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tubequadge12ax79

General Electric matched quad 12AX7 17mm tall plate 110% quad w/boxes from 1960's Ken-Rad plant

List price: $250.00
$199.00
You save: $51.00 (20%)
tubequadge12ax79
Out-of-stock
Add to wish list

As requested by numerous customers -- a balanced quad set of early General Electric tall plate 12Ax7's....

This is a well matched quad of early GE 12ax7 / ECC83. They feature early 1960's construction , all  spanning 1960 to about 1965....!  These tubes have original boxes, in which they were stored (they show wear and foxing, and a torn flap from the many years) 

I get allot of requests for these, by owners of RCA (both 14mm & 17mm tubes), they are already in love with RCA & Sylvania ... these nearly perfect manufacturers are quite nice -- almost always delivering the goods.  For those who know how good Mullard(s) can be -- and are thirsting for for that airy, succulent, sweeter sound -- should consider this type.

For easy reference, refer to exhibit ( B ), these tubes are strong, testing 105% to 110% on a Calibrated Jackson 648 at full load,  all halves, (8) sides of the triode. Projected life on these is excellent. 

Long plate GE's are what we refer to as a more musical tube. A musical tube will play along with the music, in a complimentary way, rendering allot of pleasure to the listener.  Common sense would dictate, this euphonic quality would be at odds with accuracy... this not so ... these and with some some of the world's best tubes .... These are elite, top sounding musical dual triodes, and are able to do their job with as much detail as any other ruggedized or long life industrial equivalent.

 Vintage USA long plate 17mm tubes generally have these wonderful sound qualities.

Comparing to the 12Ax7(A) refined short & box plate ECC83/12ax7A, 6681,  12aT7 etc -- yes they too have strong ( techinical) qualities ...they're rugged, they can sound nice and under extreme vibration, and hard usage are more resistant to noise. They do have the precision, but end up sounding too "edgy" --- rather than working with the music, these tube types give a more lock-stepped hard-nosed, scientific response to your music. 

Traditionially the principal King in this arena is the long, smooth plate Mullard ECC83 from the late 1950s (and certain other expensive and delicate Amperex types).

These days, smart, internet educated audiophile hobbyists have left by the traditional European favorites to discover the rugged & satisfying quality of the USA's golden postwar tube production era. The vintage American tone can't be duplicated. You get crisp, bold midrange, with a smoothness and warmth, all in one package.  These long plates are tops for vocals and instruments alike. 

The ruggedized features of newer ECC83  / 4 digit (aka 5751) tube types are not always needed by the typical audiophile, who opts for the predessor design.  The classic, gourgeous sounding tall 17mm tube types...made during the 50s and ceasing early in the 1960s. Older, tall 17mm tubes usually sound allot better, with just as much crucial musical detail .... but with luscious, alluring qualities -- whereas the shortest plates give better longevity and performance -- and really to snap to with punchy bass...  with a bit too much precision (sometimes). The worst of these can can have metallic-like and hard hitting edge on vocals.... a detrimental feature many audiophiles could do without.

To experienced listeners, this era of General Electric's tubes are really among the finest sounding the USA ever produced. General Electric made these tubes at the (formerly Kentucky Radio) plant in Owensboro Kentucky. This factory produced some of the earliest 12AX7 type mini tubes beginning in the late 1940s....moving to shorter pates sometime in the middle 1960s ... to meet newer Cold War design requirements. These early production GE 12Ax7's are similatr to Ken-Rad's labeled tubes of the early 1950's, excepting for some changes to the top getter and grey plates. Characterized by tall 17mm 4 hole ribbed grey plates -- and the absolute signature of all General Electic production... etched-on-glass letters in glass with the dot code.

 These particular Ken Rad inspired General Electric's are not a black plate... They are still of this transition 1950s/1960's era as are the early 17mm RCA's. I've always felt they retain the detailed sound of  the killer old RCA black plate, but with a much smoother presention. At any rate.... some of the better sounding 12AX7's ever, maybe only beat by Mullard's best 1950s chevron BVA 17mm -- and really ... I'm a little happier to use these in any preamp we own!! They without doubt have the quintessential sound of early 1960's america -- very BRIGHT & CLEAR accurate tone and not shouty, and NOT lush or dark -- after hours of warm up, the detail really shines and you'll wonder how you've ever lived without quality of these GE's!  Study all exhibit photos below...you will find this to be one of the nicest matched quads online and anywhere.

Note that the flashing on  tube # 3 & 4 exhibit normal darkening -- all four of these tubes have seen mild use, and have some hours of burn in -- a good thing in this case, as new (NOS tubes) don't usually sound good until many hours of burn in... as the flashing & getter de-gassing process is detramental to the initial transconductance (MU) performance ... tubes that last as long as these will serve you well! They test strongly and will provide many hours of enjoyment ( depending on your habits, you may even pass them along to your children!) 

As shown, this special offer includes (4) testing strong, excellent & QUIET ... they are used but strong ... GE 12Ax7 17mm. Nice condition, matched plates within 10% tolerance at full operation volts on AT1000 digital tube tester.  ALL TUBES Guaranteed NO DOA and excellent sound!!

OEM ordered types, they include old GE boxes (see exhibit A).

