That experiment was well done from a science viewpoint. But matching tubes for plate current and transductance does NOT put each tube into its sweet spot, period. So although that is technically good scence, the project needs some subjective in it's setup for voltage/bias to put each type in it's sweet tonal spot range, and details provided about those voltages and currents.
Glad to hear that the triad of worshipped vintage tubes got their due,they DO deserve it.
Regarding the so called winner Brit Kt66's well, the guys missed out listening to the Bendix 6384, that tube shows the britty boys the door...EASILY! :shock: I own pairs of 6384's and British kt66's, there ARE a few problems with 6384: Although they are rated at 30 watts at 750 plate volts, their SCREEN voltage is only 325 volts MAX, that is more like a 6v6, which is rated at 315 at the screen... exceed that and kiss their 10,000 hour rating goodby sucka!... and muy pronto they will die, not slowly! Nearly any modern amp designed for 6l6 exceeds that screen voltage by LOTS! If you want a boutique amp that will run 6384, email
[email protected] and be ready to not waste his time and spend yo boutique price money...you will be richly rewarded. I have one of his amps that runs Bendix 6094's, more el84-ish in output and build, that amp is the 18 watter from hell that happens to bring serious JIMI tones. Also, 6384's need an adapter to work in a socket pinned out for a 6v6/6l6. And further, bias wise, an amp that is cathode biased for 6l6 or 6v6 in class a OR class ab will fry those bendixes pretty damn quick. Overall, means that they need a boutique build to make them work. I do have a boutique amp that is versatile enough in circuit design that can run the 6384 ( I have adaptors) as well as the brit kt66's it was originally designed to run.
Also, their opinion that vintage Jan Philips 5881/6l6wgb and Tung Sol 5881's are similar in design is not all that real except for big plate assemblies in little bottles. Having quite a few of both kinds, tonewise, the Philips are bigger in the bottom and top end than the TS, which have a bigger, wonderful, complex mid thang going on, clean and dirty.
Do NOT expect to get a set of those vintage 6l6gc tubes, socket them blindly in yer Boogie amp at full voltages and expect wonderful things to happen. Tubes or amp or most likely both in short or slightly longer time will more than less likely to have problems, unless you are willing to spend biiiiiiig bucks from a seller that is well acquainted with the Boogie non-adjustable bias thangy. To get the most of those,
you need to do an adjustable bias mod, PERIOD.
FWIW, the review is wonderful but missed some important tubes: the ones that come even earlier than any of those reviewed, most specifically the 6l6 g, ga, and gb series, any of which can show pretty much any new production 6l6gc tube the door in the tone department, if definitely NOT in the wattage department. I'm SO glad that all of the modern non boutique production amps are designed with voltages that would kill those tubes, because in the right circuits/voltages they give the tones that make those reviewers drool, much more so than any modern production 6l6, no matter how many dime a dozen boys in China are in on the project(s) with the boss man hovering over their shoulders! That keeps the prices of those oldest 6l6's affordable...YAAAAAY!
Stick in the adjustable bias mod, run them in the tweed setting with a rectifier tube instead of the solid stage setting in the few Mesa amps that have those switches, and the player will be in awe at the tones produced... 8) if you don't believe me, fine, but spend your money like I did, and buy or build the circuits for the amps that run the old glass like I did before dissing.
If the modern amp makers made amps that could run the oldest 6l6's, those tubes would be selling for 3-5 times as much as they do now due to demand.
Finally, thank GOD for Randall Smith, his family, and the awesome people that dedicate themselves to his vision, and ask for continued good health and happiness for all in the Boogie family! We have LOTS to be thankful for from their dedication and efforts. Peace.
