Buying new power tubes over the weekend...

[fek]

I have TAD EL34's in my RM50 that I picked up from Jeff H (thank you very much by the way) currently and I like them just fine. I would like to take the opportunity to try something else since being an owner of this type of technology allows me to do so.

My initial thoughts are 6550's because I have never used those before and I hear good things. My other option would be 6L6's. What differences could I expect from the 6L6 or 6550 choice?

I have an Egnater single channel DLX, JF modded Brahma, stock Mr Scary and an HBE incoming today I believe.

 

[fek]

I found most of the tonal difference answers in the MOD50 Growl thread. In my set up, what would you use if the 34's are good but you wanted something different to try?

 

[3 Mile Stone]

I still gotta say everybody with a 50 (Randall or Eggie) shoud have a pair of Tung Sol 5881 in thier arsenal. It's a must. Probably the best all around suited tube for that amp. I always futz around with other tubes, but when it's time to get serious and go on stage or in the studio ... TS 5881, or a set of my NOS 5881. They jsut sing to my ears. Eric makes a pretty good case for 6550 though and I think I will try them next.

 

[fek]

I have read your thoughts on the 5881's before. Those are pretty much 6L6's right? I had a Mig60 with 34L's and a Mig50H with 5881's and I remember preferring the 34's. From what I have read so far, I am thinking 6550's. They are also about the only power tube I have not tried.

 

[aeroic]

I still gotta say everybody with a 50 (Randall or Eggie) shoud have a pair of Tung Sol 5881 in thier arsenal. It's a must. Probably the best all around suited tube for that amp. I always futz around with other tubes, but when it's time to get serious and go on stage or in the studio ... TS 5881, or a set of my NOS 5881. They jsut sing to my ears. Eric makes a pretty good case for 6550 though and I think I will try them next.

I've done tons of power tube testing...and the best tubes IMHO for the Mod50 specifically is the following:

1. Tung Sol 6550 - best all around power tube for the Mod50 I've played to date
2. JP 6L6s - gives you that Fender vibe that's just plain amazing
3. GT E34L's - best EL34 style tube I've played
4. TS5881 - 2nd best "all around" tube for the Mod50 next to the TS6550
5. Svetlana 6550 - Great 6550 in a quad...doesn't sound as good as the TS6550 in a pair. The TS6550 has a warmth to it that the Svetlana doesn't.

Eric

 

[3 Mile Stone]

... JP ???

 

[aeroic]

... JP ???

nos Jan philips

 

[3 Mile Stone]

Oh yea, the Joint Army Navy Phillips brand. There is something about those old tubes. I have a pair of National brand 5881 that have a certain high end sparkle that is just beautiful. I save those for the studio.

 

[richedie]

I thought SED Winged Cs were outstanding in the Mod 50. Also love the Svet 6550s but I kind of sense the lack of warmth mentioned by Eric. I might be puting the TAD EL34s back in.

Eric, thought you loved the TS EL34s? I guess you hadn't played the TS E34Ls at that time. The JJs should be the same thing and cheaper I believe. Same factory. No?

Now I have to either try the TS 6550s or GT E34Ls/JJ E34Ls.

I was not a fan of the TS 5881s. Now, to be fair I had my rack set incorrectly at the time so it might be time to give them another try. At the time they seemed too stiff and typical 6L6 to me. I always thought 6L6s were more scooped but in the Tube Amp Book...they talk about 6L6s having lots of thick mids. Any time I tried the 5881s, there was a cardboardy crunch that bothered me. Sounded very Fender to me as well. Didn't like leads with it.

Had a rehearsal this weekend and must admit the Svet 6550s made the amp really fat, even though I typically prefer the character and sag of an EL34. I might have to Eric's advice and try the TS 6550. Never did I think I would like a typical hi-fi tube in a guitar amp.

My favs have been the SED Winged C EL34s and Tung Sol EL34BSTR

 

[richedie]

bump

 

[fek]

Doug's Tubes recommended the Ruby 6550's over the Tung Sol's so that is what I ordered. I also picked up a Jan GE 5751 because mine is MIA. I must have left it in the Rivera M60 I sold last year.

The 5751's are a good match for the PI spot right?

 

[richedie]

Doug's Tubes recommended the Ruby 6550's over the Tung Sol's so that is what I ordered. I also picked up a Jan GE 5751 because mine is MIA. I must have left it in the Rivera M60 I sold last year.

The 5751's are a good match for the PI spot right?

5751 for what amp? I only use them in my Bassman module. I tried them in the head chassis to give better note definition but thought it sounded and felt sterile. It is a lot about feel to me. I like ECC83s there.

So, why did he say the Ruby 6550s???? Aren't they Chinese tubes? Eric says the TS are the best he tried. Did you try them? Keep in mind, tubes can depend on the amp circuit. He might prefer the Ruby, but maybe not in the Egnater. Does he have a Mod 50 or Mod 100? I know many say KT-88s are more musical and intended for guitar amps compared to the supposedly more hi-fi and sterile 6550s. However, in Eric's extensive testing I kow he found the 6550s sound best and specifically the TS and Svets.

 

[fek]

The amp is a RM50.

I read somewhere that some like to put a 12AT7 or 5751 in the PI spot for one reason or another. I thought I would try it and I also really liked the Jan GE 5751 I had in the V1 spot of my Rivera so I figured if nothing else, it's a nice tube to have on hand.

I mentioned to Doug that others really like the winged C's or the Tung Sols and he said that the Ruby's have a deeper, more defined low end with better articulation. Hell, I don't know. I just want to try some 6550's. Either I like them or try to swap them for some EL34's that I know I like. I am trying really hard not to be as picky as I used to be.

