Electro Harmonix 6l6's in an F 50

[sonic635]

Any one use EH power tubes in their F 50? I am looking to replace the stock Mesa power tubes with something a little brighter and tighter. Is there another tube I should be looking at?

 

[Tubegear Junkie]

Electro Harmonix tubes are low quality- IMO
If you want to hear a real tone difference you'll have to go with
a top quality Tube.
I recommend the Slovakian 6L6's- these tubes are made in the
former Telsa factory and are marketed as the Rudy 6L6GC-CZ and the Groove Tubes 6L6S.
This tube sounds clear and warm. Presence without airness.
Fat attack-no splat. Rich mid fullness. Big Bottom.

The Sovtek 5881- is brighter, but not tighter. Kinda crunchy with EL-34 like breakup when lightly driven, lacking bottom end.
I really don't believe you will like this tube.

IMO- Slovakian 6L6's

 

[ANIMATED SUSPENSION]

What power tubes do you currently have ? The Mesa STR430'S are actually Sovtek Electro Harmonix tubes. They are not low quality, but they do sound a bit on the muddy side. The new STR440's are an improvement in most ways. 5881's are in fact DARK sounding and with slightly lower output. If you want bright and tight, have you changed strings recently ? :wink:

 

[sonic635]

Thanks for the advice. Currently I have STr 430's. Do you know who are the tube manufacturer of the STR 440?

 

[Tubegear Junkie]

Every amp will sound a little different depending on the amp
itself and the speaker configuration.
The Sovtek 5881 sounds nothing like the Sovtek 6L6WXT.
In fact, the 5881 almost sounds Chinese when compared-
due to it's lack of bottom end and diffused upper mids and treble.

It's up to the OP which he will buy
my opinion- try Slovakian 6L6's
you won't be disappointed.

 

[ANIMATED SUSPENSION]

Thanks for the advice. Currently I have STr 430's. Do you know who are the tube manufacturer of the STR 440?

They are new generation Chinese tubes made in the Shuguang factory, tested and matched by M/B. If you go for another make other than M/B tubes i.e JJ, you must ensure they are matched and tested to be within M/B specs.

 

[nathan28]

I wont tell you what tubes to use, because their is definitely lots of great ones. But i will tell you that EH tubes are terrible!!!!

 

[Rocky]

I recommend the Slovakian 6L6's- these tubes are made in the
former Telsa factory and are marketed as the Rudy 6L6GC-CZ and the Groove Tubes 6L6S.

He is talking about JJ tubes.

Ruby and Groove just relabel JJ tubes and add the 'S' and 'CZ' letters.

 

[Tubegear Junkie]

I wont tell you what tubes to use, because their is definitely lots of great ones. But i will tell you that EH tubes are terrible!!!!

agreed!!

How can a preamp tube going for 9 bucks
and a power tube set of 2 going for around 23 bucks
be considered good quality?

 

[Rocky]

You can get JJ preamp tubes for about 10 dollars a tube and duets of JJ power tubes for ~30 dollars.

 

[cradleofflames]

I don't know about your guys but I love EHs. They are a little less smooth than the Mullard 12AX7s & EL34s that came in my Marshall when I got it. I tried both in my Studio Preamp and it made it a bit more difficult to dial in but the distortion character was better than the stock Chinese mesas.

I didn't think they sounded different enough for the cost so I sold them. Before I sold them I tried the Mullard reissues and they were closer but not quite there and not worth it for the price.

I abed the Mesa, Groove Tubes, JJs, EH, and Sovtek 12AX7s to the Mullards all at the same time and the EHs came closest to the Mullards with the Sovteks in second. Not only that in my Marshall the EHs were tighter and more aggressive at normal gain but smoothed out the most the harder you drove it.

 

[Tubegear Junkie]

The following is from dougstubes.com
These are not relabeled JJ tubes.
These are high quality tubes, well worth the money

GT 6L6S

Slovakian made with high power and very aggressive dynamic tone...punchier sounding but still a sweet tone.

Options:
Matched Pair - $72.00 Matched Quad - $144.00
Ratings:
# 1-3 # 4-7 # 8-10

 

[Rocky]

The GT 6L6S is a JJ. I used to use them in my Rectoverb....they are identical to the JJ 6L6 in every way. I went with the GT because the #6 hardness lined up with my amplifiers bias perfectly and I didnt have to worry about testing JJ's.

Groove calls the the 6L6S..but they are JJ 6L6GC tubes.

