Electro Harmonix 6V6's in SFDR

schmee · May 4th, 2004, 07:42 PM

I left a note in one of the posts a couple of weeks ago that the EH 6V6's in my Deluxe Reverb seemed to be working well........... scratch that.......sure enough last Friday at the gig one of them burned out. This is the second time this has happened. This time I probably had 30 hours or so on them. I put the old set of (unmatched) 30 year old tubes (1) GE (1) RCA in and it sounds and works fine.
:D 30 years ago we never worried about matching tubes...we just bought Tung Sol's or RCA's and put 'em in. We I'm going back there......IMHO it's better to have a set of unmatched RCA's than anything new out there. 8)

Tremo · May 4th, 2004, 07:47 PM

Like I've been saying all along, those EH 6V6s are problems waiting to happen.

I do believe you will be pleased with the new JJ 6V6. No failures reported yet.

schmee · May 4th, 2004, 08:37 PM

Yes, you are right Tremo. There are so many mixed reports on these tubes. The sound on this set was great...but 30 hours just doesn't work. I am thinking of putting a couple of 510-550 ohm screen resistors in to control things a bit.....if I remember right it's running at about 470+ volts.... I wonder how much that will effect the sound?
Maybe I should try a set of JJ's for the price......but I think I can get a "matched set" of US tubes off ebay for a reasonable price...unfortunately....it's a gamble.

Ringo · May 4th, 2004, 09:30 PM

I used a set in a 68 DR for several years, now I don't gig regularly or use the amp every week, but the tubes held up ok.
I have a bunch of used but good old USA made 6V6's that I've been using lately though, they sound just fine so I agree with your good but not necessarily matched tube theory.

I will be ordering some of the JJ's to try out soon though.

Some DR's seem to be harder on tubes than others, I know my 68 DR seems to be one of them.

dafack01 · May 5th, 2004, 12:52 AM

Try the JJ's. There are a bunch of people trying them out in amps with plate voltages well into the 460's and are still working fine. I use 'em in my tweed champ clone and I LOVE 'em. Call me crazy, but tonally I think I like 'em better than my BP/GG RCA.

They are still shimmery and chimey on the top like the RCA and very smooth, but they've got a much deeper low end without getting boomy.

Tim Bowen · May 5th, 2004, 02:14 AM

Heh... well after recently installing EH 6V6's in a DRRI & initially liking the tone - after less than an hour's playing time (in the basement, not on the job), one of them shorted out, & the jewel light, she no light up no more... I know tubes are by nature susceptible to failure, but hey... anyway, I've been using JJ's exclusively for about the last 4 years in a variety of amps, & other than the normal lifespan you'd expect from hard driven tubes, I've not had problem one. So I'll once again be giving JJ's a whirl.

My tech just did a tone test this week. In his words, & FWIW, I quote:

"Compared to the EH's, the JJ's seemed a little louder and punchier with a
more extended frequency range. They seem to be built more ruggedly. They are
also more expensive.

By contrast, the EHs seem smoother, mellower with less headroom. We both
liked the JJ's a little better overall in my 72 Deluxe Reverb. However, in a
reissue, the EH might be a better choice."

AtomicMassUnit · May 5th, 2004, 02:31 AM

FWIW I've had 5 pairs of EHs in 5 different amps, two of which were DRs with heavy heavy gigging and many hours of use with no problems, both right around 450 on the plates. It goes to show how inconsistent they must be, because I've heard many people having trouble, but never did myself. Haven't heard the new JJs, but for people requesting new stock, I'm going to give them a shot. Are their 6L6s good too?

Atomic

Marky D. · May 5th, 2004, 02:23 PM

I had a pair in my 65 DR and they sounded fine... until one day I was really pushing the amp - 1 of them failed. I then put a SS rectifier and 6L6s in, but the 6V6s are sweeter. I don't need the extra headroom and tightness. I think I'll go back to a mismatched pair 6V's that are laying around.

