Just won some "fisher" branded 12ax7's on ebay. ID?

[pimpsmurf]

Those are the ones. I hope the image shows up ok.

They are yellow labels, and I can't make out the "Made in" on the labels. Was sorta surfing and won them unexpectedly without asking questions.

Hopefully I didn't get burned for $100, but if they test good, I don't expect they could be worth less than $20 ea.

 

[212Mavguy]

I saw that same auction and was tempted, but the pic did not show what I was looking for as far as being able to do a positive ID...so I passed. When they show up, take some pics of your own and post them if you can. There are at least a few persons around here that can ID pretty quickly regardless of what is printed on the outside of the bottle...

 

[pimpsmurf]

Yeah, I will definately do that. I lost the auction for the lot of blackplates a couple hours before that this was a rebound bid. Didn't expect to get um. haha

Either way, I will try to ID them and post photos if I can't. The Yellow lettering is something I can't find in a "The Fisher" tube, which is why I thought maybe someone would know.

Thanks man.

BTW, I think they are made in America, so they can't be BAD unless they are BAD imo. This is my first NOS tube purchase so I have no idea what I'm looking for.

 

[crane]

The fisher is an old company making tube hi-fi systems.
They labelled their tubes with their logo, and it seems to be the one on yours !

 

[pimpsmurf]

OK, are Fisher and The Fisher one and the same? Fisher rebranded other makes of tubes apparently. Basically all NOS tubes. They are US, and I am guessing RCA. Don't look like GE's (not seeing any etching.

Well, maybe they will get here next week or the week after and I'll test them and put up pictures. Next time I'll know what I'm buying. Haha. I am thinking about getting a NOS GE blackplate 12ax7 or 5751 3 mica. *shrug*

 

[212Mavguy]

These should be great sounding tubes. I have seen tons of white printed "The Fisher" tubes that were rebranded Telefunken smooth plate 12ax7's on eBay, but the yellow printing on these is less common... That company's HIFI stuff was pretty top end in quality.

 

[pimpsmurf]

These should be great sounding tubes. I have seen tons of white printed "The Fisher" tubes that were rebranded Telefunken smooth plate 12ax7's on eBay, but the yellow printing on these is less common... That company's HIFI stuff was pretty top end in quality.

Yeah, if they indeed are Made in USA (which is appears they are) and if they test good, then I think I did good. Based on his (weak) tester, 2 test very high and the other 4 test good. I don't know what to expect, but I will test them before I give feedback. Dude makes thousands (litterally) and should be expected to calibrate his tester if he is going to post numbers.

I've not seen any yellow print Fisher branded before, but apparently they used just about every manufacturer, so when I get them I'll post pics for curiosity's sake.

 

[212Mavguy]

Crappy tester is normal situation for eBay sellers, rather, make sure it works in the amp. Tube testers generally don't predict performance in circuit all that well for preamp tubes, especially the "emission" type testers. I have a Raytheon long black plate rectangular getter tube that sounds awesome in circuit, but it tests in the high 30's where 50 is good in my Hickok! And testers in general are worse at predictiong performance of power tubes! Even the ones that test ast high voltage such as the Maxi-matcher only test at one specific voltage. The response of a power tube pair relative to one another can vary quite a bit within a voltage operating range in possible b+ values, what tests out even at 400 volts might not be as even at 300 or 500.

IMO About the only thing one should hold a vintage tube ebay seller liable for is a dud tube or something grossly not meeting description, different testers give different results for the same tube. Nature of the thang. There is a reason to ask questions before auction closes. Caveat emptor. The view of the tubes is crappy in the pic, but I would not be surprised if they turned out to be Tung Sol or Raytheon long gray plate. Either is wonderful in tone compared to almost anything made today.

 

[pimpsmurf]

Crappy tester is normal situation for eBay sellers, rather, make sure it works in the amp. Tube testers generally don't predict performance in circuit all that well for preamp tubes, especially the "emission" type testers. I have a Raytheon long black plate rectangular getter tube that sounds awesome in circuit, but it tests in the high 30's where 50 is good in my Hickok! And testers in general are worse at predictiong performance of power tubes! Even the ones that test ast high voltage such as the Maxi-matcher only test at one specific voltage. The response of a power tube pair relative to one another can vary quite a bit within a voltage operating range in possible b+ values, what tests out even at 400 volts might not be as even at 300 or 500.

