Can 12AT7 replace 12AU7?

The 12AX7, 12AT7, and 12AU7 all belong to the same family of nine contact, twin triode tubes. In many cases, these tubes are interchangeable and can easily be swapped. We will take a look at why you might, or might not want to swap out the different types of tubes.

Can you swap a 12AU7 for a 12AX7?

You can interchange a 12AX7 with 12AT7, 12AU7, 12AY7 or 5751 as they are all the same pin structure, however they will each give you a different result in your amp. Each of these tubes has a different gain factor, which means some will give higher gain and others lower gain.

Do preamp tubes wear out?

Preamp tubes are more compact and don’t have to work as hard, so they tend to last even longer, or seemingly forever if you’ve been waiting for them to go bad so you don’t need any excuses to try a new set.

Are 12AT7 and 12AU7 interchangeable?

The 12AX7, 12AT7, and 12AU7 all belong to the same family of nine contact, twin triode tubes. In many cases, these tubes are interchangeable and can easily be swapped.

What is a 12AX7?

The 12AX7 is a 9-pin miniature, high-mu, twin triode. What does that mean? The 9-pin miniature part tells us what kind of socket the tube plugs into. It has nine thin pins arranged along the circumference of a circle with a diameter of just under half of an inch.

What is the best 12AX7 tube for a guitar?

The JJ ECC83 is a very popular 12AX7 among guitar players and musicians. This tube is very well balanced and is relatively low in noise. This tube is warmer sounding than other 12AX7 and is great if your looking for a darker sound.

What is a 12AX7 heater element?

This heater element stimulates electrons inside the tube and is seen by a faint orange like glow. The 12AX7 is a part of a large family of twin triode vacuum tubes each with their own characteristics. They span a wide range of voltage gain, ruggedness, microphonics, stability and even lifespan.

How long do 12AX7 tubes last?

How Long Do 12AX7 Tubes Last? A 12AX7 is generally designed to provide 10,000 hours of service before you should considering changing it. However, tubes are like light bulbs and can just stop working one day out of the blue. Even under the 10,000 hour mark. A 12AX7 is an electro-mechanical device that also contains a heater element.