• WARNING: Tube/Valve amplifiers use potentially LETHAL HIGH VOLTAGES.
    Building, troubleshooting and testing of these amplifiers should only be
    performed by someone who is thoroughly familiar with
    the safety precautions around high voltages.

12AX7WA

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Hi Wayne,
Okay, we went OT. The thread is here and we have gone over there . :clown:

You're right, I apologize. To answer Valve's question, again:

Are 12AX7WA Valves good for using in Pre-Amps?

It's a matter of taste really. For a line-amp I would say if you got'em and you like the sound, good. But I wouldn't personally use them in a phono stage. That's my opinion. Though you haven't stated yet as to 'what' kind of pre-amp you are thinking of using them in, I would say try them. That's if you already have them or you are curious. They are good for a 4.00 USD or so (sometimes cheaper) tube and they are fairly quiet and dependable.
As a repeated theme here on the forum, if this is to be a linestage (if you are diy'ing one), all of that 12AX7 gain may not be needed. A lower mu tube would be more desirable i.e. a medium mu type. And boy are there many different opions here as to a "perfect" linestage. I may be dragging this thread out, is this an exsiting pre-amp which you are thinking of rolling in a 12AX7WA? IMO I would try the other 12AX7's mentioned here.

Cheers
Wayne 😉
 
Hi Valve,
12AX7's were the mainstay of tube voltage amplification in audio for many years. They are excellent tubes (family) in the right circuit. From past experience, the sound of the tube is more dependant on the circuit, good or bad. 12AX7's are generally used with feedback (good).

As far as the WA version. Try them, no circuit changes are needed to go to a NOS or any other type, 12AX7EH as an example. They are reliable and that is important.

-Chris
 
I Bought a sovtek 12AX7 Valve, and am still winding the transformer for
260 volts DC, HT voltage. the preamp board is complete and looks good.
All I have to do now is finish the power supply, and hear what it sounds like.
Thanks for all of your help🙂 😎
 
Hi Valve,

That's fine I have a pair myself, and thats where it all started,
one is a test bed as it's a very convienent HT supply. The other is used for my guitar pre-amp.

All I can say is enjoy, learn, experiment and above all be safe!

I have changed bias / operating point circuit arrangement the amount of gain and feedback all great stuff. I know people will criticise but for the guitar preamp I found that a 12AU7 sounds great, oh and it's a bass guitar so to hell with top end (although the amp does have top end). 😎

My wife is becomming paranoid as I'm planing a PP 6L6 or 6550 stereo amp, damn iron costs a lot.

Robert
 
Hi Valve,

sweet I took a look at Cort guitars, vert nice but i'll have to stick with my old Rock Axe, lets face it i'm in my mid forties I have only been learning for the last several months, past the my finger tips really cane stage 😀 and having fun.

hows the pre amp going I had to drop about 10db output level from the pre amp to bring the level down enough so I could feed it into my amp (home brew/kit amp and home brew cab).

Robert
 
The Pre-Amp is going well, i have not tested it yet because i need a speaker for it, but it looks like it will work fine.

I've been playing bass for almost 7 years now, and before that i played guitar for about 4 years. 🙂
 
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