All user reviews for the Tung Sol 12AX7

I had been waiting for some time to try these particular 12ax7 tubes out. I had read a great deal of good things about this model of tube and had very high expectations going into the purchase. I ordered these to go into the third high gain channel of my VL503. I had been very happy using the Sovtek 12ax7lps across the board in that amp for years. This is an early nineties model amp designed by Lee Jackson for those not familiar with the model the third channel is his custom modification design from when he used to modify Marshall JCM 800s for many name player back in the 1980s. Very loud, huge roar and growl with a lot less of the bad part of the upper registers. The Sovtek tubes had a very full and rich quality but I had to know how these tubes would perform given all the hype I had read on them.
At first I was a bit disappointed with the Tung Sol tubes, they had a harsh quality I was not accustomed to and honestly did not appreciate in that amp. I however gave them a good chance to break in and I am fortunate that I had the patience to do so. After about 8 hours of time they started to sound much better. I can say they have a very high tolerance to gain and sound very good when pushed hard. They do not seem to compress in a bad way but stay open sounding as you throttle them. They cover the full sonic range of the channel with ease and authority. They however are not a smooth sounding tube. They have a higher level of clarity to them. They are not brittle or harsh but simply clearer than I am used to with the LPSs. The bass is a bit more well defined as a result and that is a bonus because that channel of the amp has a tendency to get boomy and now the low tone control has a bit more functionality than with the Sovteks in there. I would not however say they are superior or worse than the Sovteks but simply different in a good way. Where the Sovteks add a smoother compressed fell these have a more open and airy feel. These will not replace any of the tubes I use on a regular basis but instead simply offer an additional soundscape that I find pleasurable and useable.

I'm not a fan of the Tung Sol, at least in a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. The lamp itself is probably not bad (and that is why, careful, I note still "correct") and I do not doubt it to be the case in other circumstances, but I much prefer her Groove Tube, Ruby or DD. We get along: it does not sound bad but his character does not satisfy me in my Hot Rod. I find it too aggressive, loaded with sharp and a little unbalanced. I tried worse but on the other hand so much better that I do not do it again this choice.
Note that it seemed more at ease than V1 V2. A test, however, if one seeks a sonic character of this kind (which I can totally understand!).

Of large lamps tested, the Tung-Sol 12AX7 Reissue is one of the player in my various config.

I use it as input to the low gain amplifier, and position cold bias (distortion of floor) on High gain.

Has a very high gain (warning talking about volume, no distortion).

Lamp that is loaded with bass and treble, with middles present but a little further back than the rest.
Restore the gloss and image brightness has an amp a little dark.
Very good to keep a good momentum.
A short-breath, long life.
I have never met a microphone problems with.

But:
-To be placed correctly in a config, often not ideal on a reverse phase push / pull as quickly brings the distortion.
-One or two is exellent, the more it makes her cold, screaming.

In all, a lamp which I do not do without, but used sparingly and thoroughly test all positions on an amp, just do a miracle in some places but not quickly make the sound loud on the amp already very bright.