9/11/21 13:26 12AX7 Comparison of Current Made Tubes | Amplified Parts

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All 12AX7 tubes have an amplification factor (μ) of 100 ("high-mu"). Ideally, every 12AX7 should yield
12AX7 Comparison of Current the same gain when placed in the same circuit. However, in reality there are comparative gain
Made Tubes
differences among 12AX7s. The purpose of this comparison is simply to provide guitar players with
a frame of reference to help in finding the best current production 12AX7 for their needs.
12AX7 Tube Diagram

3PDT Daughter Board Guide

The gain rating is only a relative reference (e.g. a rating of "10" does not mean ten times louder than
a "1").
6146 Family of Vacuum Tubes
Drawing

6L6GC Comparison of Current Part Number Gain Rating (1 - 10) Glass Diameter Noise
Made Tubes
  Frequency Response (Separated into 3 Ranges) Drawn to Scale 1 = Low Noise

4 = High Noise
6L6GC Tube Diagram

Accutronics Products and

Specifications

Amplifier Conversion Guide -

6L6GC to EL34 Conversion

Amplifier Conversion Guide -

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Amplifier Conversion Guide - Drawing

Blackface/Silverface Normal Part Number Gain Rating (1 - 10) Glass Diameter Noise
channel to Bass
Genalex Gold Pin
Gain rated at 10
Amplifier Conversion Guide - 12AX7
Drawing of T- Noise
Blackface/Silverface Tone T-12AX7-GOLD-GEN   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12AX7-GOLD- level
Stack Mod GEN
Lows                     2
Audible Frequency Range and
Describing Tone Mids                    

Highs                    
Basic Electric Guitar Circuits 1:
Pickups

(.871 - .880")
Basic Electric Guitar Circuits 2:
Potentiometers & Tone This long plate, gold pin Russian made Genalex B759 is loaded with bite. It offers easy access to break-up and crisp
Capacitors highs making it brighter than the Mullard 12AX7.

Basic Electric Guitar Circuits 3: Mullard 12AX7

Gain rated at 7.3

Switches & Output Jacks T-12AX7-MUL Drawing of T- Noise
  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12AX7-MUL level
Biasing Tube Amplifier
Calculator Lows                     3
Biasing a Tube Amplifier Mids                    

Highs                    
Building Your Own Two

Conductor Instrument Cable (.871 - .880")

Can Capacitors - How CE This long plate Russian made Mullard is powerful and thick, offering easy access to break-up with lots of top-end
Manufacturing Makes Them harmonic texture.

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Capacitance Value Calculator Drawing

for Molded Mica Part Number Gain Rating (1 - 10) Glass Diameter Noise

Capacitor Parallel/Series Sovtek Long Plate

Gain rated at 7.3
Calculator 12AX7
Drawing of T- Noise
T-12AX7LPS-SOVT   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12AX7LPS-SOVT level
Circuit Board Prototyping
Lows                     3
Common Electric Guitar Wiring
Diagrams Mids                    

Highs                    
DIY Vibrato Shorting Plug for

Blackface / Silverface Amps (.871 - .880")

Filters - Low Pass and High This long plate Russian tube is smooth and tight. It has warm lows and mids with a top-end that offers more
Pass presence than the Sovtek WA, WB and WC tubes.

Guitar Diagram Tung-Sol Gold Pin

Gain rated at 5.7
12AX7
Drawing of T- Noise
Guitar Speaker Power Handling T-12AX7-GOLD-TUNG   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12AX7-GOLD- level
TUNG
Hammond Chassis Boxes Lows                     2
Jensen Tone Chart Mids                    

LED Current Limiting Resistor Highs                    

Calculator

(.871 - .881")
LED Parallel/Series Calculator
This gold pin Russian made Tung-Sol is similar to the plain pin version, but with a little more top-end shimmer.
Operational Amplifier (Op-Amp)
Tester
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Orange DropThis
Capacitor Codes
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Potentiometer Taper Charts Drawing

