Good new 12ay7 ?

[jaysg]

Are there any good 12ay7s being made or is NOS the best path?

[FYL]

The only current manufacturer I'm aware of is NS Expo-Pul (Saratov), with the tubes either sold as Electro Harmonix in std and gold pins version; or, of course, resold under various brands by the usual suspects - GT, TAD, etc.

The EH is OK when properly selected for leaks - some batches show quite high heater to grid leakage and hum badly - noise and gain (NOS tubes are less gainy, the EH behaves like a 5751 in that respect).

IMO it's a quite good tube, even if it doesn't doesn't sound as good as a run of the mill NOS tube. The gold version is a waste of money IMO.

[Subjecttochange]

I am using the EH in the amp I am currently working on. I'm with Jaysg on this one. It sounds good for the money and the fact that they're uncommon as a new production tube. Mine was fine- showing no signs of leakage... but it is more gainy that I expected it to be- but less than a 5751 that I tried in it's stead for a while.

That said. Any NOS tube will be better.

[jaysg]

That said. Any NOS tube will be better.

kind of figured...

[paulster]

NOS 12AY7s are pretty cheap at least! And they all sound great.

[Subjecttochange]

Paulster is right... It's not like buying Mullard 12AX7s. NOS is the way to go- and I typically like to stay away from them when I can.

You're welcome for the obvious. 8)

[Andy Le Blanc]

Those EH are ok in a lower gain rig.... not a bad tube.... but in a more critical
application, NOS or careful selection....

[tubeswell]

I've used several EH 12AY7s in builds now and I like 'em, and I've never had any duds (touch wood)