Tubes Asylum: The Wonderful World of the 12AT7 by Bambi B

Photos: Siemens and Halske triple mica E81CC, Valvo Blue Label triple mica mica 6201, Sylvania triple mica 12AT7WA

HenryH,

I'm a fan of the 12AT7, using 8 in verious pieces of gear. And I've tried a few kinds:

12AT7 [8] 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1

Siemens & Halske E81CC- 3 mica- DE- NOS
Siemens & H- ECC81- NOS
Valvo 6201â€“ White label- Hamburg- gold pin- DE-NOS
Mullard M8162- GB- NOS
Telefunken ECC801S- DE- NOS
Sylvania Gold Brand 6201-steel pins- NOS 124/120,120/118
Sylvania Gold Brand 6201 gold pins- US- NOS
Amperex Bugle Boy-France- NOS
GE 6201 5 star- 3-mica- NOS
RCA -HP- NOS
RCA 6201 2-mica black plate- NOS
Sylvania JAN 12AT7WA 3-mica 1958 -NOS
Sylvania 12AT7WA-Gold Print- 3 mica -USED
GE -NOS
Westinghouse- black plate-NOS
Telefunken ECC81- USED
Philips JAN- NEW
ARC by RFT- USED
GE 6201- 3 mica, sq gtr- NOS
Telefunken ECC81- NOS
Siemens&H-12AT7WA-3 mica-1-dbl gtr sup-DE- USED
Siemens-12AT7WA- 3 mica- single gtr sup- DE- USED
Sylvania JHS 12AT7WA 3-mica, bl pl, sq gtr -NOS
Raytheon JHC 12AT7WA- blk plt 3-mica- NOS [*5
Raytheon JRO 12AT7WA halo gr plt 2 mc-NOS [*5
Siemens ECC81 by RFT?- military label- USED
Telefunken ECC81 by Siemens & H- Munich- USED
Valvo ECC81- Mullard Blackburn UK- USED
TungSol 6201 2-mica, grey plate-halo- NOS
Valvo 6201 Hamburg gold pin- dimp- DE- NOS [20
Siemens E81CC/6201 2 mica- stl pn- DE- NOS [13
Valvo 6201, Blue Label- 2 mica gold pin- halo-DE â€˜64- NOS
Siemens & Halske E81CC- 2 mica- DE- NOS

I found three I really like, depending on the use:

1. The best all rounder is the Valvo, Hamburg Blue label gold pin 6201. I only have the 2-mica version- and the triple mica version is supposed to be even better, but this 6201 for me does everything right- detail, image, timbre, great bass- very quiet, beautiful top end. If you can find the Valvo Blue Label 6201 triple mica version with the doulbe getter supports, by reputation these are must be astounding- I've tried for several years but always miss them in auctions. I do have the two mica Blue label version and I would put it among the very best sounding- and versatile- 12AT7s made.

2. The Siemens triple mica E81CC is a tube that I like to energise vintage gear, it's almost agressively powerful but is never harsh in any way and that bass is fantastic: nimble and transparent. It's a 10,000 hour tube as well. A different tube from the Telefunken, but an exciting one: try it with Bach organ and Mahler. Interestingly, Siemens seems not to have been an enthusioastic gold plater of pins and except for the E88CC and E188CC, I don;t know of many small Siemens with gold pins. By the way, the Siemens tiple mica E83CC is on my short list of favourite 12AX7s as well- quite amazing.

3. Sylvania JHS, JHC 12AT7WA triple mica, black plate, square getter. I bought 6 of these 1958 military tubes 6 months ago for $6 each and it has a most amazing quality of lushness, liquidity, and depth of any 12AT7 in the list above. And they still have remarkable detail, though the bass is not as punchy as the Siemens. They're very quiet and I use these in a microphone preamp when I want that "1939 Bing Crosby" sound. The 12AT7 ws a tube Sylvania really got right. I have somtimes used 6- Sylvania triple mica black plate 5751's and 2- Sylvania triple mica 12AT7WAs in the mic pre- and it's quite amazing- my Kawai sounds like a Bosendorfer!

4. Others: In some uses, I think the GE 6201 can be effective- strong bass, slightly forward and energetic and these are still inexpensive. The Sylvania Gold Brand 6201- there are steel and gold pin versions- is different from the 12AT7WA in being more "polite" and less deep, and is still a very pleasant, balanced tube more in the line of the Philips sound. The RCA black plate 6201 seems to be often ignored but these are fine tubes, quiet, never harsh, articulate, and often very , very reasonable. I bought several of these NOS a year ago for I think $6 each in nice boxes. I really like the Telefunken ECC801S also, but in some of my uses- 60's McIntosh- it's almost too "light" for my taste- but wonderful and effortless and among the best 12AT7s.

Cheers,

Bambi B