5881/6L6 Question....

[AdamB]

My mod 50 came today!!!!!

Super wow! Expect pics soon, they're just uploading

Anyways, i'm going to swap out the 5881's for 6L6's, will i need to do a bias check or can i just straight swap them?

Thanks

 

[jmgman69]

My mod 50 came today!!!!!

Super wow! Expect pics soon, they're just uploading

Anyways, i'm going to swap out the 5881's for 6L6's, will i need to do a bias check or can i just straight swap them?

Thanks

Check the bias,it's easy!Oh and congrats man

 

[Jeff Hilligan]

Adam just so you know 5881' are 6L6's.

 

[AdamB]

Aren't 6L6's a little deeper in the bass department?

 

[Jeff Hilligan]

Aren't 6L6's a little deeper in the bass department?

maybe...if you search on this site or just ask...it's either the Sovtek 5881's or the Tung Sol 5881's that the egg heads love!

 

[EWSEthan]

Aren't 6L6's a little deeper in the bass department?

maybe...if you search on this site or just ask...it's either the Sovtek 5881's or the Tung Sol 5881's that the egg heads love!

The Tung-Sol 5881 pisses on everything!!!

 

[jkdsteve]

Aren't 6L6's a little deeper in the bass department?

maybe...if you search on this site or just ask...it's either the Sovtek 5881's or the Tung Sol 5881's that the egg heads love!

The Tung-Sol 5881 pisses on everything!!!

hahhaha..I have a pair of ENGL 5881s..but am guessing they are re-labelled SOvteks..anyone know the diff?

It always looked to me like the Tung Sol has a bigger bottle but it;s hard to tell unless they are side by side.

I'd hate to drop $40 on Tung-Sol and find out I already own a pair

 

[EWSEthan]

Even if you do, you'll want a back-up pair.

 

[AdamB]

So, is there much tonal difference between the two?

I really like 6L6's you see

 

[jmgman69]

Adam just so you know 5881' are 6L6's.

I felt they sound very similar to a 6L6gc after I went back and forth with them and I really like the 5881s tung sol,but these do keep the 6L6 nature and that's what I liked about them!

 

[AdamB]

Fair do, thanks everyone

 

[richedie]

Aren't 6L6's a little deeper in the bass department?

I find 6L6 tubes to add a good bit of bass. I am not a huge fan of 6L6 tubes and still can't warm up to the 5881s for the same reason. I love mids since that is where the guitar lives. For that reason I always seem to come back to EL34s. Warmer, juicier, and smoother.

 

[jmgman69]

Aren't 6L6's a little deeper in the bass department?

I find 6L6 tubes to add a good bit of bass. I am not a huge fan of 6L6 tubes and still can't warm up to the 5881s for the same reason. I love mids since that is where the guitar lives. For that reason I always seem to come back to EL34s. Warmer, juicier, and smoother.

You just described thoughs tubes I sent you Rich

 

[jkdsteve]

Even if you do, you'll want a back-up pair.

My Tung-Sol's came in today...they're quite a bit different to the Sovtek 5881's...much smaller bottle for starters.

Very nice tube...what I like best about JJ 6L6s and the Sovtek 5881s all rolled into one tube....it's a very complex sounding tube though isn't it...seems like a lot going on across the mids that isn't usually there with a 6L6.

Anyone else feel they're darker than a 6L6 too (not so much top end) ?

EDIT: It's not a tight sounding tube either...I'm used to/prefer 6L6s

 

[richedie]

I am an EL34 man and 5881s have too much in the way of highs and lows and lose the mids I love so I couldn't use them. I felt the same about JJ E34Ls. I always hated 6L6 tubes and I thikn that is the problem. Again, just a personal preference thing.

 

[aeroic]

I am an EL34 man and 5881s have too much in the way of highs and lows and lose the mids I love so I couldn't use them. I felt the same about JJ E34Ls. I always hated 6L6 tubes and I thikn that is the problem. Again, just a personal preference thing.

You ever thought of trying 6550's?? I feel they have a lot of features I liked from all tubes I have tried. They have by far the highest headroom, the highs are smooth, clear, and chimey, the mids are to die for, as they are very punch and rich, and the low end is thunderous. I have been using 6550's for about 6-7 years now, and they just plain rule.

I'll be interested to see how the Tung-sol 5881's compare to the 6550's in my VHT 2/90/2. When I get my Mod50, I'll let people know how they compare.

Eric

 

[rockridge98]

So, is there much tonal difference between the two?

I really like 6L6's you see

I used to replace Mesa labeled 6L6s with 5881s in amps like Mesa Boogie Mark IIIs and IV's
to get a sweeter rounder sound, which I think meant a little less highs and maybe
a little less power. Try both tubes
and see which ones you like better. It will definitely be a more subtle difference than
6L6 vs EL34, which sound totally different from each other.

 

[richedie]

I am an EL34 man and 5881s have too much in the way of highs and lows and lose the mids I love so I couldn't use them. I felt the same about JJ E34Ls. I always hated 6L6 tubes and I thikn that is the problem. Again, just a personal preference thing.

You ever thought of trying 6550's?? I feel they have a lot of features I liked from all tubes I have tried. They have by far the highest headroom, the highs are smooth, clear, and chimey, the mids are to die for, as they are very punch and rich, and the low end is thunderous. I have been using 6550's for about 6-7 years now, and they just plain rule.

I'll be interested to see how the Tung-sol 5881's compare to the 6550's in my VHT 2/90/2. When I get my Mod50, I'll let people know how they compare.

Eric

Thanks! Who makes a good 6550?

 

[aeroic]

I am an EL34 man and 5881s have too much in the way of highs and lows and lose the mids I love so I couldn't use them. I felt the same about JJ E34Ls. I always hated 6L6 tubes and I thikn that is the problem. Again, just a personal preference thing.

You ever thought of trying 6550's?? I feel they have a lot of features I liked from all tubes I have tried. They have by far the highest headroom, the highs are smooth, clear, and chimey, the mids are to die for, as they are very punch and rich, and the low end is thunderous. I have been using 6550's for about 6-7 years now, and they just plain rule.

I'll be interested to see how the Tung-sol 5881's compare to the 6550's in my VHT 2/90/2. When I get my Mod50, I'll let people know how they compare.

Eric

Thanks! Who makes a good 6550?

I personally use svetlana 6550s. sovtek also makes a good 6550.

 

[AdamB]

I really love my JJ 6L6's in my mod 50, they sound amazing!