Lesson in Tube Rolling:: My confirmed need for "air on top" via 12au7 ECC82 5814a tubes

I thought that I would share something that I learned in my first 90 days of tube rolling. 

I knew and still know that I don't like harsh treble.  I thought NOS Mullard CV4003s would be perfect for me.  I realized, though, that the very quality I like about them I also do not like about them--they are laid back and mellow.  But, when I move to other tubes, e.g. RCAs, Ciftes, Amperex, GE, of the same tube equivalent I feel they may be a bit too forward.  

I don't really know much but what I know is that I need a touch of air on top.  The Ciftes and RCAs helped but if I went to a full bay of those it became too bright or top end extended.  And, just as with the Mullards, what I liked about the Ciftes and RCAs was exactly what came to tire me.  

I'm happy to find that mixing preamp tubes seems to do the trick.  If I run 2-4 Mullards with 2 Ciftes (6 preamp tubes total) in the front slots of my amp it adjusts the tone just right.  

This may not be a revelation for advanced tube rollers. It is, however, reassuring because I am able to get very much closer to the tone that I want in my mind's eye (or mind's ear), and I still hear value in the various NOS tubes that I bought. 

As an aside, these experiments worked so well that now I have faith in some reissue Mullard EL34s again and when I swap back in my Gold Lion KT88s, I may go 4/6 Mullard to chill things out a bit.  

I hope this helps other novice tube rollers.  

PS  I would like to try some NOS Brimars to see what kind of air and extension they put on top.  If I roll 4/6 tubes with Ciftes it starts to get to be too much.