Best 6L6GC out there now for high gain channel switcher?

[Lution]

I just got in a Randall RD45H. It came with Ruby 6L6GC-MSTR tubes. They sound pretty good, but I'm looking to purchase a new set and use these Rubys as backups.

I'm finding the RD45H, with bias on the Rubys set to 70%, to be very bassy and trebly. So, I'm looking for a 6L6 that has strong construction and not so boomy bass and not so much treble.

So far, I'm thinking of going with the TAD 6L6GC or the Tung Sol 6L6GC.

Thoughts?

 

[Anonymous]

Both Ruby and TAD are just rebrands of other manufacturers
You need to check which manufacturer is rebranded for a particular model
I'd go JJ
I feel Tungsol is better for more vintage type amps

 

[Lution]

Wouldn't the JJs just add more bass and treble (something I'm looking to lessen)? Or is the bass tighter and treble more smooth on the JJs?

 

[TrueTone500]

I've been using =C= 6L6GC with great success. They were pricey, but well worth the cost. Thanks Laura!

 

[Anonymous]

I've been using =C= 6L6GC with great success. They were pricey, but well worth the cost. Thanks Laura!

But those are out of production
Remaining stocks are crazy expensive and probably B-stock too

 

[Lution]

I've been using =C= 6L6GC with great success. They were pricey, but well worth the cost. Thanks Laura!

But those are out of production
Remaining stocks are crazy expensive and probably B-stock too

Exactly. And that sucks bigtime because these were amazing tubes.

 

[napalmdeath]

Wouldn't the JJs just add more bass and treble (something I'm looking to lessen)? Or is the bass tighter and treble more smooth on the JJs?

JJ's are the way to go. I've owned 2 of these amps, and JJ's were the ticket in both. They are far from bright, it will tame that very well. Just bias it properly, and a JJ in V2 & V3 will smooth the treble out that much more, and very noticeable. In fact, I found myself ADDING treble. Of course, cabinet makes a difference too..

They do add some bass, but it's much tighter, and more focused. Just back down the bass knob. I loved those amps! They ate my 5150III mini for lunch, at half the price! I'd take another in a heartbeat if I ran across one used at a great price.

 

[Ascension]

The JJ's are not bad, I have a st of Ruby 6L6GCMSTR's right now in my old Peavy Ulltra + head and like them.
A real sleeper 6L6 variant tube for high gain is the old short bottle Sovetec 5881's if you can find a set as they are very focused smooth and musical sounding in fact one of the very best sounding 6L6 variants I have heard in a high gain amp. Now we are not talking the full size 5881 labeled Sovetecs here as they are shrill and harsh.
These are the ones I'm talking labeled here Mesa but these are Sovetecs.

 

[blackba]

Both Ruby and TAD are just rebrands of other manufacturers
You need to check which manufacturer is rebranded for a particular model
I'd go JJ
I feel Tungsol is better for more vintage type amps

The TAD do have some designs that they contract others to build for them. Their 6l6s are both like that. Tried both types of the tads they are very good.

I like the sound of jj power tubes, but for me they just don't last very long. Talking el84 and 6L6s here, not tried jj el34s.

 

[TrueTone500]

I've been using =C= 6L6GC with great success. They were pricey, but well worth the cost. Thanks Laura!

But those are out of production
Remaining stocks are crazy expensive and probably B-stock too

I didn't know they were oop! I purchased mine over a year ago, but didn't start using them until a few weeks ago. I purchased an extra quad of =C= EL34's and a quad of the 6L6 at the same time. One of my EL34's took a crap, so Laura hooked me up with a replacement.

 

[the4thlast1]

I like the new Tungsols

 

[fearhk213]

The Sovtek 6L6WXT+ is killer. It's tight and crunchy, so I can't see you having an issue with boominess. As for treble, it's not dark by any means, but it's not shrill either. The fact that they're cheap and last forever is nice too.

 

[Ascension]

I like the sound of jj power tubes, but for me they just don't last very long. Talking el84 and 6L6s here, not tried jj el34s.

Same with me in liking the tones of many JJ power tubes but they just don't seem to last as long as some others do. In particular the JJ EL34L's sound REALLY good in a Marshall unfortunately they just don't last very long before they get spongy and sloppy sounding.

 

[4406cuda]

I've been using =C= 6L6GC with great success. They were pricey, but well worth the cost. Thanks Laura!

+1000

 

[TrueTone500]

I once tried a quad of Tung-Sol EL34B. They had an interestingly tight bottom-end bump that you don't normally get from an EL34. I rather enjoyed them.

 

[madrigal77]

TAD 6L6GC-STR

 

[madrigal77]

Both Ruby and TAD are just rebrands of other manufacturers

Wrong. At least in the case of TAD.

 

[Anonymous]

Both Ruby and TAD are just rebrands of other manufacturers

Wrong. At least in the case of TAD.

Does TAD build their own tubes in a German factory?
I don't think so
Maybe they have "exclusive" tubes, but I don't think they build them themselves, they just burn them in and match them

 

[madrigal77]

Both Ruby and TAD are just rebrands of other manufacturers

Wrong. At least in the case of TAD.

Does TAD build their own tubes in a German factory?
I don't think so
Maybe they have "exclusive" tubes, but I don't think they build them themselves, they just burn them in and match them

They don't make their own, but they of their own design and made specially for them. They are not simply "rebranded".

 

[siggy14]

The tung sol's sound great in my two channel recto and also the EL34's also sound great in a stiletto