Part Number Gain Rating (1 - 10) Glass Diameter Noise

Potentiometer Types
Demonstration Tung-Sol 12AX7

Gain rated at 5.7

T-12AX7-TUNG Drawing of T- Noise
Relay True Bypass Switching   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12AX7-TUNG level
Part 1: Relay Basics and Stereo
Guitar Pedals Lows                     2
Relay True Bypass Switching Mids                    
Part 2: Momentary and Soft
Highs                    
Touch Switches

(.872 - .881")
Relay True Bypass Switching
Part 3: Microcontrollers and This Russian-made Tung-Sol is tight, punchy and articulate.
Current Savings
Electro-Harmonix
Gain rated at 5.7
Relay True Bypass Switching 12AX7
Drawing of T- Noise
Part 4: Smart Switching T-12AX7EH   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12AX7EH level

Resistor Color Codes Lows                     2

Resistor Parallel/Series Mids                    
Calculator
Highs                    

Resistor Power Rating

(.872 - .881")
Calculator
This Russian tube has a straightforward tone with bite and easy access to break-up.
Resistor Value Calculator

Speaker Diagram

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Speaker Impedance, & Privacy

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Handling and Wiring
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Speaker Wiring Calculator Drawing

Part Number Gain Rating (1 - 10) Glass Diameter Noise

Spring Reverb Tanks
Designation Calculator Mullard CV4004

Gain rated at 5.3

T-12AX7-CV4004-MUL Drawing of T- Noise
Spring Reverb Tanks Explained   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12AX7-CV4004- level
and Compared MUL
Lows                     2
Spring Reverb Tanks Explained
and Compared - Videos Mids                    

(.872 - .881")
Highs                    
Stomp Box Enclosures

Switches - What are Poles and

Throws? This Russian-made Mullard CV4004 has shorter plates and a slightly leaner tone than the standard version.

The Speakers for Electric Guitar Electro-Harmonix Gold

Gain rated at 5.3
Pin 12AX7
Drawing of T- Noise
Tuning Machine / Tuner Types T-12AX7-GOLD-EH   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12AX7-GOLD-EH level

Useful Conversion Factors Lows                    

Voltage Divider Mids                     (.872 - .881")

Highs                    
Wire Gauge Guide

Yellow Jacket Tube Converter

Technical Information This gold pin Russian tube is very similar to the plain pin version.

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Drawing

Part Number Gain Rating (1 - 10) Glass Diameter Noise

JJ Gold Pin 12AX7

Gain rated at 5.3

T-12AX7-GOLD-JJ Drawing of T- Noise
  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12AX7-GOLD-JJ level

Lows                    

Mids                     (.842 - .854")

Highs                    

This gold pin Slovakian tube takes the characteristics of the plain pin 12AX7/ECC83 version and boosts them up a
notch.

Tube Amp Doctor

Gain rated at 5.3
12AX7
Drawing of T- Noise
T-12AX7-PS-TAD   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12AX7-PS-TAD level

Lows                    

Mids                     (.853 - .872")

Highs                    

This is Tube Amp Doctor's premium selected offering of the common Chinese tube.

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Drawing

Part Number Gain Rating (1 - 10) Glass Diameter Noise

Chinese 12AX7B

Gain rated at 5.3

T-12AX7B-CHINA Drawing of T- Noise
  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12AX7B-CHINA level

Lows                    

Mids                     (.853 - .872")

Highs                    

This is the B (noise-selected) version of the common Chinese tube.

Genalex 12AX7

Gain rated at 5
T-12AX7-GEN Drawing of T- Noise
  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12AX7-GEN level

Lows                     2

Mids                     (.847 - .869")

Highs                    

This Chinese-made Genalex offers a pleasant top-end chime and a leaner tone overall than the gold pin B759 version.

