Factory description: Classic long plate European design with special grid plated by gold to reduce microphone interaction and noise.

My observations: This is the latest 12AX7 offering from JJ and once again it's a beautiful sounding tube. It's the longest plate 12AX7 type tube ever made. It has the same deep, tight low end that the ECC83S has but the mids in the ECC803S are even thicker and more harmonically complex than the ECC83S. The ECC803S is also a little hotter in the high end than the ECC83S. These are however not as high in gain as the JJ ECC83S. The ECC803S's are about 10% lower in gain.

This is a great tube for V1 positions or for use in all positions in vintage amps. I do not recommend them for use in the gain stages of high gain amps if you like to run your gain maxed out. All preamp tubes are microphonic it's just a matter of where the threshold is and longer plate tubes will squeal before a short plate tube will, so for real high gain amps I would stay with the ECC83S or better yet the graded high gain ECC83S's that I hand pick for high gain amps. I also do not recommend these in small combo amps where the tubes are in close proximity to the speaker.

ECC803 S Gold Pin - 12AX7

My observations: This is the newest 12AX7 variant from JJ which is a Gold Pin version of the ECC803S Long plate tube. When I spoke with Jamona at the January 2006 NAMM show we discussed the Gold Pin line and he stated that he did not want to simply gold plate the pins, he wanted to make the tube better.

Well, he did. The best way to describe the difference is to say that the Gold pin tubes are a little smoother and richer sounding. With their fat, thick tone these make great V1 tubes if smooth and rich is your desire. I don't think these will be a big hit with most Metal players who are looking for a gritty edge but they make a great Rock and Blues tube!

Once again I don't use the long plates in combo amps where the tubes are located ground zero to the speakers.

Factory description: Special grid plated by gold to reduce microphone interaction and noise.

My observations:  The ECC83S is great tube with a tight low end, a very  natural and harmonically complex mid with VERY good definition and a sweet high end that is not brittle. These tubes have very low microphonics and are great in the gain stages of high gain amps like Marshall's, Meas's and Peaveys to name a few.

The best part is that you can buy a new tube that sounds this good for one tenth the price of an NOS Telefunken.

ECC83 S Gold Pin - 12AX7

My observations: This is the newest short plate 12AX7 variant from JJ which is a Gold Pin version of the ECC83S tube. When I spoke with Jamona at the January 2006 NAMM show we discussed the Gold Pin line and as I stated above about the ECC803S he simply wanted to make the tube better.

Once again, the best way to describe the difference is to say that the Gold pin ECC83S is a little smoother and richer sounding. These make great V1 tubes in any amp if you're after a smoother and richer tone and I have quite a few customers running them in all positions which is a bit expensive but if you want the best of the best in smooth rich tone these will do it.

Factory description: Special grid plated by gold to reduce microphone interaction and noise.

My observation: Finally a good 12AT7! This tube has all the qualities of the JJ 12AX7’s. It’s very smooth in Hi-Fi and guitar amps. This tube will take the "Doink" out of your reverb too.

ECC81 Gold Pin - 12AT7

My observations: This is the newest short plate 12AT7 from JJ which is a Gold Pin version of the ECC81 tube.  This is a premium version of the ECC81 and the best way to describe the difference is to say that the Gold pin ECC81 is smoother and richer sounding. If you want the best of the best in smooth rich tone these will do it.

Factory description: Special grid plated by gold to reduce microphone interaction and noise.

My observation: Once again a world class tube. Wonderful in Hi-Fi and guitar amps. Very smooth and detailed with a great open sound.

ECC802 S Gold Pin - 12AU7

My observations: This is the newest 12AU7 variant from JJ which is a Long plate Gold Pin version of the ECC82 tube. 

The difference again is that the Gold pin tubes are a little smoother and richer sounding and the long plates have a fat, thick tone.

Once again I don't use the long plates in combo amps where the tubes are located ground zero to the speakers.

Factory description: Special grid plated by gold to reduce microphone interaction and noise.

My observation: Yes! New high quality 12DW7’s! Very nice in the old Hi-Fi gear and great in vintage Ampeg SVT’s. With NOS 12DW7’s getting more expensive by the day it’s very nice to see new production 12DW7’s of this quality. We also use this tube for gain reduction in certain positions of Fender, Mesa, Peavey and other amps that use cascaded gain circuits.

My observation: This is a premium Gold Pin version of the JJ ECC832. A great sounding tube when a rich smooth tone is needed.  

Once again we use this tube for gain reduction in certain positions of Fender, Mesa, Peavey and other amps that use cascaded gain circuits.

