Groove Tubes 6L6-B randall MESA?

[konstantine RK]

Should I put in some Groove Tubes into the Roadking? I put them into a Randall RM100 and they sound fantastic enough to "leave well enough alone"

Mesa circuits are self biasing anyway which means you can put in any brand....

any of you want to share on this?

 

[MrMarkIII]

Mesas are not "self-biasing", they're "fixed bias". This means you buy tubes to match the amp, not just anything. Any reputable seller can sell you matched sets in the Mesa bias range, if you tell them what you have. Groove tubes in the 4-5-6 range will work in Mesas.

 

[dylan7620]

They're relabeled Sovteks, Mesa sells them as the STR425. One of the strongest new (non-NOS) tubes you can get. If you've tried them before and like them then I say go for it.

 

[MrMarkIII]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the STR-425 a 25 watt tube, with a wafer base, while the GT 6L6B has a full base?
I think the STR-425 is a 25 watt tube, comparable to the 5881, while 6L6s are 30 watts.
My experience is they have a less glassy top end and a "woody", vintage sound.

 

[dylan7620]

www.thetubestore.com/sovtek5881.html

I'm going off of this and I'm pretty sure I read it somewhere else too but all I can find is this right at the moment. I think nowadays since we guitar players are one of the few groups left actually still using tubes companies like groove tubes just label them as a 6L6 for convenience. Only the hardcore audiophiles and guitar amp aficionados understand there is a difference between a true 6L6 and a 5881. I think it's just a way to offer it to the guitarist who knows "my amp uses 6L6s" and that's the extent of their tube knowledge.

 

[Scary]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the STR-425 a 25 watt tube, with a wafer base, while the GT 6L6B has a full base?
I think the STR-425 is a 25 watt tube, comparable to the 5881, while 6L6s are 30 watts.
My experience is they have a less glassy top end and a "woody", vintage sound.

I can't confirm anything technical, but I own mesa str 425's and they are labeled 5881.