Tremo · May 5th, 2004, 02:30 PM

Come on guys, it's CLEAR that the EHs are a gamble. You install them and you roll the dice. Will they hang in there or will they short out? There have been plenty of stories of BOTH things happening. But the thing to consider is there have been numerous stories of problems, so you're really taking a chance with them.

So far the JJs have not failed. So, it's your money, your amp, your gig.

Silverface · May 5th, 2004, 05:56 PM

Here's an idea:

Simply pay the small premium for reliable...and better sounding...NOS 6V6's. Why anyone fools around with tubes that have repeatedly been reported as firecrackers is beyond me.

The JJ's may end up to be decent tubes, but I'd sure let others be the guinea pigs after the Sovtek/EH debacle.

jazzguitar · May 5th, 2004, 07:20 PM

Today arrived my first pair of EH 6V6GT's, and I have to say they look extremely well made!

Contrary to that claim they're a copy of the RCA 6V6s, these actually appear to be a copy of the older Sylvania 6V6GT/G's from the late 1940's/early 1950s (one of my favorites), but the Sylvania's have slightly stronger screen posts (but weaker micas).

The EH's also test well on my Hickok.

I don't know whether I want to use them in my Deluxe... they ain't gonna go into my Princeton. Got them with a bunch of other tubes ....

Silverface · May 5th, 2004, 08:03 PM

Quote:

The EH's also test well on my Hickok.

FWIW testing guitar amp tubes on most Hickok (or other) tube testers is not really a valuable method. Those machines generally only hit the plates with about 165 volts. What looks great on a Hickok can go boom in an amp.

I use tube testers all the time, but only for culling out *bad* tubes - you just can't tell if power tubes are "good" using a typical tube tester...you need to amp-test them, use a Maxi-Matcher or a more specialized tube tester.

May 4th, 2004, 07:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
schmee Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: northwest Posts: 145	Electro Harmonix 6V6's in SFDR I left a note in one of the posts a couple of weeks ago that the EH 6V6's in my Deluxe Reverb seemed to be working well........... scratch that.......sure enough last Friday at the gig one of them burned out. This is the second time this has happened. This time I probably had 30 hours or so on them. I put the old set of (unmatched) 30 year old tubes (1) GE (1) RCA in and it sounds and works fine. :D 30 years ago we never worried about matching tubes...we just bought Tung Sol's or RCA's and put 'em in. We I'm going back there......IMHO it's better to have a set of unmatched RCA's than anything new out there. 8)

May 4th, 2004, 09:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ringo Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Memphis TN Posts: 1,927	EH 6V6's I used a set in a 68 DR for several years, now I don't gig regularly or use the amp every week, but the tubes held up ok. I have a bunch of used but good old USA made 6V6's that I've been using lately though, they sound just fine so I agree with your good but not necessarily matched tube theory. I will be ordering some of the JJ's to try out soon though. Some DR's seem to be harder on tubes than others, I know my 68 DR seems to be one of them.

May 5th, 2004, 12:52 AM	#5 (permalink)
dafack01 Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 123	Re: EH 6V6's Try the JJ's. There are a bunch of people trying them out in amps with plate voltages well into the 460's and are still working fine. I use 'em in my tweed champ clone and I LOVE 'em. Call me crazy, but tonally I think I like 'em better than my BP/GG RCA. They are still shimmery and chimey on the top like the RCA and very smooth, but they've got a much deeper low end without getting boomy.

