6L6 / 6L6G / 6L6GC What's the Difference?
- Thread starter unbridled
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6L6GC is what your modern 6L6 amp is almost certainly expecting.
Here's the RCA data sheet for the "6L6". First, it's an all-metal tube. That should be a clue
. Total max dissipation is 24w compared to 30w in a 'GC'.
Not sure about the 'G'.
Here's the RCA data sheet for the "6L6". First, it's an all-metal tube. That should be a clue
. Total max dissipation is 24w compared to 30w in a 'GC'.Not sure about the 'G'.
Pisgah
Tele-Meister
You should have a RCA tube manual.
The 6L6 is a metal tube, and generally isn't used in gutiar amplifiers, it's rated at 360V max and 19W max plate dissipation. The 6L6G and 6L6GB are rated 360V max and 19W max plate dissipation. The 6L6GC is rated 500V max and 30W max plate dissipation. If you're running a typical Fender amp with their insanely high B+ you want 6L6GCs.
I use a Music Man HD150 that uses the 6L6GC and was browsing tubes online and saw the different designations and was just curious.
It's been seven years since I have replaced the tubes. I figure it must be time to replace them, although it hasn't seen much use at all. I pulled it out and realized just how good it sounds for bass OR guitar. The tubes all glow the same amount and it sounds good, but I don't want to press my luck and go another seven years.
It's been seven years since I have replaced the tubes. I figure it must be time to replace them, although it hasn't seen much use at all. I pulled it out and realized just how good it sounds for bass OR guitar. The tubes all glow the same amount and it sounds good, but I don't want to press my luck and go another seven years.
Unbridled, as dsutton notes your amp demands the GC. That amp runs over 700vdc to the plates in the high power mode. Screens are at half of that. I adhere closely to the MM manual for biasing.
As to the tubes in the amp. Do you know roughly how many hours are on those tubes? Got a number for the hours of use? What tubes are we talking about? Modern or did you spring for NOS those seven years ago? You have to be the gauge for any possible degradation of sound quality.....but you say it sounds good.
As to the tubes in the amp. Do you know roughly how many hours are on those tubes? Got a number for the hours of use? What tubes are we talking about? Modern or did you spring for NOS those seven years ago? You have to be the gauge for any possible degradation of sound quality.....but you say it sounds good.
They are Sovtek tubes and were new when I put them in. I biased them with information I got from the MusicMan forum.
If I had to guess, I'd say less than 80 hours on them because I was mostly playing bass and used a band member's Carvin head, simply because it was lighter.
ebb soul
Poster Extraordinaire
It reccomend an extra set now, wether you need them now or not.
6 - 6V heater filament.6L6GC is what your modern 6L6 amp is almost certainly expecting.
Here's the RCA data sheet for the "6L6". First, it's an all-metal tube. That should be a clue
Not sure about the 'G'.
L - denotes the particular tube within the 6*6 series
6 - 6 elements including the heater
G - glass envelope (vs metal)
C - revision of the tube.
With each revision, the maximum power and plate voltage rose.
^^^^^
For the most part its the revision level of the tube that is important. Much like a lot of computer software, the 6L6GC is backwards compatible in that it can replace the earlier versions, but not the opposite way around. If your amp needs a 6L6GB, you can use a GC, but not the other way around.
For the most part its the revision level of the tube that is important. Much like a lot of computer software, the 6L6GC is backwards compatible in that it can replace the earlier versions, but not the opposite way around. If your amp needs a 6L6GB, you can use a GC, but not the other way around.
Just curious why one would need to or purchase new tubes now whether they are needed or not? Are prices about to jump up???
80 hours is not much use, IMHO. I do believe in spares, though.
ebb soul
Poster Extraordinaire
NOS is low,and Chinese made we could have trade problems soon. I've lived long enough to to recall a similar lack of tubes before due to gov't policies.
Obviously I can't say in detail due to rules.
Then of course there is murphys' law.
They don't seem to go out, when you don't need them.
