A brand new Mullard 12AX7 vs a 1950s Mullard ECC83. Comparing preamp tubes (12AX7/ECC83) PART 2

PART 1 of the preamp tube comparison can be found here: • Preamp tube shootout o...
I decided to get a brand new Mullard 12AX7 preamp tube to compare with the Mullard ECC83 from the 1950s. I'm using three of my amps for this comparison. The Grand Tweed Deluxe (5E3) that I used in part 1 and in addition I'm throwing in my 50W ODS Dumble/Fuchs clone and my Princeton Reverb head (AA1164) to hear how versatile these preamp tubes are.
Preamp tubes in this episode:
Mullard ECC83 (1950s)
Mullard 12AX7 (New)
Philips MiniWatt (1950s)
Electro Harmonix 12AX7
Tungsol 12AX7
The speakers used are:
Grand Tweed Deluxe: Jensen C12N
50W ODS: Eminence Cannabis Rex 12"
Princeton Reverb (AA1164): Eminence GA10-SC64, 10"
Guitars:
Gibson ES-335 VOS 1963 reissue
Partscaster Strat with Radioshop pickups (ID:63GT)
Microphones capturing the sound:
Shure SM7
Shure SM57
00:00 Intro jam
00:39 Intro talk
02:16 Tweed Deluxe and Mullad ECC83 (1950s)
03:50 Tweed Deluxe and Mullard 12AX7 (New)
05:31 Tweed Deluxe and Philips Miniwatt ECC83
08:15 50W ODS Dumble/Fuchs clone and Tungsol 12AX7
09:39 50W ODS Dumble/Fuchs clone and Mullard ECC83 (1950s)
11:19 50W ODS Dumble/Fuchs clone and Mullard 12AX7 (New)
13:59 Princeton Reverb (AA1164) and Electro-Harmonix 12AX7
15:33 Princeton Reverb (AA1164) and Mullard ECC83 (1950s)
17:32 Princeton Reverb (AA1164) and Mullard 12AX7 (New)
19:10 Conclusion
20:12 "Soundtrack of my life" outro jam
#grandamp
#guitaramp
#5E3Tweeddeluxe
#tubeamp
#preamptube

[@DANTHETUBEMAN]

New mullards are great tubes at a good price and availability is great. I like the mid tones.

[@rwhit79L]

Very inspirational! Great playing! Loved the 1950’s Mullard!

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

This was a very nice comparison. As was your playing. I just ordered the tungsol to replace a bad tube in my Vox AV series practice amp. Thanks for making this video.

[@paulbeharrell]

Beautiful playing and wonderful tones!

[@UserUser-qt7mb]

Daaamn that 50's mullard sounded so sweet ...low end and the highs just right. Great demo buddy...loved your tone.

[@GUITARSGIZMOS]

Thanks, really appreciate it 😀

[@backcountryrich7740]

Great comparison and tone! I have a few vintage Mullard and Philips 12AX7's. Also have one vintage Brimar thats sounds fantastic. They sound amazing and they stay in my 5E3 clone and Marshall 1974X pre amp section. Unfortunately they are hard to find and expensive. Will have to give the new ones a go. Great video!

[@jevrimerdi]

Great review, great play 🙌

[@nigelduckworth4419]

At least in the uk, Mullards were the gold standard of Valves/ tubes in amps during the first part of the 1960s., particularly in Vox amplifiers. There shouldn't be a great deal of difference between the vintage Mullard and the Philips because Philips took over Mullards in 1927 and they often made each others tubes in the same factory. Very impressed though with the new Mullard in comparison to the vintage one. I did not expect much from it at all. I have a 50s or 60s Mullard EF86 ( the date has erased) in my vox AC15 preamp to replace a JJ and although JJs are very good tubes, the Mullard has a more rounded gravelly vintage bell-like tone and feel, particularly for those early 60s instrumentals.

[@soulflower8687]

Generally well made older tubes, like Mullards, Philips, Amperex, Telefunken etc are softer on transients and fold over into pleasing distortion more easily. Modern tubes have a harder edge sound, more clean headroom and don't fall over into distortion as easily. Beyond that, it's a taste thing (and a budget thing). Nice playing.

[@ScottTheNews]

The old Mullard has its own personality. That’s a keeper. I just ordered and old used Mullard to tame a tube pedal.

[@willdenham]

Unless there was an eq change the electro is the brightest/cleanest. You helped me decide on a new set of tubes. Wasn't sure about the Mullard reissues but it sounded close to the original.

[@lauratanner8475]

Good playing , good amp, good guitar, sounds.... well,... great .👍 I wouldn't have any problem with any of these tubes in that rig.

[@radiradev2387]

Great playing, the Philips sounds very sweet, my favorite, the old Mullard was second, the new Mullard was a bit harsher but still very musical, the Tungsol has more hiss in the high end for my ears.

[@michaelgriffin5304]

Very tasteful playing

[@manho9725]

I prefer the new one ,I feel it smooth and hearing more comfortable.

