Where can I find a NOS RFT 12AX7 tube?

[Seanboy]

Does anyone know of a store that sells this tube? Looking for a store here in the US. I searched on EBay, all of the sellers were outside of the US, I'm a little nervous to buy through ebay from someone outside of the US.

Does anyone here on the forum have one they would sell?

Thanks
Sean

 

[kdorsey]

I bought mine from a guy in Ukraine and the deal went perfectly. Whatever you do, buy a pair of them so you have a spare...just in case.

 

[Seanboy]

Okay.... Kind of dumb question, is RFT a brand? Or does it stand for something? I found a local guy who is selling some Sylvania 12AX7's and he also has some RCA 12AX7's. are they good? How would they compare to the RFT?

 

[JOEY B.]

http://www.tubemonger.com/RFT_NOS_ECC83_12AX7_E_Germany_Great_Guitar_Tube_p/552.htm

 

[Seanboy]

How much difference would there be between a Tungsol 12AX7 and the RFT? Is it worth paying $50 for the RFT?

 

[JOEY B.]

How much difference would there be between a Tungsol 12AX7 and the RFT? Is it worth paying $50 for the RFT?

Tone is in the ears of the beholder. That is a loaded question, for sure. :|

 

[Seanboy]

I guess I should have asked my question a little more clear. My mark III no stripe is too bright and fizzy for my liking. I'd like to darken it up just a little. How will the tung-sol affect the sound vs the RFT?

 

[mesaboogie6L6]

I have 3 RFT's in my Mesa, and one RCA, RFT's were made in East Germany. I don't like Tungsol (reissue) at all, or ANY chinese tube. I have heard good things about Sylvania. Do some research, then buy some and experiment. The RFT is a darker sounding tube, Tungsol (reissue) not so much.

JOEY B. is right, it might sound good to you in your amp and not to someone else's, it might be worth $50 to you and not to someone else...........

I don't buy off Ebay much, don't really trust it at all, it's a gamble for sure.

I do trust Tubemonger though...............I have asked him some questions on RFT's, and he knows his tubes.

 

[snorkel54]

I have ordered a pair from Russia, I'm keeping my fingers crossed :-D

 

[JOEY B.]

I guess I should have asked my question a little more clear. My mark III no stripe is too bright and fizzy for my liking. I'd like to darken it up just a little. How will the tung-sol affect the sound vs the RFT?

Why didn't you say this to begin with? The C30 mod or the III+ mod will do the trick. Don't bother buying NOS preamp tubes until you try these mods. 8)

 

[Seanboy]

I guess I should have asked my question a little more clear. My mark III no stripe is too bright and fizzy for my liking. I'd like to darken it up just a little. How will the tung-sol affect the sound vs the RFT?

Why didn't you say this to begin with? The C30 mod or the III+ mod will do the trick. Don't bother buying NOS preamp tubes until you try these mods. 8)

I've got all the parts to do the C30 mod, and I've got a great tech that builds amps that says he can do it, just been hesitant to do the mod. What if I don't like it? Can it be reversed? I'm just a little nervous to do it. I'm also going to have him do the R2 volume mod too.

 

[JOEY B.]

I've got all the parts to do the C30 mod, and I've got a great tech that builds amps that says he can do it, just been hesitant to do the mod. What if I don't like it? Can it be reversed? I'm just a little nervous to do it.

Anything can be reversed, if need be. I don't think you will be unhappy with the mod. There is a reason for the revisions(Stripes) of the Mark III, think about it a bit.

 

[mesaboogie6L6]

What would this mod do for my blue stripe Coli?

 

[Seanboy]

I've got another question, do all three mods ( C27, C30 and the C516) need to be done to be classified as the "+" mod? I'm not sure that I want to do all three, I want to do the C30 for sure, would I be better off doing all 3?

 

[kdorsey]

There is always subjectivity in tube tone, but it's probably safe to say, an NOS RFT tube is considered much darker than a modern Tungsol. Old gray plate RCAs from the '50s are similar to RFT, to me, but the breakup of the RFT is much more 'powerful'. In my green stripe - which already has most/all of the mods you've listed - ch3 was still too bright and the RFT in V3 tamed it without changing the character of ch1 and ch2.

 

[phyrexia]

I have some RFTs, they're great.

 

[Seanboy]

I ordered one yesterday to put in V3, can't wait for it to arrive, so I can give it a try!

 

[Seanboy]

The RFT arrived today
Should I put it in V1 or V3? Which will help tame the brightness the most?
Next question.... I know which position is V1, but not sure about V3, do they go in order?

Thanks,
Sean

 

[mesaboogie6L6]

Start with V1, then switch it to V3, let your ears decide. Yes they go in order, V1 is closest to the input jack of course.

 

[Seanboy]

I started out with it in V3, definitely tamed the brightness A LOT, I think I'll keep it in V3 for a day or so, then put it in V1 and see which way I like it the best.