Tung-Sol NN099-G Tube 12AX7/ECC803S

This tube is definitely what you need if you're looking to slightly kill the harshness in the higher frequencies and expand the dynamic range of your amp at peaking volumes. Out of my experience, most amps come with some generic tubes that will get the job done - but once you want to cross into the territory of attempting high fidelity live or studio sound, they tend to disappoint when really pushed.

This is where the NN099-G comes in. It doesn't only slightly expand the scope of each of the gain stages - it also increases the response and sensitivity of your guitar's volume knob and on top of this, it also pushes the amp in a harder but more elegant way. In all the amps I've tested it in, and it's been quite some time of experimentation by now, it seemed to kill all the buzz/fizz that the amps would have at high volumes and on top of this, the responsive feel of the amp would be even greater. Imagine putting a clean boost in front of your amp of some 7-8 dB while also having an EQ somewhere in there that slightly cuts that overbearing presence most tube amps reach when both the volume and the gain knobs are pushed really high. What do you get? A sound in which the weight of your fretting and picking makes an even bigger difference but in which it's almost impossible to get an overload of any unpleasant frequencies at high volumes.

If you gig or record regularly and you're always trying to find that tone where the gain isn't quite Death Metal high, but the sound actually responds to even the lightest touch, and it's all in the realm of 100 dB or more when being played. Couldn't recommend it more for such use really, and will definitely be buying them again.

Incredible! OK, the old pre amp tubes were hissing, loosing volume, tone, and generally sounding dead, but these ones are better even than when the Harmonix ones were new.

Clarity, sensitivity, crunch, power. Finger tapping, picking, these tubes respond beautifully, with real chewy tone you can get your teeth into.

Makes you want to play even more, you get such a great vibe back off them!

Used in VK 212 with R100 mod.

Have only been using the tube for a couple weeks now, and so far so good.

Used it to replace the first preamp tube in my HRDlx. The sound is warm and clear.

Practitioners of guitar voodoo will tell you they improve your tone, allow you to walk upside down, speak in tongues and give you untold powers of the mind.

Though the reverse of these things certainly didn't happen, I didn't experience any profound changes after the swap.

Perhaps they will develop with time!