6L6 (and related) pecking order?

skeksis · June 8th, 2008, 04:01 PM

Best to worst, any thoughts on 6L6's? I've been using smaller amps for years, just built a 6L6 based amp... want to know which are better/worse quality and better/worse values. Old stock and/or new? What do y'all like? Just wondering what's the wisdom, once you get beyond "RCA's are good, Chinese aren't..."

Also, what are common drop-in replacements in the 6L6 family?

woodman · June 8th, 2008, 04:06 PM

to me, NOS are worth the extra bucks. i've had a lot of luck with the Philips 6L6WGB's ... sort of like a 5881, which is a drop-in replacement, but more rare and expensive. the Philips are considerably less than RCAs. in new tubes, a lot of guys speak well of the JJ line.

sjhusting · June 8th, 2008, 04:24 PM

For new production, I like SED (Winged C), then Shugang short-bottles , in that order. YMMV

steven

Wayne Alexander · June 8th, 2008, 04:50 PM

If you want sparkle and tend to the loud/cleaner spectrum, NOS RCA 6L6 at the top and NOS GE 6L6 second. For dirtier, earlier breakup, NOS USA Tungsol 5881s. Of new production 6L6 tubes the Winged C 6L6 are quite good, with TAD 6L6 a bit behind those, to my ears. The new production Tungsol 5881 are supposed to be good, but I haven't tried them yet. I can say that good NOS tubes sound much better to me - more three dimensional, more complex, less simple and harsh, than any new production ones, and last longer.

woodman · June 8th, 2008, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne Alexander

I can say that good NOS tubes sound much better to me - more three dimensional, more complex, less simple and harsh, than any new production ones, and last longer.

totally agree.

TeeBird · June 10th, 2008, 12:18 AM

I can second the WGB from Philips. I put one in a single ended amp from KCANOS and it's tasty.

I have real tungsols in my other amp and of course they are great but that'll be the last pair I'll ever get my hands on I'm sure. I guess I like the soft edge of 5881s and WGBs.

<jbc> · June 10th, 2008, 02:10 AM

I've found some NOS made in USA GTE/Sylvania 6L6GC tubes that sound very nice. More detailed and with less microphonics that the US made GT-6L6GE tubes they replaced.

Its fun to find NOS tubes at swap meets! I've got my eye out to buy more of these late 70's yellow box tubes.

June 8th, 2008, 04:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
skeksis Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: phoenix Age: 31 Posts: 401	6L6 (and related) pecking order? Best to worst, any thoughts on 6L6's? I've been using smaller amps for years, just built a 6L6 based amp... want to know which are better/worse quality and better/worse values. Old stock and/or new? What do y'all like? Just wondering what's the wisdom, once you get beyond "RCA's are good, Chinese aren't..." Also, what are common drop-in replacements in the 6L6 family? __________________ most of the time: '55 LP Jr. or MIJ '62 Custom Tele ----> '08 Marsh 5F4 Super kit http://www.myspace.com/jswattsmusic

June 8th, 2008, 04:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
woodman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mint Hill, NC Age: 63 Posts: 6,236	to me, NOS are worth the extra bucks. i've had a lot of luck with the Philips 6L6WGB's ... sort of like a 5881, which is a drop-in replacement, but more rare and expensive. the Philips are considerably less than RCAs. in new tubes, a lot of guys speak well of the JJ line. __________________ Truth is stranger than fact ... www.myspace.com/woodymitchellmusic BAND PAGES: www.myspace.com/stragglerswing (Stragglers - Western Swing) www.myspace.com/loafersgloryband (Loafers Glory - '70s country-rock)

June 8th, 2008, 04:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
sjhusting Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Germany Posts: 684 15 Photos	For new production, I like SED (Winged C), then Shugang short-bottles , in that order. YMMV steven __________________ "When you have to kill a man it costs nothing to be polite" - WSC

June 10th, 2008, 12:18 AM	#6 (permalink)
TeeBird Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sebastian, FL Age: 46 Posts: 328	I can second the WGB from Philips. I put one in a single ended amp from KCANOS and it's tasty. I have real tungsols in my other amp and of course they are great but that'll be the last pair I'll ever get my hands on I'm sure. I guess I like the soft edge of 5881s and WGBs. __________________ Kawanga!

June 8th, 2008, 04:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
Wayne Alexander Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA Posts: 1,083	If you want sparkle and tend to the loud/cleaner spectrum, NOS RCA 6L6 at the top and NOS GE 6L6 second. For dirtier, earlier breakup, NOS USA Tungsol 5881s. Of new production 6L6 tubes the Winged C 6L6 are quite good, with TAD 6L6 a bit behind those, to my ears. The new production Tungsol 5881 are supposed to be good, but I haven't tried them yet. I can say that good NOS tubes sound much better to me - more three dimensional, more complex, less simple and harsh, than any new production ones, and last longer.