short plate Mullards vs long plate Mullards

[El Chiguete]

So Rnolan has made us look in to the new Mullards and I will buy them in the next few weeks I hope, but I'm still confused if you are talking of the short plates or the long plates? What difference should you explect between them?

[Systematic Chaos]

AFAIK the Mullard Reissue 12AX7/ECC83 RNolan was talking about are the Long Plate versions....
I recommended them 3 years ago on the old forum since I had fantastic results with them in both ADA MP preamps and my Triaxis.
The short plate Mullards (CV4004 Reissue) are a new tube that I´ve yet to check out.

Although in general long plate tube designs tend to be microphonic in Hi-Gain preamp stages (JJ ECC803 e.g.) this was/is not the case with the long plate Mullard reissues. I got a (subjective) fuller/richer and more 3D kinda sound with them....but give them some hours to burn-in.

I also recommended them to Dante for the gain stages in his Boogie DC-5.....

Another tube I can really recommend is the Tube-Town TT E83CC
A very full an rich sounding tube with a nice low end and a smooth top end plus more gain than a JJ ECC83 Hi-Gain labelled tube.

[rnolan]

Hey El, as SC says my direct experience is with the long plates as the short plates are more recent than when SC and I embarked on our "tube" discovery. He went MP1, I went MP2 and we both loved the result so IMHO you can't go wrong with the long plates MP1 or 2.  For super high gain sounds, the short plates may be better as short plate = less microphonics (I've not had any problems with the long plates, but for 3TM makes sense), I've yet to hear them (SPs) though to compare the 3D and depth, from the patches you've been posting, go with the long plates, you won't be disappointed, they are great tubes  :thumb-up:

[MarshallJMP]

Does anybody know a store where you can find the short plate mullards?

[Systematic Chaos]

Tube Depot has them....

[MarshallJMP]

Do you know any european stores that sell these?

[Systematic Chaos]

Checked with TAD and Tube Town (homepages)....you might wanna inquire with Dirk Munzinger at Tube-town.net directly, he´s a super-uber-cool dude and might be able to get hold of these....

I suspect though that it´s still a (C) or (R) issue in Europe because they market it with the CV4004 addition to the tube name ;-) 

[MarshallJMP]

I've been looking for these at the usual stores but it seems nobody has them,which is too bad.Problem is those damn import costs.

[Systematic Chaos]

Best bet is as mentioned above....mail Dirk at Tube-Town

[trader144]

 Systematic Chaos

Can I get the specific tube town 12ax7 you are referring to in the U.S.?

I didn't see any US sellers

[rnolan]

Hey MJMP, dougs have the shortplates in stock (http://www.dougstubes.com/preamp-tubes/12ax7-ecc83-7025/mullard-cv4004-12ax7.html) and so does Evatco (http://evatco.com.au/product-list/audio-tubes/mullard-cv400412ax7/) in Australia (dougs are a bit cheaper I think).  Seems the long plates are a bit hard to find just now though.

[MarshallJMP]

yes i saw it,a bit cheaper then tubedepot also.

[MarshallJMP]

Found a store in Holland that sells both the short and long plate mullards.Just in case someone is interested.

http://www.tonefactory.nl/buizen-amp-parts/buizen/mullard

[rnolan]

Good selection, I'm thinking for your 3TM you'd want matched and balanced short plates ?

[MarshallJMP]

Well some one dropped of a JCM800 super bass for retubing and he wanted mullards so i will order a few for me while i'm at it.Saves me some shipping cost.