If you are l ooking for REALLY killer Groove tube 6L6 tubes go with the 6L6GE tubes. Made in the US to the specs of the old GE 6L6 valves using most of the original materials. Best production 6L6 you will find out of any plant.

Winged C also makes some beautiful sounding 6L6 tubes. If you want some more filling in the middle the new Tung-Sol 5881 reissue are great...they h ave a midrange that reminds me of El34's while still having that great 5881 tone...which is NOT the same as 6l6 tone.

 

[ANIMATED SUSPENSION]

I wont tell you what tubes to use, because their is definitely lots of great ones. But i will tell you that EH tubes are terrible!!!!

agreed!!

How can a preamp tube going for 9 bucks
and a power tube set of 2 going for around 23 bucks
be considered good quality?

The Groove Tubes 12ax7R's made by Sovtek/EH are the same price as their JJ ECC83'S - $28 !?!? Doug's Tubes sell the JJ 6L6's for $36 a duet and the EH 6L6's for $30. Let's compare like for like here !! What you are paying for from GT is extra testing and sometimes a higher standard of construction (to their spec unique to GT) compared to the standard tube. They charge $60 for Sovtek 5881's for instance.I've heard good things about JJ power tubes, but I've tried their pre amp tubes and found them dull, lifeless and lacking in gain.

 

[cradleofflames]

I found JJ 12ax7s dark and muddy and EHs to be quite the opposite. I've NEVER had a failed EH.

The Sovteks are the cheap ones where I'm from at 7.95 ea. JJs are 9.95 ea, GTs are 12.95, and EHs are 10.95 each.

I hold a bias toward Russian tube because that's what I've always liked. The first set of Sovteks I put in my Studio Pre was such a startling difference I've used Russian tubes ever since even though I settled on EHs.

I tried Shungang, Tung-Sol (who's big bottles rock), and Mesa Chinese 12AX7s and I didn't care for them.

 

[nathan28]

I have no idea the reliability of EH tubes because i yanked them out as soon as i could. Definitely very trebely and thin sounding tubes. Its not that i disliked them I completely hated them!!! Try for yourself though man. One mans trash is another ones treasure.

l8er

 

[Tubegear Junkie]

Well isn't that the whole idea of getting good/high quality tubes? Testing and higher standards.
If the Slovakian are relabeled JJ Tubes then most likely they are
GT throw backs. The same with the ones Mesa rejects, some one is getting them.
I only know of about 5 Tube MFG's- mostly Russian or Chinese.
Some one mentioned a US made tube...not unless they're talking
about N.O.S., I haven't heard of a tube made in the US in a very long time.

This topic has turned into a debate over personal preference.
We may as well debate over our favorite color, or even better yet,
our favorite sports team.

What I have done in the past is have a handful of tubes and try each out independently. Again, every amp will sound different depending on the amp itself and the speaker configuration.

 

[Rocky]

any good tube dealer can match tubes to your amp. Groove does a good job and they are readily available but to think that their tubes are extra special is incorrect.

Having said that...I use Groove TUbes because I know what #'s work on my amps and can easily do tube changes on most of them without a bias. Some of my amps are really finicky about bias so they get non GT tubes so that I can save a few bucks.

Groove TUbes has started making some tubes in the US again. They dont hide this fact and proudly let you know which ones they are making in the US.

 

[ANIMATED SUSPENSION]

any good tube dealer can match tubes to your amp. Groove does a good job and they are readily available but to think that their tubes are extra special is incorrect.

Having said that...I use Groove TUbes because I know what #'s work on my amps and can easily do tube changes on most of them without a bias. Some of my amps are really finicky about bias so they get non GT tubes so that I can save a few bucks.

Groove Tubes has started making some tubes in the US again. They dont hide this fact and proudly let you know which ones they are making in the US.

Some of GT's tubes ARE extra special because they are made to their own (higher) specs and unique design and are exclusive to them.The majority are indeed just standard tubes that are tested to GT's standards. They aren't actually making tubes as such in the US, just some of the components that go into the 6L6 GE reissue.

 

[212Mavguy]

To the original question, no to EH, for tighter and brighter use the svetlana 6l6gc. My personal preference for my tones would be a JJ 6l6gc. If cost was no object and using new production through a tube dealer able to grade and match to Mesa spec/ratings, the new GE 6l6gc reissue would be a logical choice for easy swap and go.

Even better, willingness to include vintage and new old stock 6l6gc tubes for consideration will yield special rewards in appropriate applications. Best to have tech equipment and skills involved for old stock tube choices.