12BH7

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jgab
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12BH7

Post by jgab »

Hi,
I was wondering if it is difficult to build a small watt amplifier with 12BH7 tubes in the power section? Are they commonly used as power tubes in small wattage amplifiers?
Here is a video I found where a person used a 12BH7 in the power section.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8EClEpN8gI


Can a person use them in a preamp section? Can they safely be subbed for a 12ax7? I have built a Lite 2b. Will trying a 12BH7 in the preamp hurt my amplifier? If I can try a 12BH7, what should I expect for volume, tone, gain, etc..?

I don't see much documented about this tube.

Thanks,
Jason
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zaphod_phil
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Post by zaphod_phil »

A 12BH7 isn't remotely a good sub for a 12AX7. They have very little gain and sink a lot of current. Sometimes you find them used as power tubes in low power amps, as also with 12AU7s or 6SN7s. There's a schematic kicking around for a 1.8Wish version of the 18W Lite II, using a 12AU7, which a 12BH7 could also be used in.
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Nature abhors a clean tube amp

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