All vintage USA audio 1930s ~ 1980s

Save 20%
tubequadge12ax79

General Electric matched quad 12AX7 17mm tall plate 110% quad w/boxes from 1960's Ken-Rad plant

List price: $250.00
$199.00
You save: $51.00 (20%)
tubequadge12ax79
Out-of-stock
Add to wish list

As requested by numerous customers -- a balanced quad set of early General Electric tall plate 12Ax7's....

This is a well matched quad of early GE 12ax7 / ECC83. They feature early 1960's construction , all  spanning 1960 to about 1965....!  These tubes have original boxes, in which they were stored (they show wear and foxing, and a torn flap from the many years) 

I get allot of requests for these, by owners of RCA (both 14mm & 17mm tubes), they are already in love with RCA & Sylvania ... these nearly perfect manufacturers are quite nice -- almost always delivering the goods.  For those who know how good Mullard(s) can be -- and are thirsting for for that airy, succulent, sweeter sound -- should consider this type.

For easy reference, refer to exhibit ( B ), these tubes are strong, testing 105% to 110% on a Calibrated Jackson 648 at full load,  all halves, (8) sides of the triode. Projected life on these is excellent. 

Long plate GE's are what we refer to as a more musical tube. A musical tube will play along with the music, in a complimentary way, rendering allot of pleasure to the listener.  Common sense would dictate, this euphonic quality would be at odds with accuracy... this not so ... these and with some some of the world's best tubes .... These are elite, top sounding musical dual triodes, and are able to do their job with as much detail as any other ruggedized or long life industrial equivalent.

 Vintage USA long plate 17mm tubes generally have these wonderful sound qualities.

Comparing to the 12Ax7(A) refined short & box plate ECC83/12ax7A, 6681,  12aT7 etc -- yes they too have strong ( techinical) qualities ...they're rugged, they can sound nice and under extreme vibration, and hard usage are more resistant to noise. They do have the precision, but end up sounding too "edgy" --- rather than working with the music, these tube types give a more lock-stepped hard-nosed, scientific response to your music. 

Traditionially the principal King in this arena is the long, smooth plate Mullard ECC83 from the late 1950s (and certain other expensive and delicate Amperex types).

These days, smart, internet educated audiophile hobbyists have left by the traditional European favorites to discover the rugged & satisfying quality of the USA's golden postwar tube production era. The vintage American tone can't be duplicated. You get crisp, bold midrange, with a smoothness and warmth, all in one package.  These long plates are tops for vocals and instruments alike. 

The ruggedized features of newer ECC83  / 4 digit (aka 5751) tube types are not always needed by the typical audiophile, who opts for the predessor design.  The classic, gourgeous sounding tall 17mm tube types...made during the 50s and ceasing early in the 1960s. Older, tall 17mm tubes usually sound allot better, with just as much crucial musical detail .... but with luscious, alluring qualities -- whereas the shortest plates give better longevity and performance -- and really to snap to with punchy bass...  with a bit too much precision (sometimes). The worst of these can can have metallic-like and hard hitting edge on vocals.... a detrimental feature many audiophiles could do without.

To experienced listeners, this era of General Electric's tubes are really among the finest sounding the USA ever produced. General Electric made these tubes at the (formerly Kentucky Radio) plant in Owensboro Kentucky. This factory produced some of the earliest 12AX7 type mini tubes beginning in the late 1940s....moving to shorter pates sometime in the middle 1960s ... to meet newer Cold War design requirements. These early production GE 12Ax7's are similatr to Ken-Rad's labeled tubes of the early 1950's, excepting for some changes to the top getter and grey plates. Characterized by tall 17mm 4 hole ribbed grey plates -- and the absolute signature of all General Electic production... etched-on-glass letters in glass with the dot code.

 These particular Ken Rad inspired General Electric's are not a black plate... They are still of this transition 1950s/1960's era as are the early 17mm RCA's. I've always felt they retain the detailed sound of  the killer old RCA black plate, but with a much smoother presention. At any rate.... some of the better sounding 12AX7's ever, maybe only beat by Mullard's best 1950s chevron BVA 17mm -- and really ... I'm a little happier to use these in any preamp we own!! They without doubt have the quintessential sound of early 1960's america -- very BRIGHT & CLEAR accurate tone and not shouty, and NOT lush or dark -- after hours of warm up, the detail really shines and you'll wonder how you've ever lived without quality of these GE's!  Study all exhibit photos below...you will find this to be one of the nicest matched quads online and anywhere.

Note that the flashing on  tube # 3 & 4 exhibit normal darkening -- all four of these tubes have seen mild use, and have some hours of burn in -- a good thing in this case, as new (NOS tubes) don't usually sound good until many hours of burn in... as the flashing & getter de-gassing process is detramental to the initial transconductance (MU) performance ... tubes that last as long as these will serve you well! They test strongly and will provide many hours of enjoyment ( depending on your habits, you may even pass them along to your children!) 

As shown, this special offer includes (4) testing strong, excellent & QUIET ... they are used but strong ... GE 12Ax7 17mm. Nice condition, matched plates within 10% tolerance at full operation volts on AT1000 digital tube tester.  ALL TUBES Guaranteed NO DOA and excellent sound!!

OEM ordered types, they include old GE boxes (see exhibit A).