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12ax7's to roll

Happy Holidays A'goners. I have a Rogue Cronus Magnum that I bought from Agon. I love it and I'm curious about tube rolling. A very reputable tube source that most tube fans in the U.S. would be familiar with, recommended replacing my 12ax7's with Telefunken 12ax7's. They're really expensive as far as I'm concerned. I'm not wealthy and have kids in college. I could certainly swing it but is there other alternatives that cost less than $230 for a matched pair that will give me a good tube rolling experience? I currently have Sylvanias and I love the sound. I'm just curious as I've never tube rolled in my life.
donjr
samhar
1,048 posts
 
I agree with Andr 5751's would be the closest to the tele's clean detailed sound at reasonable $'s. The 5751 is a very low noise tube,less gain than 12AX7, but if your preamp has plenty of gain you will be OK.
mechans
3,048 posts
 
5751s are a great experiments, and make serious committments once done. As mentioned not too much $$.
facten
2,882 posts
 
I liked the Sylvanias in my Magnum, but swapped the 12ax7s out for Tungsol 5751s and the 12 au7s with RFTs (similiar in sound to RCAs to my ears) overall a little warmer sound than the Sylvania's . Here's a link to Brent Jesse's 12ax7 &12 au7 web pages (I am only a customer) gives some isnight on different tubes - easy guy to talk to as well

http://www.audiotubes.com/12ax7.htm
http://www.audiotubes.com/12au7.htm
mezzrow
114 posts
 
I second the Ei 12AX7 suggestion. The older Ei's, with the white lettering are the ticket. FWIW, I am currently using a pair with a CAL Alpha, and I prefer them to NOS GE 5751 that cost a lot more $$. I may be mistaken, but I think Ei is still in business. I have a pair of (I believe) current production Ei 12X7 Gold Pin Elites, but they don't sound as good as the older ones.
cyclonicman
693 posts
 
Amperex or Mullards. 5751 has a rated gain of 70, while a 12AX7 is rated at 100. You may not want to reduce the gain.
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