12AX7 Tube - History?

[Fusioninspace]

I've been a big fan of the ART MP in my recording chain. And I notice that every self-respecting tube amp has at least one 12AX7 tube in the pre-amp.

Does anyone have any good stories/history about this tube? Everyone talks about the early LPs, Strats, Fender/Marshall amps, etc.

Isn't it time we give this little glass vacuum tube some appreciation on this board?????

I mean really, where would we be sonically without this guy?

Could THIS be the true sonic cornerstone of all modern music?

Hmmmmm.... Who developed this thing? GE? Magnavox?

Just curious...

 

[PFDarkside]

I can tell you that it was an evolution from other tubes (bearing some sort of "12" moniker) but the only thing it's really "good" for is guitar. It's the most distorting tube in it's class. Other than that, I'll let the tube experts fill ya in.

 

[Fusioninspace]

That's interesting about the distortion/guitar use comment. I tend to agree with you.

What got me though, was I was tearing through an old tape recorder of my brother's from the 60's. It had the 12AX7 in there also!

Has anyone ever done a side by side of the various flavors of the 12AX7?