12AY7 worth it?

[jeff]

 I'm thinking about getting a 12AY7 to try it out, but there a little more expencive than a 12AX7 and I'm wondering if it's worth it. Seems like a 12AX7 is more bang for the buck. Now, I know there is a difference in gain between these tubes, but is there much of a difference in sound when used as V1? You get less gain from a 12AY7 but couldn't you just turn down a 12AX7. I could see how a different tube would make a big difference in a later stage, when you start pushing it around, but if it's used as the first tube isn't the guitar's signal pretty small and with small signals isn't a tube more linear? It's only when you push it that the curves really start to bunch up? That's when I'd imagine a more noticable difference between tubes would be heard.

In V1 is a 12AX7, a 12AY7 that goes to 11, or is there more of a tonal, or EQ(treb,mid,bass), difference between a 12AY7 and a 12AX7?

Never tried one so I don't know. Wadda you think? Worth the extra $$$?

[LooseChange]

If you like messing around with tubes you should have one of them aand some of these too... 5751, 12AT7, 12AU7 and even a 12DW7. Each will give an amp a new flavor.

[tubenit]

The 12AY7 is a very musical and sweet sounding tube, IMO.  I also like the 12AV7 alot.  It's not just the gain factor, there is a tonal factor also. 

For example not all 12AX7's sound the same. Correct?

with respect, Tubenit

[DummyLoad]

worth it? that's up to your taste to decide. try it? definitely.

--DL

[jeff]

Thanks, I think I'll go for it. It's worth a couple extra bucks in the name of experimentation.

[bigsbybender]

YES!

I've been putting them in lots of amps lately.  I originally found a pair of NOS to try first, then I tried the Electro-Harmonix ones, and I'm totally satisfied with the new production.

j.

[tubeswell]

I have used the EH12AY7 in the V1 slot in 1/2 a dozen amps. Favourite V1 tube for blues geetar amps. EH does a pretty decent specimen for a current production tube. Worth the extra that you pay for it. (Maybe if we all bought enough of them the price would come down). I keep a couple of spare ones in my stash.

[Tone Junkie]

I have bunch of the tubes mentioned i cant seem to say no to the bid button.  and I have really come to love the 12 ay7 and when i want a clean bluesy type amp I have 2 in my blues miester amp v1 v2 and really love the musicality of that tube if you can call that a word, since tubnit has used one ive tried my 12 av7 in a couple of spots always ended up back to a 12ay7 for some reason. experimentation with differant tubes is a blast.
 man its late I need to go to bed I talk to much when Im tired. thank guys by
Bill

[firemedic]

If you like messing around with tubes you should have one of them aand some of these too... 5751, 12AT7, 12AU7 and even a 12DW7. Each will give an amp a new flavor.

I'll second that emotion. Once you've got your amp built, you have to roll some different tubes in it. 12AY7 is my favorite preamp tube but I always try a U, X, V, T and a 5751, in each socket, before finally settling. Don't have any DWs tho....

[Tone Junkie]

The 12dw7 are interesting if im not mistaken ax on one side and au on the other.
Thanks Bill

[LooseChange]

The 12dw7 are interesting if im not mistaken ax on one side and au on the other.
Thanks Bill

Yes.

[J Rindt]

If you ever build/buy a "Tweed" type amp, you are really going to want that AY7.
Best

[Willabe]

Yes, I think there -- all -- worth it!

I'm a carpenter and I have, oh, at least 10 different hammers, huh, and I'm still bend'in nails instead of sink'in them.                                                 

Point being, different tool for different job.


         Brad       

[LooseChange]

I love my 22 oz. framing hammer! 

Good example. Replace both preamp tubes in a Hot Rod deluxe with some lower gain tubes. You can set it up so the distortion channel is clean... And really tubey sounding.

[rzenc]

I really like 12AY7 in tweed types. In AB763 it also gives greater expression, IMHO. Actually, I can say AY is my favorite tube for lowgain amps. Once I retubed a 2203 with V1 being 12AY7, since it's owner wanted the amp to be 'more bluesier'.. very nice sounding amp for blues. My own plexi+Hotswitch runs TungSol-12AY7 and I love it for a blues/crunch typ-o-rock

Best Regards
Rzenc

[jeff]

Instead of a hammer I was thinking of a 12AX7 as a 3/4" adjustable wrench and a 12AY7 as a 1/2". Up until 1/2' bolts either one will do the job, but if you want to tighten a 5/8'....

 I need to do less thinking and more trying. I'll get a couple and experiment.

Thanks for the advise.

    Jeff

[jojokeo]

I seem to usually compare electricity w/ water analogies so I'll use this one. Think of a lawn sprinkler w/ a nice even 15 foot fan spray pattern as being a 12AX7 and the water being "the flood" of electrons carrying your signal along to the plate (grass). Now w/ a 12AY7 you have the same 15 foot distance but instead the water is coming out in a finger spray pattern. There's less electrons carrying your signal but it's still giving you plenty of "distribution uniformity" over the same area but w/ a little better control.