Current production 6L6. What do you like?

[RossL]

Last 6l6 I bought were Winged C. Should have bought a couple of spares. I just thought they would be available for the foreseeable future.....they seem to be commanding $$$$ on eBay

How are the new Svets, Tungsol and Mullard’s?

I like the old RCAs and the Mesa Phillips STRs......

Any suggestions for a Fender Vibroverb clone?

 

[Rick330man]

I loaded up on the JAN Philips 6L6WGBs and the SED 6L6GCs while they were reasonably priced. I am glad I did. To my ears, nothing out today sounds as good in my Hot Rod Deluxe as these two particular model tubes.

But to your point, I've heard some very nice tone out of the TAD 6L6 variants. They have a few and the characteristics are a little different with each, but I believe the 6L6GC variant is basically the Shuguang tube that we once knew as the "Made in USA" (not really) Groove Tube 6L6GE. I have a few of them and have not been disappointed.

I hope this helps. Good luck.

 

[jondanger]

Pete Cage is a highly respected tech here in Maryland. He told me a couple years ago that his favorite current production 6L6s are the Tung Sols. He put some in my Vibrolux and it sounded great to me.

 

[alnico357]

Sovtek 6L6wxt+ are rugged and long lasting.

 

[Crawldaddy]

Can attest to the quality of TAD 6L6GC; had them in a HRDx and really brought out a lot of nuances, not to mention HEADROOM.

 

[Rick330man]

Sovtek 6L6wxt+ are rugged and long lasting.

I've had some decent luck with these, too. They seem to sound their best when being pushed hard - like in my Sunn T50 that's knocking at 500 volts on the plates.

 

[Telecasterless]

Sovtek 6L6wxt+ are rugged and long lasting.

My tech put some of those in my vibrolux when he did a recap. He said the same thing about them. He said my old RCA were microphonic or something was not good with them. But next to my SFDR, the vibrolux was kind of sterile. I think I even bitched about it somewhere on this forum.

So one day I put the old RCAs back in just to hear it and lo and behold, not only did they work fine, the amp came alive. FWIW.

 

[DougM]

All current Mullard, Tung Sol, and Svetlanas are made by Sovtek, 'cause Mike Matthews owns all those names, but they still might all have different construction mimicking the originals.

 

[bblumentritt]

Current production 6L6?

I've used:

• TAD 6L6WGC-STR (used on my loud BB King amp)
  
• JJ 6L6GC (used on my studio reverb amp)
  
• Sovtek 6L6WXT+ (used on my 2x10" studio mini bassman)
  
• Tung-Sol 5881 (not 6L6 but what the heck) used on my rock amp.

Never had issues with any of them.

Most of the tube vendors have 6L6 reviews on their website.

 

[clintj]

I've used JJ, EHX, and the short bottle TAD 6L6WGC, all with good results. The TAD one I prefer in my Bassman, and the first two have been good sounding tubes for my BFSR.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

 

[RossL]

Not familiar with TAD. Are these just tested and labelled from another manufacturer ?

 

[Wally]

Not familiar with TAD. Are these just tested and labelled from another manufacturer ?

Yes....rebranded...just like GT, Ruby....

I use JJ’s. I like what I find with them. A young player brought in his new Bludotone ODS last week...great amp. It was loaded with JJ’s.

 

[Wally]

My tech put some of those in my vibrolux when he did a recap. He said the same thing about them. He said my old RCA were microphonic or something was not good with them. But next to my SFDR, the vibrolux was kind of sterile. I think I even bitched about it somewhere on this forum.

So one day I put the old RCAs back in just to hear it and lo and behold, not only did they work fine, the amp came alive. FWIW.

Just curious,......what was the bias settings with those Sovteks and with the RCA’s? Biasing can make or break the sonics, ime.

 

[Telecasterless]

Just curious,......what was the bias settings with those Sovteks and with the RCA’s? Biasing can make or break the sonics, ime.

Good question Wally, I never asked him unfortunately. I thought about that much later. Either way, to my ear, the RCAs sound much better at whatever he biased it to. A little irked too that I don't see what the supposed issue is with the RCAs to begin with. If they are microphonic, I can't tell.

 

[Telecasterless]

Just curious,......what was the bias settings with those Sovteks and with the RCA’s? Biasing can make or break the sonics, ime.

Good question Wally, I never asked him unfortunately. I thought about that much later. Either way, to my ear, the RCAs sound much better at whatever he biased it to. A little irked too that I don't see what the supposed issue is with the RCAs to begin with. If they are microphonic, I can't tell.

 

[RossL]

Chatted with tech support at New Sensor. He stated their Svetlana should be very close to the Winged C. He said the reissue Tungsol 6L6GC STR would be close to the old GE.... I ordered a set of Tungsol STR's.....

He also said the current Mullards and Tungsols are very similar.

 

[Rick330man]

Not familiar with TAD. Are these just tested and labelled from another manufacturer ?

Tube Amp Doctor (TAD). German company that has Shuguang make tubes allegedly to TAD-specific specs.

 

[MuddyDitch]

What do the letters following 6L6 signify? This has always mystified me.

 

[bftfender]

kt66 in a Marshall Vintage Modern always

 

[uriah1]

Today, the old Sveltana which now the winged C..
I forget. Luckily I don't have to find any.. (I am a nos guy)