Factory description: A replacement of the highest quality for any EF86.

My observation: A very nice alternative to the russian EF86 tubes and sounds more like the old European EF86's. Not quite as bright as an Amperex, but slightly brighter than an NOS Mullard.

Factory description: A replacement of the highest quality for any 6DJ8, 6922 or ECC88.

My observation: An absolutely wonderful sounding tube for Hi-Fi. It has a very smooth mid and high end with incredible detail.

My observation: Simply the best of the best when it comes to 6922 tubes. This is the premium Gold Pin version of the JJ E88CC. The Gold Pin E88CC is a very rich and smooth sounding tube for any audio application. These are quickly becoming a favorite with my Presonus ADL customers.

Ever since this unique double triode from JJ was introduced back in the late 1990's it has become the tube of choice for use as a driver for power triodes like the 300B and 2A3 and in the output stage of headphone amps, preamps, CD players and small class A triode amps. Can be used in place of 5687, E182CC, 6840 and 6BL7. This tube is used in the JJ high end Hi-Fi amps.

A premium Gold Pin version of the very popular JJ ECC99. Very smooth and rich, so if you want the best of the best this is it. Can be used in place of 5687, E182CC, 6840 and 6BL7.

Factory description: Gold plated control grid for improved fidelity and a plate dissipation of up to 12 watts.

My observation: I’ve compared these to all of the classic European EL84’s, U.S. 6BQ5’s and the current Russian EL84’s. The JJ’s seem to fall right between the Philips 6BQ5’s and the Mullard EL84’s. Very smooth with a sweet chime, a very defined mid and tight punchy low end. Overall, one of the best EL84’s I’ve heard.  Mike Zaite of Dr. Z amps gave the following review of the JJ EL84 " The JJ tubes are long lasting, strong and give increased power output. This tube excels in headroom and balls. Great rock tone, punchy, with a strong attack."

The JJ EL84's were reviewed by Dick Olsher on enjoythemusic.com in a review of the Manley Labs Stingray amp where they stated the following. " The end result was a definite WOW! The sound of the Stingray was transformed into a darker and richer sonic life form."

Factory description: Gold plated control grid for improved fidelity.

My observation: This tube is as close to an NOS Mullard as you can get although I have to given mention to the Svetlana EL34. It’s very good but I like the way the JJ tubes break up better. They are very smooth and have the biggest low end of any current production EL34. I still prefer the JJ E34L for most applications simply because of it's extended low end and the fact that it's tighter and punchier. 

Factory description: Gold plated control grid for improved fidelity. Special plate alloy improves plate dissipation as compared to the standard EL34 resulting in stable performance at higher power levels.

My observation: This tube has about 20% more head room than the standard EL34 and it also has a deeper, tighter low end. The E34L is also a bit punchier and more aggressive than the standard EL34 which makes it a Great tube for Matchless, Bogner, Carvin, Peavey and all Marshall amps. I have them in one of my old SUNN heads. Incredible sound!  The E34L and the JJ KT77 are the only EL34 type tubes that I have found that will stand up to the 700 plus plate volts found in the Musicman HD 130 amps.

Factory description: Gold plated control grid for improved fidelity. Special plate alloy to improve plate dissipation. This is a hand aligned Beam power tube resulting in stable performance at higher power levels.

My observation: The story behind this tube is that it was made by JJ at my request after meeting with them. I quietly sacrificed a pair of my original GEC KT77 for them to test and then break apart (while I wasn't looking) to reverse engineer. The result is a stunning new production KT77 that has all the qualities I coveted in the original. The JJ KT77 has a slightly deeper low end than the JJ E34L and they have a nice sizzle on the top end without getting brittle and the mid range harmonic structure is very complex. The clean tone is very fat and full and the when driven to saturation the crunch has more of a chunk to it. We LOVE these in Marshall DSL's, TSL's and JVM's! (See the retube kits in the online store) They are also one of our fave's in Mesa Rectifier amps that can accommodate EL34's if you're after a British sound.

These are also great in vintage and current production Hifi applications as you can tell by some of my customer reviews.

Factory description: Gold plated control grid for improved fidelity. Special plate alloy improves performance over any 6V6. This tube has the ability to handle 450 plate volts in triode mode and 500 plate volts in pentode mode!

My observation: This tube has spectacular performance capabilities! This is truly one of the best 6V6 tubes I have ever auditioned. They have a amazing low frequency extension without getting boomy and a high end much like an RCA until they get into saturation where they are more like the old Sylvania 6V6's only fuller and a bit more focused. Absolutely wonderful in Deluxe Reverbs! 

