I just went through a big batch of 12ax7's and while I do hear differences in volume and tone and I wonder.
I used a VC build that works great and sounds great. Vol, T & B straight up and no trem.
So here is what I wonder. If any of you have a basket of 12ax7 with varying price and age. Have you done, would you do a completely blind test where you simply insert a tube and listen and score it - tone, microphonics, relative vol. Pick a great guitar & speaker, cable, 6V6, 5Y3, yadayada.....
I wonder if anyone can actually call out a tube by hearing it. Is it that we have paid for that Bugle Boy or Mullard or RCA and it must sound good. Would the JJ's, Sovetek's, EH jump to the front??
Forgive me if the 'dogears' in the forum scoff at this...... I wonder.
Since everything is important in tone, is it safe to say that in terms of ranking..
Tone is in the players hands..... then
1. Circuit
2. Components and quality of build (tubes are in here)
3. Speaker & Cab
4. Guitar
Psycho-fonics - Blind testing
Moderators: pompeiisneaks, Colossal
Re: Psycho-fonics - Blind testing
not possible.. also there is wide range of manufacturing types and shapes..but you can hear the differences.. and NOS are at least 30% better than modern tubes.. Altough i have good luck with 12AX7 JJ, often they are good enough-till-great, to keep
Re: Psycho-fonics - Blind testing
Yes seems so, thanks for your observation.
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Re: Psycho-fonics - Blind testing
You don't have to ne able to identify a particular tube by its sonics. You just have to be able to hear a difference. After a build, I run many samples through those sockets. If one is better, it stays until the next one is evaluated. I don't even pay attention to the tube make really, just if it's better or not, until I'm done. Then I'll see where the RCA, Mullard, Sylvania, or whatever is placed.
In a good design, any tubes will sound great, but spending time selecting gives me the optimum response, maximizing the potential of the amp. Can I tell one tubes birthday and the factory where it was born, in a blind test? Of course not. But that's not necessary for tuning response in an amp.
In a good design, any tubes will sound great, but spending time selecting gives me the optimum response, maximizing the potential of the amp. Can I tell one tubes birthday and the factory where it was born, in a blind test? Of course not. But that's not necessary for tuning response in an amp.
Tube junkie that aspires to become a tri-state bidirectional buss driver.
Re: Psycho-fonics - Blind testing
So that confirms that one's ears are the ultimate arbiter.