Back to 5881s...

[3 Mile Stone]

Too funny ...

 

[richedie]

Wouldn't you want a tube that allows you to turn up the master more, hence the EL34? I have EL34s but am tempted to try the 5881s with my MHG/Bassman combo.

I use the stock EH preamp tubes. Any suggestions on those?

 

[3 Mile Stone]

Wattage is the same on EL34 as is the 5881. You are pushing the amp at the full 50 watts either way. The only way to run the master higher by selecting tubes would be to run EL84 with THD Yellow Jackets or go to the JJ 6V6. OR just use the low power switch on the front to drop the watts in half and therefore you can then run the master up higher. I find the amp gets sufficient power tube coloration at noon to 1 O'clock any way even at full power. Not really a big problem.

 

[richedie]

Wattage is the same on EL34 as is the 5881. You are pushing the amp at the full 50 watts either way. The only way to run the master higher by selecting tubes would be to run EL84 with THD Yellow Jackets or go to the JJ 6V6. OR just use the low power switch on the front to drop the watts in half and therefore you can then run the master up higher. I find the amp gets sufficient power tube coloration at noon to 1 O'clock any way even at full power. Not really a big problem.

I guess that is my problem with any tube amp. Even with the Egnater at a gig, I couldn't get the master past 10-11 O'clock. Too loud.

 

[blumuz123]

Jeff/Frank.... did my package arrive on Friday?

Angelo

 

[Jeff Hilligan]

Jeff/Frank.... did my package arrive on Friday?

Angelo

angelo...I was out for the day...What did you send us?

Jeff

 

[spakuloid]

Wattage is the same on EL34 as is the 5881. You are pushing the amp at the full 50 watts either way. The only way to run the master higher by selecting tubes would be to run EL84 with THD Yellow Jackets or go to the JJ 6V6. OR just use the low power switch on the front to drop the watts in half and therefore you can then run the master up higher. I find the amp gets sufficient power tube coloration at noon to 1 O'clock any way even at full power. Not really a big problem.

I guess that is my problem with any tube amp. Even with the Egnater at a gig, I couldn't get the master past 10-11 O'clock. Too loud.

You also can buy a THD Hot Plate - to get the amp's master volume up while controlling the actual sound level of the amp. I have the 16 OHM version for my 4x12 and I always use it. Home - studio - or live.

 

[blumuz123]

Vox and MHG modules to swap for the T/D and Sl2 modules.
I was hoping that you would be able to send them out before you leave for Namm.
thanks
Angelo

 

[Telefied]

Anybody else worried about the Tung 5581 and the late Voltage from the MOD50??? I ordered Tubes from The Tubestore and Jon (nice dude) said that the Tung's are only good for 400 Plate Voltages or less and I thing the MOD50 is like 500+ (Jeff or Bruce please correct me if I am wrong).

I have the Tung 5881 and love them (agreed Bassman and SL2 they are a must) but Jon got me thinking about the lifespan and relaibiity of them in the MOD50. Thoughts???

 

[EWSEthan]

Anybody else worried about the Tung 5581 and the late Voltage from the MOD50??? I ordered Tubes from The Tubestore and Jon (nice dude) said that the Tung's are only good for 400 Plate Voltages or less and I thing the MOD50 is like 500+ (Jeff or Bruce please correct me if I am wrong).

I have the Tung 5881 and love them (agreed Bassman and SL2 they are a must) but Jon got me thinking about the lifespan and relaibiity of them in the MOD50. Thoughts???

Thats an interesting thought I had not considered. To me, Im not worried about burning through tubes faster as long as I cant damage the amp. I mean Ive had Tung Sol 5881s biased at 34mV in my head for at least 6 months with no obvious issues and I crank the amp to about 2 oclock regularly (at least once a week).

 

[Telefied]

Thats an interesting thought I had not considered. To me, Im not worried about burning through tubes faster as long as I cant damage the amp. I mean Ive had Tung Sol 5881s biased at 34mV in my head for at least 6 months with no obvious issues and I crank the amp to about 2 oclock regularly (at least once a week).

Yeah man I too run my 5881's at 34 and I was at 12:00 to 2:00 on the master about 2 times a week for like 4 hours a shot for 4 months solid. I can tell the tubes are dying now really noise and drifted out of balance. I pulled them for a pair of 6L6's while I contimplate the plate voltage issue. To your point even if this is a 3 months and replace deal as long as no harm to the amp then i am going to stick with the Tung 5881's due to the tonally bliss acheived with them.

 

[EWSEthan]

Well the MOD 50 ships with Sovtek 5881s which have a maximum plate voltage of 250 according to this page:
https://www.amazon.com/Sovtek-5881-6L6WG ... B0002ORP7A

So, Im gonna have to guess we are especially ok with 400 as there is no way Egnater would ship an amp with tubes that could cause damage to the amp and there is nothing in the manual that says we have to check plate voltages on the type of 5881 we choose.

We might burn them out fast but I dont think we could be doing any amp damage.

 

[Telefied]

Well the MOD 50 ships with Sovtek 5881s which have a maximum plate voltage of 250 according to this page:
https://www.amazon.com/Sovtek-5881-6L6WG ... B0002ORP7A

So, Im gonna have to guess we are especially ok with 400 as there is no way Egnater would ship an amp with tubes that could cause damage to the amp and there is nothing in the manual that says we have to check plate voltages on the type of 5881 we choose.

