The new GT12AX7M is an exact reissue of the original Mullard 12AX7/ECC83 dual triode preamp tube, the ultimate vintage 12AX7 by which all others are judged.

The Groove Tubes 12AX7M is a dual-triode vacuum tube based on the highly sought after Mullard 12AX7, which went out of production in the late 60's. Its unique triple mica design reduces tube hum and microphonics, and gives performance stability under the most demanding conditions. This tube delivers rich, harmonically complex tone and midrange warmth that is just not available in any other currently manufactured tube today. It is also the only 12AX7 type tube on the market today that meets (or exceeds) 100% of the critical performance specs of a textbook 12AX7 such as transconductance (1600 mU) and current (1.2mA). The new 12AX7M is an excellent choice as a replacement tube for any amplifier design using a 12AX7, ECC83, or 7025 preamp tube. Cost is $26 plus shipping. I will try it tonight in my Mapletree Ear+.

Whoa!, is this for real? What does "exact reissue" mean? Are they using the old manufacturing equipment, or have they tried to reissue that too? What about other 12A*7 tubes? Is that a lot of questions, or what?

I can't remember where I read it but, I think, the British set up a plant in Hungry after the war (or some such country) to make Mullard tubes. With Communism, the cold war, ect. and the need for tubes falling off, the plant no longer made them. But now, free trade reigns in a free country, and I guess they have found a nitch market. Anyway I believe that is where and why they are being made again. Like I said, I did read that somewhere a few months ago. AND it HAS happened. I have one. Pass the word on.

I wish I could be more excited by this but I found the Mullard to be too warm and syrupy. Now if someone would start making Mullard's EL84's or some Raytheons then I'd be really giddy. Reminds me, need to update bio to reflect the new Mullards. Anyway, the real question is how do they compare to the vintage tubes. IIRC, JJ or was it Ei have the old tube equipment from another old manufacturer (I'm guessing Amperex, it's really been a while since I read this) but I wouldn't say either tubes are up to specs in comparison to the old stuff.

So where can we order them from?

Mikey01 did you receive my reply to your email sometime ago?

There is info available from Groove Tubes website http://www.groovetubes.com/NAMM2004_04.cfm including info on a GE el34 copy (using the original GE equipment).

Doing a quick search on Yahoo! shopping you can find the 12ax7-m tubes for under $20.

-d

Wow this sounds really really interesting. I wonder how their 12au7's sound? At $20/tube that is pretty pricey...they better be DAMN good.

I did try out the Mullard reissue last night. Before the result is given I would like to say something about the headphone amp. The headphone amp used for this is a Mapletree Ear+, unmodified. Several past threads have said that “tube rolling is not of use with the Ear+ because there is only one of the three tubes that is used for amplification and it would not make a difference. In the Ear+ I have tried an 1956 era RCA (not a cleartop)12ax7, a China version, a Russian version, and various others. All of which made very little or no difference. This Mullard, therefore should be tried out in an amp where tube rolling is more of a benefit. I really do think this should be done.

HOWEVER, this is the first tube that I have used in the Ear+ that has made a very pleasant noteable change. It prompted me to make several calls to friends in the music business who have tube guitar amplifiers and also, my being a hamradio operator, I talked to those folks as well. I found one who had a couple of old Mullard 12ax7’s. He brought one over, plugged it in and darned if it diden’t sound like the reissue Mullard, or at least too close to call.

The overall impression of the tube in the Ear+ was one of a little more tubeiness. A tubey sound is heard lacking in the Ear+ as some reviewers have put it and I concure. Also the reissue Mullard added more overall definition to all frequencies. More midrange warmth is heard as well as a slightly extended bottom end. Bass was only a little more exploited or louder. I listened to Diana Krall (The look of love, on SACD), and previously the brushes on the snare drum could have been a wisk broom on the top of a galvanized garbage can lid. With the Mullard reissue it sounds very real and natural. And so it went with the Diane Shuur albums. The Dire Straights (spelling??) “Best of” album was not DVD-A or SACD but recorded as a “high definition cd”. I suppose that they they just recorded it in 24 bit/96 htz’s. Any way, boy did that album come to life.

“They were all once dead and have now come to life” as Father Bob would say, at the pulpit and I say about my music collection now. My final conclusion is that this tube is for REAL, a good reissue of the Mullard. But I do think we need to here from someone who can role it in a headphone amp that is conducive to better results with tube rolling. For the record I used only Beyer Dynamics DT880's and the tube was bought at orders@torresengineering.com. for $19.95+ shipping. Thanks; Mikey

Hello,
 
Any other testers of this reiissue ? really interested
 
Regards,