USSR-made 6L6GT questions

[BoomTexan]

I ordered a pair of 6L6GB tubes and received a pair of USSR made 6L6GT tubes (from pre-1990, so they aren't Fender GT tubes).

Does anyone have any idea what these could be? I've seen information about these online which says they're an equivalent to a 6N3C tube, but there's like 1 reputable source and I don't want to risk blowing my OT or anything if these turn out to be a lot stronger than a 6N3C.

Another issue is that I can't really find any 6N3C datasheets, so if y'all can find any datasheets, it would be much appreciated.

 

[ok_state_blues]

I don't know if this will help but here is something I picked up a while back when I bought something similar to your off the Bay.

6p3s tubes

I asked about the 6p3s in another thread, but no one answered so I thought maybe this was a better place. I know they are supposed to be able to go in place of a 6L6, but are they direct replacements, or do they maybe function a little different? I hear people say that 5881's are not identical...

www.tdpri.com

Another thread where I gathered some info. I hope it helps.

 

[printer2]

I ordered a pair of 6L6GB tubes and received a pair of USSR made 6L6GT tubes (from pre-1990, so they aren't Fender GT tubes).

Does anyone have any idea what these could be? I've seen information about these online which says they're an equivalent to a 6N3C tube, but there's like 1 reputable source and I don't want to risk blowing my OT or anything if these turn out to be a lot stronger than a 6N3C.

Another issue is that I can't really find any 6N3C datasheets, so if y'all can find any datasheets, it would be much appreciated.

A tube is a valve (funny how the English call it that) that passes power from the power supply to the output transformer. Turn your tap on in your bathroom on full. Now replace the valve with a bigger valve. Will you get more water? Probably not, unless the first valve had a flow reducer. The 6P3S uses more heater current than the 6V6 so it might heat up your power transformer if there is no excess capacity in the heater winding. I can tell you are afraid to say what amp you want to put it in, don't be shy, we won't judge.

 

[Phrygian77]

Post a picture of them. Do they have the wafer base? If you didn't receive what you expected to receive, why not send them back? Who did you order them from?

I have some really old Groove Tubes white label Sovtek 5881WXTs, which are essentially Reflektor 6P3S-E tubes with a different base. They are perfectly fine 5881/6L6WGB replacements. I think those 6P3S-E tubes can only handle about 25 watts on the plates. What you don't want are the cheaper consumer grade 6P3S (no '-E') because they are more like 6L6G/GB specs.

 

[Phrygian77]

Are you confusing 6L6s with 6V6s? I noticed now your initial post says 6L6GT. There was no 6L6GT.

 

[schmee]

I'm confused too. By GT do you mean Groove Tubes?
It's possible some Russian 6L6's were designated GT in the suffix, I cant remember. But a pic will help. Normal base? or wafer base? etc

 

[Telekarster]

FWIW I picked these 6L6 GC's, supposedly Russian NOS, off the bay just before the tube mania ensued. There are no markings on them but, based on what I've compared them too as well as the experts chiming in out here about em, they are 6L6's. Do the tubes you're talking about look like these? Tell you the truth, while I did get them to try out, I'm a little afraid to do it for fear of them possibly smoking my amp... The correct power tube for the amp is very important to the health and well being of the amp, hence why I'm a bit concerned of using them since I don't know exactly what their quality is. Maybe I'm just being paranoid

 

[radiocaster]

Without pics it's hard to guess what this is about. The op could just as well be about Svetlanas.

 

[Phrygian77]

FWIW I picked these 6L6 GC's, supposedly Russian NOS, off the bay just before the tube mania ensued. There are no markings on them but, based on what I've compared them too as well as the experts chiming in out here about em, they are 6L6's. Do the tubes you're talking about look like these? Tell you the truth, while I did get them to try out, I'm a little afraid to do it for fear of them possibly smoking my amp... The correct power tube for the amp is very important to the health and well being of the amp, hence why I'm a bit concerned of using them since I don't know exactly what their quality is. Maybe I'm just being paranoid

The ones I've seen normally have the flashing at the top and a wafer base. Those may be the regular 6P3S tubes. I don't know enough about the different variants to know.

 

[BoomTexan]

FWIW I picked these 6L6 GC's, supposedly Russian NOS, off the bay just before the tube mania ensued. There are no markings on them but, based on what I've compared them too as well as the experts chiming in out here about em, they are 6L6's. Do the tubes you're talking about look like these? Tell you the truth, while I did get them to try out, I'm a little afraid to do it for fear of them possibly smoking my amp... The correct power tube for the amp is very important to the health and well being of the amp, hence why I'm a bit concerned of using them since I don't know exactly what their quality is. Maybe I'm just being paranoid

I have some very similar unmarked 6L6GCs. Put them in my Dual Showman Reverb along with an original Fender branded pair and they sound great. They've held up to the insane DSR plate voltages with ease, even 6 months down the line.



Sorry about the late response guys, I'll get pictures of the tubes within the hour.

 

[Phrygian77]

@Telekarster okay, so those are the 6P3S tubes, not the "-E" version, which apparently have been labeled 6L6GT by a number of retailers. They have specs similar to a 6L6G (maybe 6L6GB).

Sovtek 5881 WXT | 6l6 WGC | 6Π3C-E Tube Guide

Tubes (aka valves) can be quite confusing, but the most confusing are the industry standard Sovtek 5881 Wxts that are OEM on most major amp brands. The same tube is sold under at least 20 different names at wildly different prices. But some tubes...

www.jayskyler.com

 

[BoomTexan]

Here are the pictures. Thanks for the info @Phrygian77, that's very helpful. I'll go look up a datasheet for that tube.

As to why I don't want a refund, I've bought $200 worth of tubes from this guy on 5 separate occasions and this is the first time he's screwed up. He gave me a 40% discount on these tubes, so I only paid $15 for the matched pair, and $25 for a 40-watt OT. Asking for a refund just doesn't make sense at those prices. Besides, the specs for the 6l6gb and gt are more or less the same from what I can see at a cursory glance.