VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Gp · Guest

Hi everyone,
I have just received a new mic tube that I was told was the best sounding tube ever. Skepticly I ordered one. Well I actually traded a tesla prototype tube for this one and am very surprised. It sounds better than my current tube, a JAN 6072. The JAN tubes are used a lot in high end mics. The 6072 has a nice warm sound. This new tube is more open and has a little more bottom end punch and is just a touch brighter than the JAN. They are on eb ay for 34.95. plus S&H, If you would like one...email me and I will hook you up.
Gp

Yoda117 · Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 9:34 am Post subject:

Hey GP, have you tried the JAN against the GE 6072 it was modeled after?

Just curious... they didn't seem the same to me when used in an old Tele mic.
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Gp · Guest

Nope I haven't tried the Ge version. I went through a number of tubes when I was having some sound issues....but not the GE. This new tube is quite nice....it is very open and even a little airy....but a little too bright for my voice.

Yoda117 · Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 11:39 am Post subject:

Try a NOS GE, and if you can find/afford them, the Mazda NOS. You might prefer them.

There are a few currently made tubes that I like, but most have low QC IME.
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Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

Three questions...NOS Mazdas made in which country are the ones to look for?

What are some of the better newly made Tubes?

What are some of the better more affordable NOS Tubes?
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Yoda117 · Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 6:03 pm Post subject:

Well with the Mazdas I've found the original English and later-made French tubes were excellent.

Better tubes which are currently made? JJ, which aren't the greatest, but sound better than the Chinese junk I'm used to, and the Jans. When they finally open up, both are usable.

Affordable NOS Tubes? RCA and GE are probably the best bang for the buck. Not as punchy as the Telefunken or as "open" and big sounding as the Mullards, but they're good... and reliable.

That said, using tubes is a personal choice, and people will always look for something different compared to another person. Even more frustrating... tubes will vary in sound based on the run.

Still, if you find one that works for you, it's a thing of beauty.
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Voiceovers by Gregory Houser
Philadelphia based Voice Actor

Blog - A man, a martini, and a lot of microphones

Gp · Guest

As I mentioned before this tube for 34.95 is an excellent tube. They are new old stock Russian tubes. You can spend some money on tubes. Be careful out there. There was an NOS Tesla E83CC on ebay for 197.00. The Tesla is supposed to be one of, if not the best sounding tube out there. According to whom?
Both the tubes used in my mic are Russian Sovtek tubes...either one of them sound great...especially since my sound issues have been resolved.

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

Thanks for the replies. I think I'm going to have some Tubular fun: I can't believe the difference in tone between my newly manufactured $19 JJ and my $29 Tung Sol tubes (both 12AX7). The JJ is smooth and slow with a nice 7-12kHz sheen to it (without being harsh) while the Tung Sol is upfront and punchy. I'm looking forward to trying much better tubes in the future.
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Yoda117 · Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 9:36 pm Post subject:

yeah, back when England, France, Germany, and the US were rocking out tubes, the quality was amazing. Now... not as much, especially with the Chinese copies.

I've got some original Tung Sol tubes and you can really hear the difference between them an the reissue. The reissue just didn't do it for me, but that's just me... they may sound like the bee's knees in someone else's chain.

If you really want to have fun, read the descriptions of the tubes. One site will have the description for a tube as "punchy" and the same tube on another site is "creamy & mellow." Of the two, I'd say that the reissues are punchy.

you'd think they'd get together to have a consistent answer, no?
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Blog - A man, a martini, and a lot of microphones

RadioMoo · Guest

Early 60s Siemens and mid to late 50s Mullard "D-Getter" tubes are great, and don't cost much more than new JJs

todd ellis · Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 5:05 am Post subject:

i'm using a NOS mullard now and really, really like it.

i am NOT technical at all - so i can't tell you why.
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Yoda117 · Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 9:18 am Post subject:

BTW: if you guys are getting these on eBay, be careful... lots of fakes and bad tubes floating around there. Check with the established stores first. You'll pay a bit more, but you'll be much better protected.
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Voiceovers by Gregory Houser
Philadelphia based Voice Actor

Blog - A man, a martini, and a lot of microphones

allensco · Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 10:46 am Post subject:

I don't have a tube mic...BUT I do have a tube preamp. I changed the no-name chinese tube out in favor of a 1958 Mullard Long Plate 12AX7. Nice and smooth Wink

Yoda117 · Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 10:58 am Post subject:

I did the same with an M610 and love the sound using Telefunken tubes.

My older stuff... play with different tubes, but the NOS stuff sounds awesome on all of it compared to the newer tubes.

As for my mics. I don't play with the tubes as much, but mainly due to the age and rarity of the original tubes used (letting paranoia be the better part of valor there).
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Voiceovers by Gregory Houser
Philadelphia based Voice Actor

Blog - A man, a martini, and a lot of microphones

Eddie Eagle · M&M Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 2393

This board run by Klaus Heyne who is well known for his work on tube mics may be of interest . He does customization of tube mics if you need someone. There are a number of great people on the forum from the recording industry including engineers that have mixed the top names in the music industry. The discussions of different tubes and circuitry are pretty cool. They are very open about everything.
http://www.recforums.prosoundweb.com/index.php/f/33/0/