Fender 6l6 tubes in Triple recto?

[seryig]

Hello
ive been using my triple for 4 years now. i sometimes take out 2 power tubes and use it in 100 watts. i learned this trick from mesa boogie tech department. I was using electro harmonix 6l6gc s in my amp. My tubes failed and i had to change them quick. i went to a store and picked up these http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-6L6-Precision-Matched-Tubes?sku=211209&src=3WFRWXX
but it writes sovtek 5881 on the tubes. Also i am from turkey so you cant find tubes very easily. so i took out 2 power tubes and replace remaining 4 with these tubes. the amp is running ok. i did not take my amp to a tech. just plugged them in. i searched the forum about this issue but got no answer. so is this safe? or it is not?

Thanks

 

[CaughtLikeFire]

Hello
ive been using my triple for 4 years now. i sometimes take out 2 power tubes and use it in 100 watts. i learned this trick from mesa boogie tech department. I was using electro harmonix 6l6gc s in my amp. My tubes failed and i had to change them quick. i went to a store and picked up these http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-6L6-Precision-Matched-Tubes?sku=211209&src=3WFRWXX
but it writes sovtek 5881 on the tubes. Also i am from turkey so you cant find tubes very easily. so i took out 2 power tubes and replace remaining 4 with these tubes. the amp is running ok. i did not take my amp to a tech. just plugged them in. i searched the forum about this issue but got no answer. so is this safe? or it is not?

Thanks

because Mesas are fixed bias, the tubes need to fall within a specific range for current draw to be safe (and to sound good). Fender color codes their power tubes based on current draw and for a Mesa, you need Fender "white" tubes. Fender "red" tubes will run hot and may burn out early. Fender "blue" tubes will sound extra grainy. Fender "white" corresponds to Groove Tubes 4-7 by the way, which are safe for Mesas. If you're using an 6L6 or EL34, Groove Tubes rated in 4-7 are always safe, (6-7 usually sound best) and you can purchase them from Musicians Friend too.

as far as 5881 goes, it's in the same family as the 6L6. true 5881s have a slightly different sound than 6L6s so they're not really the same tube although Sovtek labeled some tubes 5881/6L6. if they have a white label though, they're safe. whether they sound good or not is a matter of opinion.

next time, I'd get these though (the same price as the Fender): http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Groove-Tubes-Gold-Series-GT6L6C-Matched-Power-Tubes?sku=219159
great tube for a Dual Rectifier.