12AX7 Valves/Tubes

I have 2 KORG synthesizers that use a pair of these and theyre getting hard to get hold of in the UK, anyone know where i can get mullard or slyvania replacements from the terrible chinese ones fitted to my korg emx-1 and korg esx-1

 

There are lots of tube dealers online if you just search. I have no idea how many are located inside of the UK though. Although I'm sure that many US dealers would be more than happy to sell to you, if you are willing to pay for shipping.

 

I've used Watford Valves: Watford Valves product search :: ECC83

and Hot Rox: Preamp Valves 12ax7 ecc82JJ, 12ax7M | Hot Rox UK Hot Rox UK

Will be others, but they've been good to deal with.

Never personally wanted to risk getting them from ebay etc

 

As mentioned above - Watford Valves. They usually have some more interesting NOS tubes. 12ax7 or ecc83 are equivalent valves. Hot Rox seem to turn orders around quicker.

 

I'm not sure what the tubes are doing in those korg circuits, but my guess is that they're not running as full voltage amplification stages but as starve plate low voltages distortion generators, like of like what op-amps do in an effects pedal. I don't know that there's much value in spending big dough on NOS tubes for that application. The New Sensor made Sovtek 12ax7LPS are new production 12ax7s that in my experience in guitar amps sound good, balanced, rich and full when driven to distortion plus they're very low noise. I've actually used 'em in place of early '60s Mullard short plates in guitar amps and they're a good sub for that kind of warmer tone.

 

Give Gold Lions with metal pins a chance, they sound great on my phono preamp. Another brand that makes good tubes is Psvane, don't let their Chinese origin fool you, their excellent but not cheap.

 

Poe, i think you would be fine with a couple of 1960s GE for that application.