IMO About the only thing one should hold a vintage tube ebay seller liable for is a dud tube or something grossly not meeting description, different testers give different results for the same tube. Nature of the thang. There is a reason to ask questions before auction closes. Caveat emptor. The view of the tubes is crappy in the pic, but I would not be surprised if they turned out to be Tung Sol or Raytheon long gray plate. Either is wonderful in tone compared to almost anything made today.

testing close to max (or > max ala telefunken) as these did, and they get here and test under 40% means he is just making **** up. That is the only reason I would leave bad feedback. Non-functioning tubes or sound/test dud.

I'm not a dick, but I do expect honesty when I'm spending enough cash to feed an African family for a few months.

I agree though, I expect that whatever they are, they are epic, provided they are still alive, which I expect they are. I think I will be very happy, and will probably end up buying more NOS tubes (need el84s bad, but matching pairs are hard to come by)

 

[212Mavguy]

Whily you are looking for el84's on fleabay, check out 6p14p-ev. Russian mil stock, beefiest el84 out there, and dirt cheap with serious tone. Rated for 5000 hours...

 

[pimpsmurf]

Whily you are looking for el84's on fleabay, check out 6p14p-ev. Russian mil stock, beefiest el84 out there, and dirt cheap with serious tone. Rated for 5000 hours...

Haven't heard them, but they are designed for 400v (edit: 500? wow), so I believe that means a no go for me. They are a very clean tube (some call it too sterile) and I live in the saturated metal area. I have even considered the new sensor mullard reissues.

I think NOS is where I need to be, but I'll probably end up with a set of Mullard reissues first. I am running JJ now, which were great for a while, and maybe they will be better when I get the dampers I ordered (combo amp. )

I dislike the sound I'm getting now. I'm not sure what it is, but the tubes are kinda sterile at low volume, and when I push it with my solid metal pedal they end up with a weird growling background noise that overcomes the sustain. Sound clean if I stay away from my low B string, but when I don't, it gets fruity.

Anyways, I've not read any good reviews of the 6p14p-ev and I don't think they are the ticket (plus I can't find matched pairs in the US for under $30 anyway.)

 

[pimpsmurf]

Whily you are looking for el84's on fleabay, check out 6p14p-ev. Russian mil stock, beefiest el84 out there, and dirt cheap with serious tone. Rated for 5000 hours...

OK, now I'm glad you mentioned it. I guess I will give them a shot before the reissue's/nos!

Thanks man

 

[bigpine]

I have a vintage "The Fisher" in my home set up. It has tubes with those markings. Look at the bottom of the tube, does it have a diamond in the glass? If so they are Telefunken! My sound great in my home stereo with Mesa El-84's. Never tried them in any guitar amps. They are well worth what you paid as long as there not noisy.

 

[212Mavguy]

On that 6p14p-ev, rating is 400 volts (7189 type voltage rating) you might be shocked at how good they sound when pushed into distortion. Yes, I've read that blurb on them at Watford Valves, and also gotten some anyway, but not from them. They do have a lot of headroom, but their distorted tone is very fat for an el84 type, good for mid scooped high gain sounds, and if you decide to cut back on the bass 2-3 notches the harmonics more easily bloom out of them at lower gain settings. I have a choice between several brands of el84's in quads to stick on my Mav, talking top end military, euro or US, Mullards too, and these 6p14p-ev aren't getting kicked out of my amp by anything else.

BUT... one man's cup of tea can be another's arsenic...
:wink:

That's why I just bought my vintage tubes a bit and a time and now have a few hundred, and I don't need no stinkin' reviews, I have my stable of amps for test equipment and let my own ears decide, it's my tones...and I learned FAR more from the experiences than the written word from another. That privelege was worth every penny I spent.

Speaking of Telefunkens, I had an ebay seller forget to ship me an auction for about a month, when I wrote him a polite note last week asking him what happened, he fessed up, shipped my auction, and included an telefunken 12ax7 smooth plate and a telefunken 12at7 as "interest."

