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Modern 6L6GC's

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12/5/1997 9:49 AM

Modern 6L6GC's

I was wondering if anyone had an opinion on some of the modern "6l6GC" tubes. I actually have a quad of JAN Phillips tubes for something semi-special, but I was wondering if there are some good modern tubes out there for things like my Carvin XV-212 and stuff. I had heard that there was no "true" 6l6GC's but only 5881's and such that various companies decided to stamp "GC." However, I see Svetlana advertises a 6l6GC based off the Phillips STR, aqnd Ruby Tubes carries an "STR" model (don't know the original manufacturer), and then there are the Chinese straight or coke "GC's" ...

...are any any good? I mean I've heard great things about the Svetlana EL34, but that doesn't mean their 6L6GC's are good.

-Y.
(wyatt poist)

12/5/1997 11:03 AM
paul kreimer	Before the production run started, Guitar Player Magazine, raved about the svetlana 6l6s. I haven't heard them yet myself but the rreview said that they were the only 6l6s to come close to the charachter of their old GE NOS pair.

12/5/1997 2:52 PM

So far limited testing has given me the following results with these currently available tubes..

Svetlana 6L6: has more "guts" than other current versions. Probably closest of all to the NOS 6L6. Looks very rugged. This just might be the one, only your ears can judge. Sample of 10 tubes so far.

Tesla 6L6: Nice full range, nice high end like their E34L. Sample of six tubes.

Ruby, etc: Chinese 6L6/5881 good general purpose tube. To my ears more like a 6L6 than 5881. Sample of 24 tubes

Sovtek 5881: Softer, sweeter sounding, than NOS. Good all around tube. Have used this for three years and only had one bad one. Sample of 400 tubes.

NOS 7581: Very strong tube. Too harsh in some amps. Works great in my Heath WM-5 that had KT66s in it at one time. Good for bass amps and those Fender Bassman 70s 135s etc. Sample of 36 tubes.

NOS 6L6WGB: A lot of high end in my Fenders. Loud, but not as even across the whole range as in many of the other 6L6 types. Sample of 8 tubes. Need to test in other amps.

Chinese "coke bottle" version: Cool looking and ok for the lower powered amps only. Never bought any new ones myself. Have seen them during many repairs, but not as often anymore.

JM

12/8/1997 3:30 PM
Y.	Hmm, looks like I have found some answers myself on the Svetlana webpage. They list several good reviews of the 6L6GC's and EL34. I realize they aren't going to list any "bad" reviews, but the good ones were from sources I'm familiar with (unlike some movie previews). -Y. wyatt poist

12/9/1997 3:37 PM
Reid Kneeland	Do check out the new Tesla 6L6. It's supposedly based on the KT66, which was the most rugged of the 6L6 family. Reid

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