[@charliesavoie5766]

Thanks for the video. IMOHO... Hands down the 1950s Mullard is the most "musical "of the tubes you used. I think this is dur to its sharp attack and extended decay properties. The Tung Sol is the most precise tube of the lot Both are nice in there own way and it is a matter of choice. This does not surprise me after rolling many tubes and is consistent with what I believe is the house sound that different manufacturers had in the day.

[@rshock]

Ok I’m sold lol I am looking at purchasing a vintage 1050’s mullard for my 5e3 tweed. I think I am going to do it. Thank you!

[@silcoxone]

Just found your channel... Subscribed. I just acquired a Gibson ga42rvt and swapped all the tubes. New tungsol 6l6's, jjecc83s in v1, v3,v4. I have a mesa 12ax7 in v2... Im sure its not different than the jj's. But a jjecc81s/12at7 in the PI. Helped kill the fizz I had.

[@GUITARSGIZMOS]

Thank you 😊 Wow, that Gibson looks to be a cool amp from what I can see from videos. Cheers and congrats on that!

[@FuzzAudio]

Great vid! Vintage Mullard sounded best!

[@coldgarageband5447]

Excellent and intriguing review, Thor, much appreciated. Definitively for me it's the Mullard from the 50`s. Like you say, it sounds more musical, and to my ears the notes are better defined. I was kind of wondering if that very tube you use is kind of "broken in" already or it is has been never used before. In the first case that might explain the difference with the new Mullard. If your brother has some more Mullard spares and he is willing to sell I'd like to know :-). By the way, excellent playing, I liked the Strat sound towards the end...guess John Mayer would appreciate that tone as well... :-)

[@GUITARSGIZMOS]

Thanks Marcello, and especially about the tone from the Strat. As you may know I tend to favour the ES-335, but I felt I got a really good tone and feel from the Strat here. The old Mullard has an unknown origin, and might have been pulled out from some gadget using preamp tubes, as my brother who owns it has been doing a lot of repairs on electronic devices over the years and might have come across it in an old organ or radio he pulled apart. But anyhow it is not a NOS tube. PS! If you found it intriguing you might consider yourself a guitar nerd 🤓

[@willdenham]

I found a bargain 60's Mullard 12aX7! Part of this beat up 'ugly' stash a hi-fi, Canadian guy is selling off. Great price. Stuck it in V1 of a JTM build, with Mullard RI's in the power section and it just sings! That Chinese Deluxe sounds great BTW!

[@bentkm]

I can't help it, but to me they ALL sound great. But then again, I am only a bass player so who am I to speak ... :-o. I love all of Thoddi's sounds. He is by far the most creative and innovative guitar player I have ever played with ... so I guess ... I am biased. But then again - wot dah hekk. Excellent work Thor.

[@GUITARSGIZMOS]

Imagine rock/pop music without a bass player... It's the fundament and goodness that makes you vibrate. And you're not just a bass player. You're THE bass player. Thanks man, you're the best!

[@RasCuban33]

I’m having good times with my Mullards in my Carvin V3, going to try some in my Vox amps.

[@nigelduckworth4419]

Mullards and Vox amps were made for each other when Vox first started producing the AC15 and AC30s. I have a vintage Mullard EF86 but was surprised at how good the new Mullard sounded. I wasn't so sure that the new ones had had a good reception. Of course the Made in England Mullard factories in Blackburn, Fleetwood and so on are long gone, so I do not know who now produces the new ones.

[@RasCuban33]

@@nigelduckworth4419 They are made in the same plant in Russia that makes Sovtek and EHX. I did put some new Mullard EL84s in my Vox NightTrain 15 and it’s sounds amazing!

[@GiantRock62]

1950's British Mullard with long plates, square getter with MC1 code from Blackburn UK Mullard's valve factory is probably the very best sounding ECC83 ever built for Hi-Fi and guitar, nothing else comes even close including Telefunken, period.

[@MrOddish1000]

They both sounds beautiful in their own way. The vintage tube has a more creamy smooth sound. In the end just depends on the mood.

[@eyedunno8462]

The new Mullards honestly sound like the old Mullards but in HD. Some added presence and brightness but still the same velvet quality

[@greg4673]

BTW> The best way to shootout Pre-amp tubes 12ax7/ecc83/ecc803 is to use a single ended Fender Champ [1965 or so]. That amp has no coloring circuitry so the pre-amp tube differences becomes VERY evident. Just my 2 cents....like your vid guy.. :)--------------I find your choice is the same as mine BTW> I remember putting them in Hi-Fi amps too back in the 60's! They were always sought after, even then.

[@willdenham]

The Tung Sol gives great string definition and dynamics. Not sure if the Dumble has more to do with that or not.

[@cib]

Curoius what you think would be the best tubes for an ART PRO MPA II? I like the warm vintage sound but i don't want to go TOO far and lose too much clarity.

