You sure cannot lump all 5751's together. Try some GE grey plates and you will get a leaner presentation. Try some RCA black plates and you will get warmer. And there are a whole lot of variations in between. I do think "Joe's Tube Lore" does a pretty fair assessment of the options available, and is worth your reading (it's in the FAQ for Tubes in audio asylum).
I compared RCA 5751 triple mica black plates to Mullard CV4004 tubes (12AX7 equivalent) from Upscale Audio in the input section of an EAR 890 and I found the Mullards to be too closed in on top, too warm, and a bit "fuzzy" in focus for my tastes (the EAR 890 is a warmer sounding amp to begin with IME). If you live in Minneapolis area I could loan you a bunch of different 5751's to roll - - it's a lot of fun!