May 5th, 2004, 02:14 AM	#6 (permalink)
Tim Bowen Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Age: 48 Posts: 3,390	Heh... well after recently installing EH 6V6's in a DRRI & initially liking the tone - after less than an hour's playing time (in the basement, not on the job), one of them shorted out, & the jewel light, she no light up no more... I know tubes are by nature susceptible to failure, but hey... anyway, I've been using JJ's exclusively for about the last 4 years in a variety of amps, & other than the normal lifespan you'd expect from hard driven tubes, I've not had problem one. So I'll once again be giving JJ's a whirl. My tech just did a tone test this week. In his words, & FWIW, I quote: "Compared to the EH's, the JJ's seemed a little louder and punchier with a more extended frequency range. They seem to be built more ruggedly. They are also more expensive. By contrast, the EHs seem smoother, mellower with less headroom. We both liked the JJ's a little better overall in my 72 Deluxe Reverb. However, in a reissue, the EH might be a better choice." __________________ "Everyone is different in how they learn, but for me, it's turning the pegs and just playing." - BB

May 5th, 2004, 02:23 PM	#8 (permalink)
Marky D. Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Minneapolis, MN Age: 48 Posts: 314	EH6V6s I had a pair in my 65 DR and they sounded fine... until one day I was really pushing the amp - 1 of them failed. I then put a SS rectifier and 6L6s in, but the 6V6s are sweeter. I don't need the extra headroom and tightness. I think I'll go back to a mismatched pair 6V's that are laying around.

May 4th, 2004, 07:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tremo Banned Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Silicon Valley, CA, USA Posts: 3,803	Like I've been saying all along, those EH 6V6s are problems waiting to happen. I do believe you will be pleased with the new JJ 6V6. No failures reported yet.

May 4th, 2004, 08:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
schmee Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: northwest Posts: 145	Yes, you are right Tremo. There are so many mixed reports on these tubes. The sound on this set was great...but 30 hours just doesn't work. I am thinking of putting a couple of 510-550 ohm screen resistors in to control things a bit.....if I remember right it's running at about 470+ volts.... I wonder how much that will effect the sound? Maybe I should try a set of JJ's for the price......but I think I can get a "matched set" of US tubes off ebay for a reasonable price...unfortunately....it's a gamble.

May 5th, 2004, 02:31 AM	#7 (permalink)
AtomicMassUnit Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 153	FWIW I've had 5 pairs of EHs in 5 different amps, two of which were DRs with heavy heavy gigging and many hours of use with no problems, both right around 450 on the plates. It goes to show how inconsistent they must be, because I've heard many people having trouble, but never did myself. Haven't heard the new JJs, but for people requesting new stock, I'm going to give them a shot. Are their 6L6s good too? Atomic

May 5th, 2004, 02:30 PM	#9 (permalink)
Tremo Banned Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Silicon Valley, CA, USA Posts: 3,803	Come on guys, it's CLEAR that the EHs are a gamble. You install them and you roll the dice. Will they hang in there or will they short out? There have been plenty of stories of BOTH things happening. But the thing to consider is there have been numerous stories of problems, so you're really taking a chance with them. So far the JJs have not failed. So, it's your money, your amp, your gig.

May 5th, 2004, 05:56 PM	#10 (permalink)
Silverface Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hermosa Beach CA Age: 56 Posts: 1,934	Here's an idea: Simply pay the small premium for reliable...and better sounding...NOS 6V6's. Why anyone fools around with tubes that have repeatedly been reported as firecrackers is beyond me. The JJ's may end up to be decent tubes, but I'd sure let others be the guinea pigs after the Sovtek/EH debacle. __________________ “No Chops – Great Tone” ©

May 5th, 2004, 07:20 PM	#11 (permalink)
jazzguitar Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Germany Posts: 280	Got my first pair of EH 6V6GT's today.... Today arrived my first pair of EH 6V6GT's, and I have to say they look extremely well made! Contrary to that claim they're a copy of the RCA 6V6s, these actually appear to be a copy of the older Sylvania 6V6GT/G's from the late 1940's/early 1950s (one of my favorites), but the Sylvania's have slightly stronger screen posts (but weaker micas). The EH's also test well on my Hickok. I don't know whether I want to use them in my Deluxe... they ain't gonna go into my Princeton. Got them with a bunch of other tubes ....