Tube suggestions?

[klejst]

I just purchased a Peavey T-Max amp off Guitar Center's website. It features a single tube (a 12AX7 I believe) in the tube pre-amp channel. I want to replace that tube so I know it is new and will have a lot of life (unless it is a dud) ahead of it. I read that pre-amp tubes last a long time. Therefore any suggestions to what brand to look into? This is my first time ever buying a tube.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

JJs are nice, but there's a whole world of tubes out there.

Not sure how much of a tonal impact you'll have by changing it, but from a lifetime perspective, I'd just keep what's already there. They really do last a long long time!

[B-string]

Many "comparison" charts around like http://www.tubesandmore.com/tech_cor...ent_made_tubes.

AES also has a sampler set so you can "roll" tubes to find one you like best in your amp? http://www.tubesandmore.com/products/T-12AX7-SET.

[zachoff]

If it's only one pre tube, I'd look for a NOS GE 12AX7. They're pricey, but they're often thought to be the "best" for whatever that's worth. The NOS RCAs are good too.

//edit
I have Svetlana Winged C powers in my SVT, but still have the original Magnavox pres so I can't speak to the Svetlana 12AX7 but the powers have been good to me for a few years.

[B-string]

Just remember NOS means New Old Stock and no guarantee the NOS you buy is really an unused tube. That said, most used/still good old tubes will out-perform new production IME. Mullard, TungSol, Bugle Boy and Telefunken are very good old tubes as well as the standard RCA 7025 (industrial version of a 12AX7).

[HitByABlimp]

I like Tung-Sol myself. Open clear tone.

What kind of tone are you looking for exactly? There are a lot of awesome tubes out there, with just different characters.

[Mr. Foxen]

It is pretty much a Fender type tone stack the valve is working in, need to bear that in mind when checking online valve comparisons, if they don't specify what sort of amp the valves are used in, renders the comparison a bit irrelevant.

[lowphatbass]

EH are known to be really durable. It's what Demeter told me to run in my 201 due the fact they mount horizontal which can be harder on the tubes. Honestly, I doubt you'll hear much difference between different tubes in that amp.

[Mr. Foxen]

I've found Electro Harmonix valves to be about the most unreliable I've come across, in terms of starting fine and dying later, rather than being dead out the box.

[B-string]

Originally Posted by Mr. Foxen

I've found Electro Harmonix valves to be about the most unreliable I've come across, in terms of starting fine and dying later, rather than being dead out the box.

I'll second that fallowed by the NEW TungSols. IME

[bluestarbass]

I believe today, all if not 95% of all tubes are made in the same factory in Russia. They are sold under different brand names. If it was just one 12ax7 I'd go with a nos jan tube. Jan tubes are several different brands, but they are durable and come from a good era of tubes.

[B-string]

Not quite, there are several different factories. Sovtek does use a lot of different brand names.

[ThisBass]

Start with one of standards like JJ or EH or sovetec or something else.

Don't spend too much money in a lot of trials.

If you don't feel happy with your tube path sound then call a technician. May be a technician can help cause he is able to modify the schematic of your tube stage.

[Floyd Eye]

Personally, I don't care for any current production tubes, but I have also never seen an amp with one lowly 12AX7 in the pre where it even mattered tone wise. If it were me, I wouldn't spend any kind of money on it.

[mjac28]

I got into tube rolling last year and I have at least two of every tube B-String mentioned I put a NOS Black Plate mid 50's RCA tube in my Mesa combo it sounds nice but the difference in sound didn't justify the price with a single 12AX7 in a solid state amp you are not going to notice much sound difference between a $100.00 tube and a $10.00 tube there are even some great sounding Chinese tubes that are very inexpensive whatever new tube you put in there it will probably outlast the life of the amp and will have little effect on the overall sound.

[Mr. Foxen]

Originally Posted by bluestarbass

I believe today, all if not 95% of all tubes are made in the same factory in Russia.

If you ignore all of China and Europe and count all the former soviet bloc countries as Russia, then maybe.

[MontanaBassDude]

I always have to imagine how many drunks sitting in the back of a room think to themselves, "Bummer, this bass guy WOULD have sounded great if only he'd change out his Mullard 12AX7 for a GE long plate."

Never mind - I actually know the answer.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Floyd Eye

Personally, I don't care for any current production tubes, but I have also never seen an amp with one lowly 12AX7 in the pre where it even mattered tone wise. If it were me, I wouldn't spend any kind of money on it.

I have. JohnK did some tube rolling in his SVT 7 Pro and the JJ came off really bad and muffled while the Mullard he had made a considerable difference, and the other tubes he had (a couple basic NOS tubes and I believe a Sovtek) all sounded pretty similar...not quite as good as the Mullard but good and much better than the JJ.

[Floyd Eye]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I have. JohnK did some tube rolling in his SVT 7 Pro and the JJ came off really bad and muffled while the Mullard he had made a considerable difference, and the other tubes he had (a couple basic NOS tubes and I believe a Sovtek) all sounded pretty similar...not quite as good as the Mullard but good and much better than the JJ.

I believe it. I have never heard the Pro 7, but there's no doubt in my mind the NOS and especially the Mullard would sound better than a JJ or any current production tube. I have played several different SS amps with a single 12AX7 in the pre and none of them sounded like a tube amp to me, but as I said, I have never heard the 7.

[klejst]

Thanks for the many inputs and suggestions. I may just open it up and see what tube it already has, but I can imagine simply changing one tube in the pre-amp is not necessarily going to make the amp sound like night and day, however mainly I was just implying that I don't know the actual age of the current tube. I know there is a lot of choices out there as far as brand goes so that is basically what I was asking input on, what brands to look into, which to stay away from etc.

I don't have the money to invest in one of those sampler packs or to buy numerous tubes just to test, however I will say I usually play and prefer rock and punk type tone if that is how I can describe it. I have been looking online and found some 12ax7's that are labeled as pre-amp tubes and some that are just 12ax7's, because my tube is in the tube pre-amp channel of the amp am I limited to buying one that is labeled as a pre-amp tune or will pretty much any 12ax7 do the trick? Also for my amp can I just replace the tube or do I have to take it to a tech afterwards?

Just doing some basic searching I found the JJ and Tung-sol 12ax7's going for around $15, the Mullard's going for close to $20, Sovtek's going for $10 and Mesa/Boogie's going for close to $18. At least on the sites I looked up they all got pretty good reviews, but I suppose it is personal preference at that point. Like I said it's my first time buying tube's so it's all new to me. Who knows maybe I really don't even need to replace the current tube yet. Anyone know ball park how long pre-amp tubes last?