Mullard tube

[Ripper]

Guys...
I have a chance to get a [glow=red,2,300]Mullard[/glow] 12AX7 tube for free.
My Valvestate 2000 only takes one, so its a win/win if you like.

I have heard and read great things about Mullard tubes.
I just hope after hearing it, ill be able to go back to the $20 tubes again after this one wears out.

I have heard this tube runs over $100. Will I notice a difference?

[sumgai]

deep,

deepblue said:

..........
Will I notice a difference?

You may or may not notice a difference. But the real question is actually, will you appreciate any difference that you might hear. Failing that, you'll have no problem going back to the $20 "common folks" foot warmers.

But for free, why not?

HTH


sumgai

[Ripper]

Sumgai...
Cant beat a freebee!

[ranchtooth]

With regards to Mullard tubes, a company called new sensor acquired the Mullard patents and are making new production to the vintage specs.

www.tubedepot.com/mu-el84.html

If they live up to the hype the NOS variant received, then free is definitely worth the price of admission.

[andy]

Well, free is free! You certainly can't lose anything...

I've never used a Mullard, but the name does seem to have become a magical vial of tone from myth and legend! As the valve amps I have used have mostly been Fenders, I don't think using one would have been such a good thing, having got the impression that they are more often used in Marshalls and Voxes to get really good breakup of the tone, but as I said, never tried one, so can't say one way or the other.

I have, however, heard much debate as to how much of an influence the valve in a hybrid amp such as the Valvestate actually has on tone. I owned a Fender Performer hybrid, which, in my opinion sounded much better than other fully solid state amps I had used at the time, but exactly how much of that was down to the valve, I don't know. All I really mean is that with the rest of the circuitry of the pre-amp, and a solid state power amp, the qualities of the valve may not be represented in their fullest glory, but of course as you aren't forking out $100 for the privellage, any opportunity to try a feited bit of kit is a good thing, and if you enjoy the tone it produces, even only for the life of one valve, then that has to be good too.

I'd be keen to hear how you feel it affects the sound, both to see how the Mullards reputation holds up outside of vintage and boutique amps, and to get a better idea of the degree of 'valve' that makes it through hybrid amps and effects, just for future reference!

Hope it rocks...

Andy