a tube primer for guitar and bass players - Guitar Amplifier Blueprinting
a tube primer for guitar and bass players - Guitar Amplifier Blueprinting
a tube primer for guitar and bass players - Guitar Amplifier Blueprinting
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12AX7-C – Chinese 9 generation tooling<br />
Gain: 93 Output: 92% QA: 17%<br />
This is possibly the best of the current 12AX7 family. This is a warm <strong>and</strong> linear <strong>tube</strong>. It is suited to<br />
rock, blues, <strong>and</strong> jazz. It is perhaps the most versatile of the 12AX7/ ECC83/7025 family. There<br />
are many Chinese variants, <strong>and</strong> many <strong>tube</strong> vendors sell older tooling versions.<br />
http://www.groove<strong>tube</strong>s.com/product.cfm?Product_ID=1158<br />
This is perhaps the most linear <strong>and</strong> most warm of new 12AX7 / ECC83 / 7025 <strong>tube</strong> production. It<br />
is also the most close in specs <strong>and</strong> the QA from the Shuguang (not to be confused with Sino), is<br />
higher than any current production <strong>tube</strong> in this family. The Chinese are pouring money into new<br />
tooling that is of very close tolerances, <strong>and</strong> has the money to do so. This is not true in the case of<br />
other companies generally.<br />
This is a great all around <strong>tube</strong> <strong>for</strong> 60s rock, blues, <strong>and</strong> is a favorite of jazz <strong>players</strong> or <strong>players</strong> that<br />
wish to tone down a harsh amp.<br />
12AX7-R – Sovtek 12AX7WA <strong>and</strong> Sovtek 12AX7WC<br />
Gain: 86 Output: 77% QA: 42%<br />
This <strong>tube</strong> comes from the Reflektor factory in Russia. It is perhaps the most commonly used <strong>tube</strong><br />
by many amp makers. It is reliable, <strong>and</strong> quiet. The main reason it is quiet, is it’s generally lower<br />
gain <strong>and</strong> output.<br />
http://www.groove<strong>tube</strong>s.com/product.cfm?Product_ID=1166<br />
This <strong>tube</strong> is the “old st<strong>and</strong>by”. It is the most commonly used preamp <strong>tube</strong>. It is lower in gain <strong>and</strong><br />
current output than most of the others in this family. This is a long lasting <strong>tube</strong>, <strong>and</strong> amp makers<br />
like it (<strong>and</strong> have influenced it’s production specs) to have lower gain <strong>and</strong> output, so their amps<br />
will pass their own QA easier, <strong>and</strong> the amps will be quiet. It is a good all around <strong>tube</strong>, but there<br />
are others that are sonic improvements with more detail <strong>and</strong> harmonic content.<br />
The newest (2004) Sovtek 12AX7WC looks the same to the eye but is a VERY different <strong>tube</strong><br />
than the WA. The WC has all the “proper numbers”. It’s gain, current, <strong>and</strong> transconductance are<br />
right on original NOS 12AX7 spec. A job well done by Sovtek on this <strong>tube</strong>.<br />
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