Chandler Tube Driver Question

[smallbearelec]

Customer in Norway asked me to get a 12AX7 for him, and there are choices at Sovtek. Any recommendation for a brand?

[BillyJ]

Hmmm...I am kinda confused (again LOL) isn't Sovtek a brand?
I went to sovtek.com (new sensor) and they have a list of tube manufacturers.
You'll likely get a whole lot of sifferent answers because different brands do offer different tone and I have not the experience there to make judgements.
I will say that I have recently bought a broken four knob floor model and in it is a Fender special design (sovtek?) 7025.
No idea what it sounds like but it is there...
Wow that didn't help did it?

[Peter Snowberg]

The Sovtek brand tubes seem to come from two factories and there have been a progression of improvements to their line so don't place too much in old reviews.

The Sovteks are OK, but nothing stellar. I like the 12AX7LPS out of all of their choices for general use. It's a good general preamp tube that takes very kindly to AC heaters. A good all-around tube.

For high gain applications, the 12AX7WB or 12AX7WXT+ sound OK.

In other manufacture:

I *LOVE* the tone of the pre-war Ei tubes, but the heaters crap out way too early. You see them flash on brightly at powerup. New production may have helped here. They now sell a line with gold plated pins and hopefully a better heater.

Some of the Chinese 12AX7s have been pretty good sounding in overdrives, but others form the same batch sound "flat & lifeless" and some are microphonic. I would avoid these AX7s. I have used Chinese 12AT7s with quite a bit of success. I like that tube much better.

I really like the Tesla (JJ) ECC83 for clean circuits. I have not tried new JJ production, but I hear only good things.

If you want dependable, repeatable, off-the-shelf stock, I would personally go for the Sovtek 12AX7LPS and/or Tesla ECC83.

Just my 2 cents.

-Peter

[smallbearelec]

THANKS! That is the kind of feedback I hoped for! Will direct the customer here!