Telefunken 12AX7/ECC83 – Smooth or Ribbed Plates

If you're searching for the finest 12AX7 tube, look no further than the NOS Telefunken 12AX7/ECC83. These vintage originals, expertly crafted in Germany, are widely regarded as some of the best preamp tubes ever made for both guitar amplifiers and hi-fi systems, delivering unparalleled tone, clarity, and unmatched quality—making them a top choice for audiophiles and musicians alike.

• Smooth Plate: Known as the “King of Cream,” this version delivers a warm, smooth, and well-balanced tone with effortless clarity and a natural feel. Its refined character ensures rich harmonics and depth without ear fatigue, making it perfect for extended listening or playing sessions.
  

• Ribbed Plate: Versatile and dynamic, perfect for both guitar amps and high-fidelity audio applications where warmth and clarity are desired. 

Free Tube Matching
Order any quantity, and we’ll match your tubes for free to ensure optimal performance.

With a reputation for its legendary sound quality, the Telefunken 12AX7 is in high demand. Our stock is limited, so act fast! While we strive to provide original boxes when available, many vintage tubes were shipped in bulk packaging. We guarantee the performance of all our tubes, and each one is thoroughly tested on multiple industry-standard testers. If for any reason your tube doesn’t perform as expected, we offer a full refund.

Need help deciding what tubes are best for you?

Use our plate cheat sheet and vacuum tube buyers guide to determine which tubes are best for you. Likewise, you are welcome to reach out to us directly at Support@FuzzAudio.com or by using our chat located on our shop page if you have further questions.

If you’re particular about an original box or a specific logo, please reach out before purchasing.

• NOS (New Old Stock) Tubes – Genuine vintage tubes that are unused and in excellent cosmetic condition, showing little to no signs of handling. Some may still have original logos and packaging, but due to age, logo wear is common.

• ANOS (Almost New Old Stock) Tubes – Lightly used tubes that test like NOS but may show minor signs of wear, such as faint use marks, missing logos, or slightly bent pins. These tubes are fully functional and often a more affordable option than true NOS.

• Test NOS Tubes – Used tubes that still meet NOS performance standards, offering full operational life at a lower cost. While they may have noticeable cosmetic wear, such as faded logos, worn bases, or slight discoloration, these imperfections do not affect tone or performance. Perfect for players who prioritize function over aesthetics.

Logos: Vintage tubes have a wide variety of logos printed on them. It is not uncommon to see a Mullard made tube with an RCA or GE logo, or a GE made tube with a Mullard logo. Your tube may come with a logo such are Heath Kit, Baldwin, Fisher, Hammond, Magnavox, Fender, Gibson, Silvertone, etc. but the true manufacturer of that tube will be correct to your order. If you are looking for a specific logo please reach out before purchase.

Our Standards:

• All tubes are tested for microphonics and are guaranteed to work in sensitive audio applications
• All tubes sold are guaranteed to have strong (to spec) NOS test scores with 100% life
• All tubes are tested on a calibrated Hickok 539C, Maxi-Matcher, E-Tracer or other industry standard tube analyzers
• Tubes are guaranteed for one year and can be returned within 30 days
• Preamp tubes matched by gain and mutual conductance (Gm)
• Power tubes matched by mA and Gm

Don’t forget to email Support@fuzzaudio.com or reach out to us via chat if you need help picking out valves for your device.