Western Electric 12AX7 coming this summer.

Well, if WE ever manufactured a 12AX7, or variant, then I must have missed it. Blackburn refers to Mullard, not WE, so not sure what Charles W. is talking about here, apart from marketing.

I run a red-tip Mullard 12AX7 f91 .c 1958 in my pre, and an original matched pair of Genalex B749s (12AU7 drop ins) as inputs in my SET amp.

Given the situation with Russia and China it is a good thing USA will provide some supply.

Other than JJ in Slovakia are there any others outside of Russia or China?

I have a pair of WE 300b and I have to say they sound phenomenal.   I was afraid the “recipe “ may change or some other unforeseen problem regarding availability might occur so I bought a second pair.    Crazy? maybe…..

As of now only my headphone amp uses 12ax7.    I would buy a pair I they were reasonably priced.    If they really want to sell volume to the guitar community they have to be $80 -$100 ….  Or less.  
 

I have a few friends that play and I have retubed their amps and they thought $30 each was pushing it.   JJ tubes at $20 - $ 35 depending on type are reasonable in my opinion and some sound great, like the gold pin 12ax7 and the ecc803s .   Great sounding tubes.    That’s what came stock in my Zesto Leto pre and that thing sounded amazing 

I think the big market for 12AX7 is guitar amplifiers. A lot more of them than audiophiles. I'm think this influenced WE's business plan.