6L6GC preference?

[Cboss]

Can the experts chime in on what their choice of 6l6gc power tubes would be?

I had a quad of new production JJ's in an amp that just went bad, everyone hates them but I actually thought that those sounded good, but I didn't have anything else to compare them to.. what sounds best to you guys? Thanks so much

[tbonesullivan]

I also like the JJs, though there are definitely some other good ones out there. What kind of amplifier are you looking to put these in? I have heard good things about the Tung-Sol reissue 5881 tubes. There's also the Tube Amp Doctor Red and Blackbase tubes.

The electro harmonix 6l6 tubes are just rebranded Sovtek 6P3S tubes. Some like them, some don't.

[Cboss]

It is a Carvin V3 that I have done major signal path upgrades too, right now I've got mullard xf2's from back in the day in it and they sound really good, I might just try to get a quad of RCA black plate 6l6gc's, those are apparently the best of everything..

Winged C's get a lot of good press but they don't seem to be made anymore, does anyone know why not?

Edited April 4 by Cboss

[tbonesullivan]

2 minutes ago, Cboss said:

It is a Carvin V3 that I have done major signal path upgrades too, right now I've got mullard xf2's from back in the day in it and they sound really good, I might just try to get a quad of RCA black plate 6l6gc's, those are apparently the best of everything..

Winged C's get a lot of good press but they don't seem to be made anymore, does anyone know why not?

The factory that made them in St Petersburg, Russia, closed. I think they had tube making equipment from Philips in Holland, so they were very good. They were pretty much the best current production 6L6GC tube when I first got into tube amps like 20 years ago. Sadly in 2012 the factory was closed, as Svetlana Electronic Devices didn't see any need for vacuum tubes.

Another factory that made great tubes which closed was the Ei factory in what was formerly Yugoslavia, that I think had machinery from Telefunken. I heard one story that they were blown up during the war in that area, but others said that it simply closed.

Some S.E.D. 6L6GC tubes pop up occasionally, but for the most part they are out of stock, and when they are available they are almost as expensive as USA made production.

[Cboss]

https://watfordvalves.com/product_detail.asp?id=273

What do you think? Are these the right ones?

[BoogieMKIIA]

Recently got a JJ 6L6 pair from Eurotubes for my Mark IIA and they are sounding good to me. Normally used Mesa tubes and all were fine to my ears. Could be worth checking out the various STR versions. They are manufactured by few remaining Russian, Chinese and Slovakian companies as everyone else and are tested and matched. The website has some descriptions and there are decoders on the web, @tbonesullivan provided the following - 

“There are some smaller tube factories in central / eastern Europe as well as some in China. Psvane is one in china that comes to mind. Unfortunately the Shuguang factory that really worked with Tube Amp Doctor and others to make some great tubes has been shut down since a fire, and I would guess will not be coming back.

The tube factories still in large scale production are just JJ electronics in Czechia and the Reflektor / X-pul plant in Saratov, Russia. Both of these make multiple variants of the 6L6 tube types.

Mesa currently has the following types:

• 6L6 STR 443 - These are the same as the Sovtek 6L6WXT and Electro Harmonix 6L6GC. I think these are actually a variant of the Russian 3PS tube.

• 6L6 STR 445 - These are JJ 6L6GC tubes. A lot of people like these for various uses. I think they are "rounder" sounding than the Russian tubes.

• 6L6 STR 441 - These are Russian, and most people believe that these are the Tung-Sol 6L6GC-STR tubes, which are part of their reissue series.

• 6L6 STR 448 - These are, I believe, the same as the TAD Redbase, and are made by PSvane in China. I've heard VERY good things about these tubes.

So, you can get these tubes elsewhere, however you need to make sure you can get a pair that will bias correctly in a Mesa, which probably came stock with the STR 415 tubes which were I believe Sylvania. Ruby Tubes and Groove Tubes may also market many of these same tubes.

Groove tubes are rated, and the Mesa rating system covers groove tubes ratings from 4 to 6.”

My opinion, unless you really push output tubes, you may not hear much difference between brands. 15 watts of output power is plenty loud through an efficient speaker. 

[Cboss]

Great info, thank you all

[tbonesullivan]

Yeah, I would say if you are going to order tubes, do it soon, or maybe already do it. With the current events happening, and since all tubes are imported, prices are probably gonna go up.

[Cboss]

6 hours ago, tbonesullivan said:

Yeah, I would say if you are going to order tubes, do it soon, or maybe already do it. With the current events happening, and since all tubes are imported, prices are probably gonna go up.

I'm just going to put together a set of old school RCA black plates from ebay, the cost is the same or less than the new ones

[Cboss]

An update! I got two very nice strong black plate RCA 6l6gcs from ebay, total cost $85, they are without a doubt the bomb.. in this amp 6l6gc to me sounds much better than el34s; super happy about this and now I'll look for another pair, but at half power it sounds phenomenal and the overdrive tone and harmonics are that Indescribable goodness that in my experience only comes with old tubes

[JGale]

Preach!

Now do V1.

http://www.audiotubes.com/12ax7.htm