(10 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5)
Loading...“The ‘holy grail’ of NOS preamp tubes. I’d never heard one of these before, so I was interested to see what all the fuss was about, and I wasn’t disappointed. This tube gave a very warm and open clean tone, which was also very harmonically rich, with a lot of very nice ‘chimey’ overtones. Plenty of headroom to be had here. …” Read
NOS Millard and Reissue Dissection 🙂
The Mullard 12AX7 Short Plate is truly a fantastic find. Having auditioned several high-end tubes recently, this particular vintage valve stands out as a top-tier performer. Sonically, it is both strikingly clear and remarkably warm, striking a balance that few modern reissues can replicate.
The most impressive attribute is how it alters the emotional delivery of the music; the singer’s performance takes on a relaxed, effortless quality. Listening to this tube is like enjoying a sunny afternoon with a cup of English tea and cookies—it delivers the music in vivid, “shiny” colors while remaining perfectly well-rounded across the frequency spectrum.
The Evolution: Long Plates vs. Short Plates
In the world of vintage 12AX7/ECC83 tubes, you will often see a distinction between “Long Plate” and “Short Plate” versions. This change wasn’t just aesthetic; it was a response to the technical demands of evolving electronics.
Long Plates: These were the earlier designs. The larger surface area of the plates often resulted in a larger soundstage and deeper bass response. However, the physical length made them highly susceptible to microphonics—a phenomenon where the tube acts like a microphone and picks up physical vibrations, causing a ringing, distortion or howling sound.
Short Plates: Manufacturers like Mullard moved to the short plate design around 1960s to increase structural integrity. By shortening the internal elements, the tube became much more rigid and less prone to vibration. This made them the superior choice for high-gain guitar combos and portable equipment where mechanical stability was essential.
While some audiophiles still prefer the “boldness” of the long plates, the short plates are celebrated for their lower noise floor, reduced microphonics, and creamy, mid-focused punch.
Final Verdict: A must-have for anyone seeking that quintessential British warmth. It provides a “creamy” presentation that tames harsh highs without sacrificing clarity, making it one of the most reliable and musical NOS tubes ever produced.
One of my favorite 12AX7 tubes. The Mullard box plate is my hands down favorite 12AX7 Mullard, but these tubes are that quintessential vintage Marshall sound just not quite as much as the long plate version. The tones are a tad softer and almost like a very smooth creaminess is poured over a nice staging and presentation. They worked great in my Orange Hustler 100 watt combo, & other hi power combos. I also find they work well as hi fi & stereo. I have used them in compressors, expandors, phono preamps, & a Marantz model 7 based DIY custom to go with two model 9s. As a fist stage they are awesome in combo amps for guitar or bass. The short plates will take the vibration with little or no issues. I used to pick these up cheap untested and take my chances, but those days are gone it seems. Now even marginal tubes sell at high prices. These are one of the finest you can get for vintage UK made combo guitar amps! If 100 watts into a small box with a speaker holding the tubes won’t make these howl, ring or squeal they are indeed a wonderful valve, & they still have that vintage JTM-JMC tone.