12AX7A preamp tubes - ribbed vs smooth plate

@mike6972 Telefunken ECC803S is not a 12AX7. 

Ribbed Telefunkens are a little more open and detailed than the smooth plates. I run both in a number of preamps.

Glenn Croft (RIP) told me he used buy Telefunken ECC803S for £5.95 a pop. Now they sell for $1500+

Back in the day, you could buy old stock Tele 12ax7s for 10 bucks a piece

An amplifier modulates the power supplied. All things being equal, the better the supply, the better the sound. 

I thought rectifiers were rectifiers, nothing to do with the sound.

It was only a matter of time. Surprised it took this long. 

As I understand it, women seem to have a preference for the ribbed tubes. 😁

@whart Mullard's have no top end!

lacked the air of my preferred GEC u-52.