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Drawing

Part Number Gain Rating (1 - 10) Glass Diameter Noise

JJ Gold Pin ECC803

Gain rated at 4.3

T-ECC803-GLD-JJ Drawing of T- Noise
  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ECC803-GLD-JJ level

Lows                    

Mids                     (.845 - .853")

Highs                    

This long plate, gold pin Slovakian tube is very similar to the plain pin ECC803, but with slightly more gain and top-end
harmonic texture.

JJ Mid Gain 12AX7

Gain rated at 4.3

T-12AX7S-MG-JJ Drawing of T- Noise
  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12AX7S-MG-JJ level

Lows                    

Mids                     (.842 - .850")

Highs                    

This Slovakian tube is tight with a lot of articulation in the low mids and good presence in the highs.

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Drawing

Part Number Gain Rating (1 - 10) Glass Diameter Noise

Sovtek 12AX7WA

Gain rated at 4
T-12AX7WA-SOVT Drawing of T- Noise
  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12AX7WA-SOVT level

Lows                    

Mids                     (.868 - .878")

Highs                    

This Russian tube is smooth and tight. It offers warm lows and mids without a lot of top-end texture.

Sovtek 12AX7WB

Gain rated at 4
T-12AX7WB-SOVT Drawing of T- Noise
  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12AX7WB-SOVT level

Lows                    

Mids                     (.868 - .878")

Highs                    

This Russian tube is very similar to the WA version.

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Drawing

Part Number Gain Rating (1 - 10) Glass Diameter Noise

JJ ECC803

Gain rated at 4
T-ECC803-S-JJ Drawing of T- Noise
  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ECC803-S-JJ level

Lows                     3

Mids                     (.845 - .853")

Highs                    

This long plate Slovakian tube has tight mid frequencies and top-end chime.

JJ 12AX7

Gain rated at 4
T-12AX7-S-JJ Drawing of T- Noise
  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12AX7-S-JJ level

Lows                    

Mids                     (.842 - .854")

Highs                    

This Slovakian tube is smooth and warm with lots of top-end harmonic sparkle.

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Drawing

Part Number Gain Rating (1 - 10) Glass Diameter Noise

JJ E83CC

Gain rated at 4.3

T-E83CC-JJ Drawing of T- Noise
  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 E83CC-JJ level

Lows                    

Mids                     (.842 - .854")

Highs                    

This frame grid tube has an incredibly rich yet balanced tone. The E83CC works well for clean sounds but also breaks
up with a satisfying warmth and plenty of articulation.

JJ 5751

Gain rated at 3.7

T-5751-JJ Drawing of T- Noise
  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 5751-JJ level

Lows                    

Mids                     (.842 - .854")

Highs                    

This Slovakian tube has a similar sound and feel to the plain pin ECC803 with slightly more low end emphasis.

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Drawing

Part Number Gain Rating (1 - 10) Glass Diameter Noise

Tube Amp Doctor

Gain rated at 3
ECC83WA
Drawing of T- Noise
T-ECC83WA-TAD   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ECC83WA-TAD level

Lows                    

Mids                     (.857 - .864")

Highs                    

This Chinese tube from Tube Amp Doctor sounds very similar to the 7025WA version.

Tube Amp Doctor

Gain rated at 3
7025WA
Drawing of T- Noise
T-7025WA-TAD   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7025WA-TAD level

Lows                    

Mids                     (.863 - .869")

Highs                    

This high grade Chinese tube from Tube Amp Doctor offers warmth with good presence and articulation.

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Drawing

Part Number Gain Rating (1 - 10) Glass Diameter Noise

Sovtek 12AX7WC

Gain rated at 2.7

T-12AX7WC-SOVT Drawing of T- Noise
  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12AX7WC-SOVT level

Lows                    

Mids                     (.868 - .878")

Highs                    

This Russian tube has straightforward lows and mids with top-end shimmer.

Sovtek 5751

Gain rated at 2.3

T-5751-SOVT Drawing of T- Noise
  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 5751-SOVT level

Lows                    

Mids                     (.871 - .880")

Highs                    

This long plate Russian tube sounds like a slightly lower gain version of the 12AX7LPS.

