: Marshall 12ax7 I have stock Chinese tubes in the preamp section of my JVM 410H and the sound is amazing. Even at low volumes, the gain is there and all the growl that I would expect at higher volumes is definately present at lower volumes. Having said that, I feel that there are great alternatives to the chinese made 12AX7/ECC83 preamp tubes: Tung Sol Electro Harmonix Sovtek Svetlana JJ/Tesla Mullard (can be expensive) *JAN Phillips (can be expensive) Tung sol seem to be a favorite of musicians who write/play music that usually requires lot of gain (metal, punk, etc. Electro Harmonix produce a good tone in high gain amps. Its all really up to the musicians/guitarist to experiment and go with what sounds best.

06-21-2008, 04:39 AM	#16 (permalink)
DragonSarc Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: San Leandro, CA Posts: 128	Re: Marshall 12ax7 sweet info thanks

06-21-2008, 01:41 PM	#18 (permalink)
Peter Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 38	Re: Marshall 12ax7 I have never tried the WC. The WB is used by Rivera amps as their stock choice, because they have high gain, and a kind of dark tone, which I like. WA is good as well, but lower gain than WB. If you get the WC, please leave a review here, thanks. PETER

06-23-2008, 12:58 AM	#19 (permalink)
DragonSarc Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: San Leandro, CA Posts: 128	Re: Marshall 12ax7 hey pete yeah ill have to order it online sux GC dont have it, quick question - whats the order of the preamp tubes is v1 to v3 right to left from the back side of the amp? are all 5881s the same if i replace my 5881s marshall with 5881 tungssol or groovetube i wont need to rebias right?

06-23-2008, 07:48 PM	#20 (permalink)
Peter Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 38	Re: Marshall 12ax7 Dragonsarc, I don't have the slightest clue as to what amp you have, so I can't help you with tube order. Always rebias when replacing power tubes though, in my opinion. I dug up a sovtek 12ax7wc (fender labeled). It has much lower gain, and less brightness than a sovtek 12ax7wb. I'll take the wb, thank you very much. It sounds much more lively, in IMHO. PETER

06-26-2008, 04:20 AM	#23 (permalink)
DragonSarc Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: San Leandro, CA Posts: 128	Re: Marshall 12ax7 any body knows the position of the preamp tubes on the JCM 900 100watts looking from behind V1 2 and 3 is it from left to right or right to left?

06-28-2008, 08:08 PM	#24 (permalink)
DragonSarc Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: San Leandro, CA Posts: 128	Re: Marshall 12ax7 pete I got my amp to work 1 of the preamp tube was busted sux i still went with sovtek 5881wxt and sovtek 12ax7wc the sound it bright and a lot of gain its more for grunge , punk and death metal. i might try the el34s with different 12ax7s. thanks for the help again

06-30-2008, 06:15 PM	#25 (permalink)
RachelMorgan Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 103	Re: Marshall 12ax7 I think the JJs are Czech. -- remember they split the nation into Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Geography. Can't keep up.

07-01-2008, 09:31 PM	#27 (permalink)
coldsteal2 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Chico, CA Posts: 846	Re: Marshall 12ax7 all i know is they have some hot chicks!! __________________ http://www.myspace.com/coldstealii http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page...?bandID=678085 http://youtube.com/user/lamschuchart

07-01-2008, 11:55 PM	#30 (permalink)
stock_hippie Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 90	Re: Marshall 12ax7 i got a new chix backup singer...shes cool...when i sing she doesnt try to her part relly loud ...that really distracts me when that happens...way cool