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In Reply to: RE: 12AT7/ECC81 - Amperex or Mullard? posted by Tre' on October 03, 2015 at 16:12:42
This question reminds me of the difference between wet sanding with 1000 grit for finishing wood and another guy just using 800 grit ... big difference in finished product.
The devil is in the details and some craftsman are superior to others.
The Mind has No Firewall~ U.S. Army War College.
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For 12att in terms of absolute performance the best Philips factories are Eindhoven and Copenhagen. Also with Philips factories, vintage does matter.
Has anybody heard Amperex Bugle Boy 12AT7's?
Yes, they are ok but not great. Amperex Bugle Boy are tubes produced in the Heerlen factory in the late 50's and 60's. There is nothing special about the Bugle Boy brand in itself, apart form the vintage. Remember with Philips factories vintage matters so even with Bugle Boys, look for the earlier vintage. The best tubes from Philips factories come from the early 50's prior to bugle boy labelling. These tubes use the old Philips codes printed on the base of the tube between the pins. The best Heerlen 12at7 (ecc81) are pre 1955 old code with welded plates. However, in the hierarchy of Philips factories Heerlen is middle of the road in overall performance. The best Philips factories not specific to any tube type are:
1. MBLE (Brussels)
2. Eindhoven
2. Copenhagen
4. Hamburg (Valvo)
5. Siemens
There are other variables that determine tube type performance, but in general the above list is a good guide.
Thanks for that information on the factories.The Bugle Boy 12AT7's that I just bought on The Bay are labeled Great Britain.I should have them next week.
Its possible these tubes are from the Blackburn factory. If the factory code is "B" than its Blackburn. The Bugle Boy label can be misleading since it was used by other Philips factories (as well as Amperex). Factory codes are more reliable indicator of origin and vintage.
So which plant(s) had the superior craftsman?
Tre'
Have Fun and Enjoy the Music
"Still Working the Problem"
That might well have depended on the specific production run. Both designs and builders varied over time.
The point about the Philips giant having high standards is well taken. Poor product from any of their plants is rare.
Eli D.
Agree completely with you. Aside from a French made 12at7 ,likely just my own ear and taste, I have never owned a Philips made tube that I've failed to like or parted with. They are so long lasting and sound so good that I have yet to try any new 12a-- type tube. I should clarify that and say that I am a huge fan of EI 12ax7 but they are no more , the ones I own are as long lived as any tube ever.
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