Can I use a 12AU7 in place of an 12AX7?
While you can physically use a 12AU7 tube in place of a 12AX7 in a circuit, it’s not recommended to do. Most circuits that are designed for a 12AX7 will not react well to the significantly lower gain of the 12AU7.
Can I replace 12AX7 with 12AY7?
You can interchange a 12AX7 with 12AT7, 12AU7, 12AY7 or 5751 as they are all the same pin structure, however they will each give you a different result in your amp. Each of these tubes has a different gain factor, which means some will give higher gain and others lower gain.
Can you put any tubes in a tube amp?
With power tubes, you can swap different brands of the same tube. (For example, 6L6 tubes from different manufacturers.) But do not swap different types of power tubes unless you are absolutely sure you know what you are doing — damage may result.
What tubes are interchangeable?
The 12AX7, 12AT7, and 12AU7 all belong to the same family of nine contact, twin triode tubes. In many cases, these tubes are interchangeable and can easily be swapped.
What 12AX7 tube is best?
10 Best 12AX7 Tubes | Guide and Reviews | 2022
- JJ ECC83S.
- JJ ECC803S.
- Tung-Sol 12AX7.
- Genalex 12AX7.
- Mullard 12AX7.
- Electro-Harmonix 12AX7.
- Sovtek 12AX7LPS.
- Svetlana 12AX7.
What is the difference between 12AX7 and 12AY7?
The 12AY7 tubes are not 12AX7’s and have many different properties. They draw more current than a 12AX7 as well as having different internal capacitance between elements and a different plate dissipation. Because of these differences, they sound different in a circuit designed for a 12AX7 tube.
Do 12AX7 tubes need to be matched?
Matching refers to the process of testing multiple tubes for their transconductance level and the current draw when the preamp tube is under load. Using 12AX7s as an example, matching these preamp tubes is a good idea, but by no means essential.
Do different tubes really make a difference?
Yes indeed pre amp tubes can / do effect the gain stages which certainly can be the difference between good tone and bad tone. There’s consensus and then there’s you and consensus is that you are sometimes way out in left field! You are wrong, power tubes do make a big difference in tone!
What is the highest gain 12AX7?
If you go with new production the JJ ECC83S(12ax7) is the highest gain out of all the new production pre amp tubes. I have actually found that Chinese Shuguangs, and Russian RI, Tung Sol, and RI Mullard tubes to have more gain than the JJ ECC83 which is actually a much darker sounding tube than most CP tubes.