These are also just the thing for Fender Hotrod Deluxe amps if you want less power and an earlier breakup. The JJ's can handle the plate voltages with ease!  DO NOT try this with the sovtek or the EH or new tungsol 6V6's, these are all sovtek tubes and cannot handle the higher plate voltages.

Factory description: Gold plated control grid for improved fidelity.

My observation: Finally a real 7591! This tube will out perform most all original 7591's and is a drop in replacement.

Factory description: Special plate alloy material and gold plated control grid. Plate dissipation of up to 30 watts. Heavy gauge glass. Best sounding 6L6 ever made replacing all 6L6/5881 tubes in all applications.

My observations: This tube is a work of art! And it sounds as good as it looks. The lows are deep, big and round. The mids are very harmonically rich and natural while the highs are thick, creamy and very detailed. This is the tube for Peavey, Fender, Mesa, Soldano, Bogner ect. I have run these tubes in place of 7027A’s in the old Ampeg gear at 600 plate volts with no problem.  I also stock the JJ 7027A for you guys that just have to have them.

Factory description: Gold plated control grid for improved fidelity. Special plate alloy to improve plate dissipation. This is a hand aligned Beam power tube resulting in stable performance at higher power levels.

My observation: These are a wonderful addition to the JJ line and it's great to finally have a real new production KT66 that has all of the sonic qualities of the original! A very thick and rich sound with lots of harmonic complexity and a wonderfully smooth breakup when driven into saturation. These are killer in the Dr Z RT 66. We have been sending these to Mike at Z for a while now and he loves them! We are also using these in Mesa Dual and Triple Rec's all by themselves and in combination with KT88's and 6L6GC's. We have researched the proper grades to get the bias right where is should be with no bias mod. You can find kits in the online store!

Factory description: Has more power, a wider frequency response and dynamic range than any other KT88/6550 on the market. Gold plated control grid for improved fidelity. Specially designed heat dispersion wings on the plate add more performance, stability and allow plate dissipation up to 50 watts.

My observations: THIS TUBE IS THE BOMB!! I have these tubes in most of my old SUNN gear. They are extremely thick and rich sounding with no loss of high end like the chinese made KT88’s. Any amp using 6550’s will come to life using the JJ KT88’s. You want THUNDER from your vintage Ampeg SVT? Then this is your tube. You guys with 800 series Marshalls and mid to late 70's Mark II series Marshalls using 6550’s these are a drop in replacement just rebias and play! See the photo of two 800’s one with JJ E34L’s and one with JJ KT88’s in the tube substitution section.( Photo’s courtesy of long time friend Jim Songer. )

Factory description: Special plate alloy material and improved design for better performance, stability and life. 

My observations: This is a great rectifier tube for the little 20 watt Marshall's or any other small guitar or Hifi amp that uses a 6CA4. The same great JJ quality that we are all used to.

Factory description: Special plate alloy material and improved design for better performance, stability and life. 

My observations: This tube is as close as it gets the old Mullard GZ34 that we all know and love! In fact the plate construction looks to be almost identical to my large base Mullards with the straight edge plates. I've been using these in all my old SUNN amps now for over a year with great results. They seem to know just when to give in to get that wonderful rectifier sag. I also use these in Mesa Dual and Triple Rectifier amps in place of the stock 5U4's to get a little less sag but to maintain that rectifier sound. A perfect tube to replace the chinese or sovtek 5AR4's that we have all grown to dislike so much... The JJ GZ34 will get  your Deluxe sounding like a vintage amp.

Factory description: Plate dissipation up to 40 watts gold plated control grid, heavy gauge glass and support rods with thicker alloy plate, ceramic base.

This tube is an absolute wonder. It's detail is even better than the 300B which I thought was impossible... Very warm and liquid sounding. I loaned a pair to David Bardes for a review he was doing on 2A3 amps for Vacuum Tube Valley magazine so he could compare them to the chinese 2A3's and after trying them they remained in the amps for the remainder of his review simply because there was no comparison, the JJ 2A3 was hands down a far superior tube.

Factory description: Plate dissipation up to 40 watts gold plated control grid, heavy gauge glass and support rods with thicker alloy plate, ceramic base. A directly heated tube with real magic performance.

Very detailed and smooth. Customer feed back on these tubes has been extremely positive. I have done a lot of A/B listening with the Sovtek and Svetlana 300B’s in my JJ 322 amp and the JJ’s are very up front and pure compared to them.