 

[muudrock]

I remember putting in the 5751 in the PI on my Randall when I had it. I thought it was an improvement. I tried the same thing with the Mod 100 but wasn't as impressed. I think the component difference in the 2 amps made the difference. That being said, I haven't really found a bad spot to use a 5751.

 

[richedie]

muudrock, exactly! My friend loved the 5751s in his Mod 100. I didn't think they were as good in the Mod50. I think the Mod 50 has top notch circuitry throughout so I found the change was minor at best...but I thought a touch more sterile. I prefer the thickness and feel I detect with ECC83Ss in the head chassis.

FEK, I hope Eric chimes in on the 6550s. ERIC? Have you tried the Ruby's?
Did Doug mention KT-88s?

 

[fek]

FEK, I hope Eric chimes in on the 6550s. ERIC? Have you tried the Ruby's?
Did Doug mention KT-88s?

Doug did not mention KT88's but I had a Soldano HR50 with those and I did not like them. Could have been the XL mod that was done to it though. The tone was way too thick and muddy.

 

[Resonant Alien]

The amp is a RM50.

I read somewhere that some like to put a 12AT7 or 5751 in the PI spot for one reason or another.

The 5751 has lower gain. Supposedly be used in V1 instead of a 12AX7 to "tame" a high gain channel if you want a bit more definition and clarity and don't need face-melting gain. I've got a JAN 5751 on the way, originally to use in V1 of Ch1 of my Renegade, since a lot of people here seem to like in in V1 of the BMAN module. But, now I am thinking about trying it in Ch2 to see if I can get Ch2 sounding more like the SL module, which I absolutely loved when I had the M4 rig. I love the gain of Ch2 with the 12AX7, but when I'm wanting that warm SL low-mid gain crunch, I can't quite get it there. Going to try the 5751 along with a set of KT66s to see what that sounds like. The KT66s were used in earlier JTM45s and are lower output than EL34s, so I figure that might get me closer to that SL territory also. I put GT E34LSs in to use for Ch2, and they sound great for gain, but they seem even hotter and gainier than the stock Ruby EL34s, so I'm not sure I'm going to keep them in.

 

[fek]

I put GT E34LSs in to use for Ch2, and they sound great for gain, but they seem even hotter and gainier than the stock Ruby EL34s, so I'm not sure I'm going to keep them in.

Let me know if you are looking to move the GT 34L's. I would like to have an extra set of 34's around to back up the TAD's that I have now.

 

[aeroic]

I thought SED Winged Cs were outstanding in the Mod 50. Also love the Svet 6550s but I kind of sense the lack of warmth mentioned by Eric. I might be puting the TAD EL34s back in.

Eric, thought you loved the TS EL34s? I guess you hadn't played the TS E34Ls at that time. The JJs should be the same thing and cheaper I believe. Same factory. No?

Now I have to either try the TS 6550s or GT E34Ls/JJ E34Ls.

I was not a fan of the TS 5881s. Now, to be fair I had my rack set incorrectly at the time so it might be time to give them another try. At the time they seemed too stiff and typical 6L6 to me. I always thought 6L6s were more scooped but in the Tube Amp Book...they talk about 6L6s having lots of thick mids. Any time I tried the 5881s, there was a cardboardy crunch that bothered me. Sounded very Fender to me as well. Didn't like leads with it.

Had a rehearsal this weekend and must admit the Svet 6550s made the amp really fat, even though I typically prefer the character and sag of an EL34. I might have to Eric's advice and try the TS 6550. Never did I think I would like a typical hi-fi tube in a guitar amp.

My favs have been the SED Winged C EL34s and Tung Sol EL34BSTR

Have had Ruby tubes in the past...and they aren't bad at all. But...as far as the Ruby 6550s vs the Svets...well...back in the day when I had my VHT 2/90/2...My ruby's got spanked by the Svets. So...well...I've never used Rubys since.

The Tung Sol 6550 and Svetlana 6550s are by far the standout 6550s IMHO. I've tried them all!!

The Tung Sols have a bit more warmth and give than the Svetlanas...a bit more "sag" in the mids...that really tends to work VERY WELL in a Mod50. It's a perfect match. As far as if I like the TS 6550s in a quad...they are really good...but I still prefer the Svetlana 6550s in my Mod100 / RT2/50. But it really helps the Mod50 stand out on it's own a LOT better. The Svets didn't fit the Mod50 as much...compared to the TS6550s. And I loved the Svets in there until I threw the TS6550s in there. More organic...bit more high end sparkle...bit more low end ...but not as tight as the Svets. For blues / classic rock / hard rock the TS6550s fit VERY well in the Mod50. Which is what I'm using the Mod50 for these days...more blues / classic rock...I've got the Twin and COD in there.

So... I would say niether is better than the other...just different.

And I'm gonna keep a couple of TS 6550s and Svets around. I'm pretty well done w/ most things EL34... I just don't need it in my Modular series stuff. When I get my Ceriatone 2555 ...well...that's a different story!

Eric

 

[richedie]

Well I use my Mod 50 for clean, some blues stuff and hard rock...antying from classic rock to 80s/90s style hard rock. So far I like EL34s and 6550s best so I might have to try the TS 6550s. Unfortunately it is my only amp and I can't afford another so it has to do a lot...but luckily I am mostly a classic rock/hard rock kind of guy. Not a metal guy any longer like I was back in the day. The heaviest I get now is maybe Iron Maiden style or Tool style.