We might burn them out fast but I dont think we could be doing any amp damage.

Hahaha yeah I saw those specs on another page too. Here is what Jon from the tube store says regarding that Sovtek tube

"The Sovtek 5881WXT is not a "real" 5881. It's a weird Russian tube that's close enough but has a much higher voltage rating. It's actually a weird Russian tubes called a 6P3 or something but Sovtek imports it and markets them as 5881/6l6 tubes. These will hold up fine in your amp.

If you like the tone of the Tungsol 5881 you can try them but run the bias colder to keep the stress down. Somewhere around 23mA to 28mA/tube. Unfortunately we can't offer a warranty on them though. If you want a similar sounding tube but with the ratings up to 500V, try the Tungsol 6L6GC-STR, http://thetubestore.com/tungsol6l6gc.html.

Regarding the other tubes, did you try varying the bias to get different tones? If you own the tubes it's worth playing around with it.

Let me know.

jon@thetubestore.com"

With that said i have a pair of the 6L6GC-STR tubes from Tung Sol. I must say they do the Fender Bassman clean almost identical to the TUng 5881 but... as soon as you go to Channel B on the B'Man or to any Channel on the SL2 the 6L6GC-STR tubes sound cold and "narrow". Too bad back to the TUng 5881's it is.

Jeff Bruce if you have made it this far in the thead any input on the Tung 5881 and safety of the MOD50

Thanks in advance

 

[EWSEthan]

They are of course at NAMM so I doubt they are checking the forum. If our amps havent blown up yet, Im sure we are good until next week. If we dont hear anything in the thread, Ill give Jeff a call on Tuesday and get the scoop. I wouldnt sweat it though.

 

[richedie]

I like the chewiness of EL34s but want a deeper low end without sacrificing solo tones. How about the JJ E34L???? Does that compare well to the 5881s?

 

[jmgman69]

Could someone give a tonal description of the difference between a JJ 6L6gc and the Tung sol 5881?

 

[3 Mile Stone]

I like the chewiness of EL34s but want a deeper low end without sacrificing solo tones. How about the JJ E34L???? Does that compare well to the 5881s?

I don't think they have much in common. Honestly I disliked the E34L so much they came out immediately. I think thy were JJ, could have been Groove Tubes. They just didn't have anything from the 6L6, 5881 or the EL34 that I liked. Sounded dead to me. Tung Sol 5881 has everything I like. I think I may still have them and if you want to try them out PM me your mailing address and I'll give them to you try.

 

[richedie]

I like the chewiness of EL34s but want a deeper low end without sacrificing solo tones. How about the JJ E34L???? Does that compare well to the 5881s?

I don't think they have much in common. Honestly I disliked the E34L so much they came out immediately. I think thy were JJ, could have been Groove Tubes. They just didn't have anything from the 6L6, 5881 or the EL34 that I liked. Sounded dead to me. Tung Sol 5881 has everything I like. I think I may still have them and if you want to try them out PM me your mailing address and I'll give them to you try.

Thanks man, I'll take your word on it. Thanks fot the offer as well.

I am using SED EL34s but I wonder how other EL34s would sound.

Do you lose any thickness or a good lead voise with the Tung Sol 5881s?

 

[Telefied]

I agree on the E34L's I have a pair put them in once played for 10 mins and took them out. I have never lit them up since.

As far as lead tone and thickness with the Tung 5881 goes... well that is one of the main reasons I can't stop using them. Not sure what kind of lead tone you dig but overall my "big picture" power tube observations are this for the MOD50. Listed in order of prefrence.

Tung 5881: Solid bottom end, sweet harmonic mid range (i.e. thicknesss!!!!) sparkley top end, detail galore and that tube vibe, you just have a bit more sag I guess. These crunch up sweet regardless of module.

JJ 6V6: Similar to the 5881 above but "smaller" and a bit more "boxy". Lower volume. More power tube saturation. Excellent for bedroom play.

JJ 6L6GC: Big bottom end, clear detail, good harmonics, big ole hole in the mid-range (i.e. lack of thickness) and dark top end. Crunch is not that aggressive and more "modern" dare I say.

Tung Sol 5L6GC-STR: Just got these. Sound very similar to the Winged C but without the farty low end issue. Just missing the warmth and sweetness in the mid range of the TUng 5881's or they would be the perfect tube.

SED 6L6GC Winged C: Sparkley Top end and more mids than most 6L6 tubes. Only thing here is in order to get the crunch to sound harmonic you have to Bias them up hot and then you loose the low end detial and it gets a bit ratty or farty.

Sovtek 5881WXT: Safe, simple flat. These do not color the tone but do not have anything spectacular to offer IMO. Sound decent with any module.

What is not worth giving a one on one description are the following tubes I tried. All had issues in tone one way or anohter soooo bad they never lasted more than 10 mins in the head.
- Groove Tubes 6L6GC-s
- TAD 6L6GC
- JJ E34L
- SED Winged C EL34
- TAD 5881

Later

 

[blumuz123]

Telefied!

I like the line by line style of your review of tubes.

it makes a clear starting point for us newbies.

It would be great if someone could do the same with speakers, modules, cabs etc

though everyone hears differently, alot also hear the same.

Again thanks for the great starting point.