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Drawing

Part Number Gain Rating (1 - 10) Glass Diameter Noise

Tung-Sol 5751

Gain rated at 1
T-5751-TUNG Drawing of T- Noise
  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 5751-TUNG level

Lows                    

Mids                     (.871 - .880")

Highs                    

This long plate Russian tube has a straightforward tone with mid focused clarity.

12AX7 Diagram of Components

A Comparison of Current Production 12AX7 Tubes

RCA and Sylvania first introduced the 12AX7 to the world in the late 1940s. Today, it is by far the
most common preamp tube used for electric guitar amplification and there is an almost
overwhelming supply of current production options to choose from. The purpose of this comparison
is simply to provide guitar players with a frame of reference to help in finding the best current
production 12AX7 for their needs.

Also included in this comparison are direct substitutes for the 12AX7 including: ECC83, ECC803, 7025 and 5751.

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12AX7 Basics
The 12AX7 is a 9-pin miniature, high-mu, twin triode. What does that mean? The 9-pin miniature part
tells us what kind of socket the tube plugs into. It has nine thin pins arranged along the
circumference of a circle with a diameter of just under half of an inch. There is a large gap between
pins 1 and 9 to ensure that the tube can only be plugged in one way. The high-mu part is referring to
the electronic specification called "amplification factor," abbreviated by the Greek letter (mu -
pronounced 'myoo'). This gives us a general category of amplification that the tube was designed
for as compared to other preamp tube types like the "medium-mu" 12AU7. The twin triode part tells
us that there are two identical and independent triodes contained within the one tube. A triode is the
most basic tube structure that allows for signal amplification and it has three electrodes: plate, grid
and cathode.

The Gain Test Setup

Each tube sample was tested in the same (Fender black face style) preamp circuit as shown in the
schematic below with bass and treble set to their maximum. A frequency generator was used to
measure voltage gain and plot the frequency response from 10 Hz to 18,000 Hz. From the frequency
plot it could be seen that there are three extrema at about 50 Hz, 400 Hz and 4,000 Hz. These three
frequencies were then used to quickly measure the low, mid and high frequency voltage gain on the
same number of samples for each tube in our comparison. The average from each tube's samples
was then calculated and used for comparison. The smallest average low frequency gain tube was
used as the reference for a gain of "1" and the largest average low frequency gain tube was used as
the reference for a gain of "10". This gain reference method was then repeated for both the mid and
high frequency averages.

Schematic of the preamp circuit used for 12AX7 comparison tests.

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The Listening Test Setup
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A custom 12AX7 switching box was constructed to allow for a quick switch comparison of six tubes
at a time while plugged into the V1 socket of a Marshall JCM800 2203 guitar amplifier. A separate
filament transformer was used on the switching box to simultaneously heat all six comparison tube
filaments without overheating the amplifier's power transformer. A shielded cable was constructed
to plug into the amplifier's V1 socket and transfer its pin 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8 connections to one tube
socket at a time in the switching box. Listening tests were then conducted while playing guitar and
switching between the tubes at various amplifier control settings to come up with tonal
descriptions for each tube.

By Kurt Prange (BSEE), Sales Engineer for Antique Electronic Supply - based in Tempe, AZ. Kurt began playing guitar at the age of nine in
Kalamazoo, Michigan. He is a guitar DIY'er and tube amplifier designer who enjoys helping other musicians along in the endless pursuit of
tone.

Note that the information presented in this article is for reference purposes only. Amplified Parts makes no
claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of this article,
and expressly disclaims liability for errors or omissions on the part of the author. No warranty of any kind, implied,
expressed, or statutory, including but not limited to the warranties of non-infringement of third party rights, title,
merchantability, or fitness for a particular purpose, is given with respect to the contents of this article or its links
to other resources.

Questions? Contact us at [email protected], or give us a call at 480-296-0890

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