From jjmcs49@yahoo.com Fri Dec 14 07:04:55 2012
Subject:Re: Art Tube with a Korg CX3 (latest and last version)


I've tried a variety of old tubes in my ART preamps. I liked some better than others. The difference (IMO) in tone between the old tubes and new manufacture tubes in the equipment I have (XK-3c and XK-3 before that, 3300 Leslie, ART preamps) is that when overdriven to any degree the new tubes tend to roll off highs and lows so that they start to sound kind of fizzy. The old tubes don't lose the highs and lows. Even when not pushed very hard the old tubes sound "fuller" (again IMO). 12AT7's seem to bring out low and low mid-range frequencies a little more while not sounding muddy.

So far I haven't let the smoke out of anything. I have a 12BZ7 and 12AV7 in my XK-3c, and a 12AT7 in the 3300. The ART preamps have either AX's or AT's in them. In my XK-3 I had a 12AT7 feeding into a 12BZ7. 12AU7's always sound kind of fuzzy to me even when not pushed no matter where I've tried them. Even the one that came in the '3c sounded fuzzy.

Most of the tubes I have I bought used on ebay. I have $5 used tubes that I like better than NOS tubes I paid $75 for.