Tung Sol 6L6GC

[el34]

Anybody using these or the 5881 version in their Mesa?

 

[Triaxstasy]

Hi,

I just put a matched quad Tung-Sol 6L6GC-STRs in my 50/50 (deep modded, adjustable bias) today. Replaced a quad of JJ 6L6GC and it´s a night and day difference.
I thought the JJs were pretty decent but compared to the Tung-Sols they sounded dull, flat and lifeless.
It´s as if a blanket was taken away.......
The not only more harmonic content all over the spectrum now, there´s also a significantly reduced noise floor. In comparison to the JJs, noise-wise it´s now almost as if running a SS amp.
What impressed me the most was that the highs are not earpiercing but now a real nice creamy depth....
I have to play a couple of hours though to give a detailed review, but for starters I´d say that these tubes are definitely worth a try and that I can recommend them over any TAD/EH/JJ/Sovtek.....If they´re en par with =C= 's might be subject to individual taste and findings but for me...well, they surely do the job.

Here´s a pic for comparison (note that the Tung-Sol looks more like a 5881 or a shorty 6L6WGC)

 

[talltxguy]

Before settling on KT77's in my Roadster, I sampled a bunch of 6L6's and liked these the best of JJ's, Mesas, and GT's. GT's were the worst. JJ's were just a tad better than GT's.

 

[zodiac272]

I'm not about to put JJ's in my amp, but were the JJ's spent when you replaced them?

scott

 

[Triaxstasy]

The JJs were in there for about 6 months with not more than 60-70 hours of use (15W Lo-Pwr mode only) so I guess there´s still pretty much life left in them.
But as I stated above, in direct comparison with the Tung-Sols the JJs are dull, flat and lifeless....and quite noisy in terms of buzz/hiss (from day one, although they came in a matched set from eurotubes)....
A matched quad of JJs goes for about the same as a matched quad of Tung-Sols (at least here in Germany) and the TS win hands down.....

 

[SonicProvocateur]

Thanks for the comparison pic, Triaxtasy! I had no idea the Tung-Sol 6L6GC was such a short bottle design like the 5881.

Does it compare any to the 5881 tone? (Very compression-less, like a Marshall/Plexi-like), or does it still have that deep, Modern Boogie tone? I am very curious now...You did mention the highs were rolled off like a 5881, but does it have the compression and powered thump of a normal 6L6?

 

[Triaxstasy]

You´re almost spot-on.....imho the TS 6L6GC-STR has all these tonal advantages/pros of the different typos combined....like (at least for me) a perfect mix of 6L6GC/5881/6L6WGC....but that´s only my subjective opinion.
I´ll be able to test-drive at stage vol this weekend, but so far I´m totally impressed!!

 

[SonicProvocateur]

Awesome! Thanks for the reply! I've already got a pair of Sovtek 5881's and they NAIL the Van Halen hot-rodded marshall brown sound, but with the boogie sparkle on top since obviously I have a Mark III. I don't personally think I'd invest in the TS's since I wouldn't use it for anything but blues, or rock and roll, since I play ultrametal but it's good to know that if my Sovtek's die the TS's would sound rad for rocking! Let us know how they sound cranked. The regular 5881's sure aren't quite as loud as my full power 6L6s.

 

[JCDenton6]

Would these tubes work within the set bias for a Dual Recto? I'm really interested in trying these out (stuck with the stock Mesa (Sovtek) power tubes for a while)

 

[thunda1216]

Sovtek (New Reflektor) makes the Tung-sol tubes these days...As well as the Mullards and the Svetlana brands

 

[SonicProvocateur]

@ JCDenton6, yes they will work fine in a Recto.

 

[JCDenton6]

Awesome, Thanks!