Peace.

 

[pimpsmurf]

I have a vintage "The Fisher" in my home set up. It has tubes with those markings. Look at the bottom of the tube, does it have a diamond in the glass? If so they are Telefunken! My sound great in my home stereo with Mesa El-84's. Never tried them in any guitar amps. They are well worth what you paid as long as there not noisy.

I believe these are labeled "made in USA", but I could be wrong. I'll post pics when they finally here. I expect I'll be happy. If I am happy with 2 of them, I'll still be happy. haha

On that 6p14p-ev, rating is 400 volts (7189 type voltage rating) you might be shocked at how good they sound when pushed into distortion. Yes, I've read that blurb on them at Watford Valves, and also gotten some anyway, but not from them. They do have a lot of headroom, but their distorted tone is very fat for an el84 type, good for mid scooped high gain sounds, and if you decide to cut back on the bass 2-3 notches the harmonics more easily bloom out of them at lower gain settings. I have a choice between several brands of el84's in quads to stick on my Mav, talking top end military, euro or US, Mullards too, and these 6p14p-ev aren't getting kicked out of my amp by anything else.

BUT... one man's cup of tea can be another's arsenic...
:wink:

Well that is interesting. I hadn't seen the watford valves review, but as people parrot a lot I probably did. haha. I do a lot of mid scooping via EQ, Solid Metal's built in EQ, and my amp EQ, so this might be the best piece of info I've read! haha

That's why I just bought my vintage tubes a bit and a time and now have a few hundred, and I don't need no stinkin' reviews, I have my stable of amps for test equipment and let my own ears decide, it's my tones...and I learned FAR more from the experiences than the written word from another. That privelege was worth every penny I spent.

Oh how I wish I could do that. My 7 month old little boy has cut my music budget by so much it pains me. haha. Playing on 2 month old JJ's now. :X

Speaking of Telefunkens, I had an ebay seller forget to ship me an auction for about a month, when I wrote him a polite note last week asking him what happened, he fessed up, shipped my auction, and included an telefunken 12ax7 smooth plate and a telefunken 12at7 as "interest."

Peace.

Wow.

 

[pimpsmurf]

Found them at Triode Electronics Inc Online http://store.triodestore.com/

$20 a matched pair, in the US. Awsome!

I threw a JJ ECC83S on the order just to test against my GT12ax7-C (high gain chinesse tubes, which I actually like.) and the NOS tubes I just bought.

Happy days.

 

[pimpsmurf]

OK guys, this is where I'm at.

I believe the Conn labeled RCA Blackplate is a longplate. If so, the Fisher labeled (made in USA) are grey long plates.

The RCA sounds much better than any of the fishers, although two of the fishers have VERY high gain. Definitely a noticeable difference, although it's less so with the two that test extremely high. Two of the Fisher tubes are noisy.

I got high res pictures of the tubes. I'm posting lower res versions unless the high res is needed.

I am guessing they aren't GE based on the lack of an etched 12ax7. There is a grey font near the top of the tube that says:
"12AX7
U.S.A"

What do you guys think?

 

[212Mavguy]

There's only one thing to think:

Sylvania long grayplate, that's exactly what they are. Sylvania long grayplate are consistently among the very highest gain of any 12ax7 ever made. My preference is for the ones with yellow Sylvania labeling and say 12ax7 ecc83 7025, those three designations are etched stacked on top of each other with USA etched vertically along the side of the stacked designations. Despite their stout construction, they can become pretty microphonic after a lot of use. Huge bottom and bright top. They do the mid scoop thang well.

 

[pimpsmurf]

There's only one thing to think:

Sylvania long grayplate, that's exactly what they are. Sylvania long grayplate are consistently among the very highest gain of any 12ax7 ever made. My preference is for the ones with yellow Sylvania labeling and say 12ax7 ecc83 7025, those three designations are etched stacked on top of each other with USA etched vertically along the side of the stacked designations. Despite their stout construction, they can become pretty microphonic after a lot of use. Huge bottom and bright top. They do the mid scoop thang well.

You are the MAN! Thank you so much for that. I've never been more satisfied with a purchase! Just what I needed.