Anybody try Mullard reissue short plate tubes?

[Charlie Wilson]

Hello, A friend of mine brought over several of his vintage amps for me to work on and he had just scored a bunch of NOS Mullard short plate 12AX7s so I had to see what they sounded like in my Low Plate Classic. Well I am totally ruined because they sound amazing. Just the sound I was looking for. However I am not really in the position to go out and start spending $100+ on a preamp tube so I was wondering if the reissue short plates were any good. I know that reissue tubes never are as good as a strong example of the real deal but I thought they may sound pretty good. I tried a long plate Mullard reissue in the clean side and liked it better than the JJs I have in there now but it doesn't seem to get along with the OD tube in OD mode.
CW

[67plexi]

Charlie, Don't ever try the Siemens Halske from the fifty's ECC803'S

https://www.tubemuseum.org/ProductDetai ... e=SH-DF-LP

[ToneMerc]

I wonder if the short plate reissue is also a rebranded Sovtek?

TM

[Mr. dB]

I wonder if the short plate reissue is also a rebranded Sovtek?

TM

Aren't all new production 12AX7s either Slovak or Russian? Or are there still some from China too?

[AtomCap]

What a debate this can be!

The electronics repair shop I work at has gone through literal hell with new production tubes and trying to find a consistent dependable brand that is good for pre and power tubes, so far JJ has been the victor.. The EHX, Sovtek, Tungsol reissue and mullards all seem to be 1 in the same tube with different labels- there is a slight difference in the assembly structure internally but nothing that has been remarkable to distinguish a difference between a Reissue mullard or tungsol. For shitz-an-grins I did pop some of those reissue mullards into a customers marshall superbass which was superlead converted at somepoint- the reissue tubes were very microphonic, the overall build quality is just disappointing, tonally they dont shimmer, if that makes any sense..

Hate to say it but what Mullard was is gone forever- with all the regulations and "no you can't do that" rules we have today, building a good tube is a tough tasking! The original glass is magical in nature and in most instances if you have the right amp, the glass will save your ass its worth the $50-100 pricetag!

For a new production amp like a fender hot rod boat anchor model the results are subjective- I've popped near NOS Telefunken ECC83's into a HR Dlx and it wasn't the same result as popping the same tube into an AB763 Blackface- all the variables are there for goodness with the vintage stuff.. again subjective- every now and then some new thing has the mojo but that's rare..

If you can get your hands on old Hammond Organ, Conn or Baldwin 12AX7's they're all fantastic and good old hammond wisdom never ran tubes beyond 65-70% dissipation! LUCKY US! Most of the 50 year old tubes i've tested in our amplitrex test in the 90/90 range ...
Allot of the Conn and baldwin tubes are Made in Holland (rebranded amperex)

[ToneMerc]

I wonder if the short plate reissue is also a rebranded Sovtek?

TM

Aren't all new production 12AX7s either Slovak or Russian? Or are there still some from China too?

My impression is, all of the above. Nevertheless, the long plate Mullard reissue and the Sovtek LPS is the same tube and I see no reason not to flow suit with the same of marketing strategy concerning a short plate type.

My prediction is that inside of 25 years mass vac tube production will cease all together.

TM

[martin manning]

All of the above? Here is an extensive summary of current production (November 2012) tubes:
http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthre ... tron-tubes

[hitchcaster]

I like both versions of the 12ax7 tung sol reissue... they don't sound the same, and the other brands that look the same, made at same factory, don't sound the same to me either.. try the tung sol!

[JazzGuitarGimp]

All of the above? Here is an extensive summary of current production (November 2012) tubes:
http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthre ... tron-tubes

That was an interesting read. I was particularly intrigued by the mention of premium tubes from Shuguang. Unfortunately, the provided URL link is for sale.

[butwhatif]

The Mullard 12ax7 are my go to for guitar amps. Extremely quiet and full sounding. Best out there---the sovteks always have some filament hum.

[Charlie Wilson]

I am curious butwhatif, are you talking about the reissue Mullards or the real deal and if so, longplate or shortplate?
CW

[butwhatif]

The reissues, I have mostly used longplate