Which 12AX7 ?
 

Need a new pair of 12AX7 driver tubes for my Cary tube amp. Am wondering what folks here may have had good luck using (both SQ and reliability). I've used GL's in the past, but am wondering what else folks may have been happy with.

For 12AX7 my fave to date has been Tele smooth plate, blue tip if you can find them. Surprisingly, I also enjoyed a Tung-sol gold pin. One I was disappointed with that received rave reviews was the Amperex Bugle Boy - to me, a stringent top end.

Glenn

The GL's are probably the best of the new production but if you want to try NOS then call Andy at Vintage Tube Services. If these are driver tubes and not the input tubes and you want to risk E-bay then look for the tubes marked Baldwin or Conn as they were all screened by the organ companies before being installed and even used they will last for years. The most common will be the green label Baldwin which is a Sylvania from the early 60's. I used a pair in a Rogue and a Music Reference amp.

I would have said NOS Jan GE, but I just got a new pair and they sounded really strident. Ended up putting back a pair of JJ ECc803<sigh> that are much nicer. Maybe they need to burn in?

Hmmmm. NOS GE strident? Odd. Give em time to break in and settle. Every pair if ever had were slightly dark sounding but never strident. Either that or they were microphonic. Sad.

If I were going with new production tubes I would look at Genalex Gold Lions. With an older tube, I have enjoyed Sylvania 12AX7s. The ones with green printing on them.

Sylvania black plates?

The ones I am using have long gray plates. JHS Sylvania 12AX7.

NOS Telefunken

If you can afford them, yes get the Telefunkens. They are pricey these days.