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Preamp 12AX7s: EH or Tesla/JJ?

LesPaul59

New member
Joined
Jul 15, 2001
Messages
380
I've been looking around trying to get some information comparing the Electro Harmonix 12AX7EH and the Tesla/JJ 12AX7A.

I first looked at: http://www.tubestore.com/12ax7review.html

Then I called Lord Valve ( http://www.lordvalve.com ), told him that I was trying to get a Slash/Gary Moore lead tone out of my amp (Marshall JCM Slash) and he said that I should go with the EH's as they are more musical than the Tesla's. I was worried that the EH's wouldn't have as much gain as the Tesla's; he said that the EH's should have as much gain.

Has anybody had any experiences with BOTH types of tubes? Has anybody mixed them? I was thinking of putting a 12AX7EH in V1, and Tesla/JJ 12AX7As in V2 and V3.
 

Big Cookie

New member
Joined
Sep 13, 2001
Messages
284
Tube Choices

The Tesla and the EH are both great tubes. The EH seems to fare a little better in high gain amps. There is no reason you can't mix them. If you find your Marshall a tad bright put a Sovtek 12AX7WB in the V1 position, it will attenuate the highs and still leave lots of harmonic content.

Best Blues,
Cookie

Big Cookie's Tube Amp Service
Ennis, Texas
 

Jamme61

Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2002
Messages
277
LesPaul59 said:
I've been looking around trying to get some information comparing the Electro Harmonix 12AX7EH and the Tesla/JJ 12AX7A.

I first looked at: http://www.tubestore.com/12ax7review.html

Then I called Lord Valve ( http://www.lordvalve.com ), told him that I was trying to get a Slash/Gary Moore lead tone out of my amp (Marshall JCM Slash) and he said that I should go with the EH's as they are more musical than the Tesla's. I was worried that the EH's wouldn't have as much gain as the Tesla's; he said that the EH's should have as much gain.

Has anybody had any experiences with BOTH types of tubes? Has anybody mixed them? I was thinking of putting a 12AX7EH in V1, and Tesla/JJ 12AX7As in V2 and V3.

I have both. The EH have more gain and highs than the JJ"s. I am using these tubes in a Soldano Hot rod 100 and in that amp I liked the EH they added much to the sound in contrast the JJ's don't color the sound at all they have a little less gain and less highs which can be a good thing to get rid of the ice pick in the ear sound. I also the Ei/Yugo silver plate and Philips NOS Jan 12AX7WA. I have mixed and matched the different pre amp tubes to find the righ combination. I bought a lot of tubes from Lord valve with no problems. You could buy one of each and experiment (thats what I did) Good luck.
 
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