“They are beautiful sounding tubes, extremely well balanced from top to bottom, very warm and detailed with a lot of air.”
” It is a great sounding tube, with wonderful air and detail. ”
Tube Maze
Guides and reviews of vacuum tubes and audio equipment
GE has finally delivered a winner with these 12AX7 long gray plates, which stand out as a significant upgrade over current production tubes. While they may not reach the legendary heights of the 5751 Black Plates, they offer a far superior sound at an unbelievable price point of roughly $5 per tube, which is half the cost of modern alternatives. It is important to note that these don’t quite sit in the same tier as RCA long plates, largely due to that signature GE sharpness in the mid to high frequency range. While this can make instruments like acoustic guitars sound a bit more aggressive, the effect is thankfully very slight in this particular model. They are a massive improvement over their short plate counterparts.
* Value: Incredible at $5 per tube, easily beating modern production prices
* Sound Profile: Better clarity than current tubes, though with a hint of GE’s trademark high-end sharpness
* Comparison: Superior to the short plate version, but trailing behind RCA long plates in smoothness
Final Verdict: An absolute steal for the price, these tubes are a highly recommended budget-friendly upgrade for anyone looking to move beyond stock current production glass.