[@GUITARSGIZMOS]

Hi, I'm afraid I have no experience with that one. But I would think that for newer tubes you could try Tung-Sol or Mullard. I've had JJ Electronic tubes in my amps for years and been happy with that. If you're willing to spend a bit of money on older tubes, I found that the vintage Mullard was unique. But tubes like Philips MiniWatt is also fab. Good luck in your hunt for great tone, Thor 😊

[@explorer8454]

I understand that you have the Mullard new and old in V1. What tube do you have in V2 in the Tweed Deluxe?

[@GUITARSGIZMOS]

Hi, it’s a while since I did this video but I think I had a JJ Electronics 12AX7 in V2. There is a link to a massive shootout of preamp tubes I did ahead of this video and I think I mention the choice I did for V2 in that video. You’ll find a link to ‘part 1’ in the description to this video. Thor

[@Chris7uk00]

Try a E83CC the frame grid version 12ax7 from JJ in V1, let me know what you think?.

[@Stephenwongdirectimaging]

I choic the mullard 1950 after a few listening is warmer. , blackground darker , bass more fuller

[@Nomadman777]

Sweet...

[@robertlevasseur8896]

old sylvanias tend to be my favorites

[@user-th9bx4wq8g]

Where can I buy tubes here in SA

[@willdenham]

Is that a Grand Tweed your using? I am considering grabbing one of those, quite a bargain!

[@GUITARSGIZMOS]

Hi, yes the Tweed I'm referring to is the Grand Tweed 20 w amp. It's a cool sounding amp indeed. Cheers, Thor

[@willdenham]

@@GUITARSGIZMOS Would you say it's representative of other more expensiveTweed clones?

[@GUITARSGIZMOS]

@UCz%F0%9F%98%84NhsZXcHEqkSonOytVCF9Q I'm afraid I've still left to try one, so I can't tell. Now you got me wanting to find out though😀

[@50Something]

Oh my God, the old Mullard in the Princeton is suburb!!!

[@GUITARSGIZMOS]

Hi there, yes I agree, it's an absolute favourite for me. A pity I only have one. You reminded me that I wanted to start a hunt to see if I can find a couple more of those. My guess is they might be quite pricey though...

[@widgetlocsta1]

The old schools sounds muddy 😢 the high end is also being rolled off😮

[@cosimopiovasco2273]

Old Mullard is warmer

[@Nomadman777]

Tweed-old Mullard, Dumbles a tie betweenTung Sol and Mullard, Princeton Electro Harmonix... The Dumble sounds the best overall to me...

[@mariannwatt2678]

I always liked the phillips 12ax7s in my marshalls a little more scoped to me i think thay are dutch i think i wish i could get the telefunken el34s that i got 35 years ago also dutch ( i think ) the best my marshalls ever sounded plenty of punch and lasted about a year of hard work new tubes preamp or power now days are no match for the old german dutch or english that marshall amps need

[@willdenham]

Are those JBL monitors? I have a pair. Ugly things, sound decent though.

[@mikeday62]

What are the best 12AX7 tubes for $20 each? I'm building a pair of low-cost preamp mono-blocks for my budget hi-fi rig. The ones that have McIntosh or Siemens printed on them are insanely expensive.

[@GUITARSGIZMOS]

Hi, I can't say what the best preamp tube is for the purpose you're describing, but I see that the new Mullard 12AX7 I tested here goes for around $25.

[@mikeday62]

@@GUITARSGIZMOS All I can say is you, your guitar and that tube sound incredibly good together.

[@privateer0561]

I remember reading that Dumble used new (Russian, Commie) tubes on his most recent amps. That might tell you something...

[@carstensommer1315]

Dont compare to a brand new tube burn in time is at least 50-75 hours.

[@mrshiney2]

Do it in a blind test, thats the only true test

[@GUITARSGIZMOS]

Yes, I believe you are right. I’ll keep it in mind if I do a similar comparison. Thanks 👍

[@carlobalzani4918]

I tubi termoionici vintage necessitano di degassazione che consiste nel tenere acceso il filamento senza anodica , circa due ore per ogni anno di inattività , per quanto riguarda i tubi di potenza . I tubi di piccola potenza necessitano di più tempo . La pratica è necessaria per ossidare i residui di gas formati nel tempo . Non bisogna dare tensione anodica perché gli ossidi devono formarsi sul filamento e non portati sulla placca . Amen

[@thomkopal1740]

That 14mm plate vintage Mullard was not made in the ‘50s. Wait til you actually hear a real ‘50s Mullard with long (17mm) plates - preferably a mC1 type. You’ll be astounded!

[@GUITARSGIZMOS]

Thanks, I see now that you are right. I’d love to get my hands on one of those 👍

[@frankgeeraerts6243]

WHY do you compare what is impossible to produce today to the same quality standard and materials used and allowed to use .........??? Most have not the choice and have to use current productions..........so far for reality BUT DO NOT COMPARE !

[@mns8732]

Lots of talk. No info. Not interedted.

[@rexmasters1541]

Are you having a seizure while playing???????? There is medication for your twitches.

[@johnnygorena5318]

How rude didn’t your mom teach you any manors lol :)