Need Some 6L6's - It's Been A While...

[MrBump]

So - one of the dead cool things about my Egnater Renegade is the pot on both channels that lets you dial in 6V6 and EL34 output valves - because when they go, you just balance towards the others!!!

Which seems to have just happened!

Which means that I need to get me some 6V6 valves...  two, I think.

Don't know much about these particular valves - I guess I need to spend some time on the Watford Valves site.  But for now, any advice?  I'm a vintage kinda guy in terms of tone.

Mark.

[Telerocker]

I use a quad of JJ 6V6's in my Orange Rockerverb 50 head. They sound balanced and round, a little les agressive then Electro Harmonix 6V6's. The JJ's are good quality.

[MrBump]

I am a muppet - I meant 6L6's...

Although the Egnater can also take 6V6's only JJs, apparently)...

I guess I'm after sparkly/dirty Fendery tones... Any suggestions?

[Dmoney]

I've always used JJ 6L6GC's when I needed them but in the last quad i got one was arcing internally straight away and that put me off.

the JJ 6V6S is a bit like a mini 6L6. it can handle lots more plate voltage than other 6V6's, so your Egnater probably has a plate voltage that is too high for most 6V6's which is why they are restricting you to JJ's. The JJ 6V6S sounds good.

[Ratrod]

Sparkly, dirty Fender tone........

TAD 6L6WGC-STR. Remake of the old GE 6L6GC small bottle. I have these in my Engl Classic Tube.

[hunter]

I've played around with 6L6 / 5881 types a bit over the past months, I am normally an EL34 guy. The conclusion for me is, while JJs offer good value for money, the SED=C=s do sound better. That is both, for the EL34s and the 6L6es. So if you'd get a pair of =C= EL34s and a pair of =C= 6L6, that would surely give you tonal nirvana in the Renegade. It would cost a fair bit, as they went up in price a lot, which is why I'd recommend to compare prices well.

[HTH AMPS]

if you can find some Groove Tube GE 6L6GC repros, they are REALLY nice.

[Elliot]

Really?  Most reviews I've read say they are virtually indistinguishable from the New Sensor 'Svetlana' branded 6L6s (i.e. not =C=) at almost one third of the price more. 

[Denim n Leather]

=C= is your best bet for new production valves.

Elliot, you are misinformed, or are reading reviews by deaf ppl, if they think Svets by New Sensor and =C= sound the same.

For vintage valves, I would go with RCA.

https://www.tubeworld.com/6l6gc.htm

[mbchepburn]

Check out www.eurotubes.com, this guy sells JJ tubes and he has tube variations for every sound you're looking for, just click the link on the site with you're am brand and there's a list of tubes that you can use with that amp to bring out the best tone for your needs.

[MrBump]

Thanks, guys - it was a long(ish) and painful road - in the end it was JJ EL34s and the TAD 6L6s mentioned above - both sound awesome, an already great amp is sounding even more sparkly and grindy!

One of the attractions of my Renegade was the convenience of external bias points, but I screwed up the valves when putting them in - snapped off the middle bit of 2 of the valves in the holder...

 :shock:

So, that meant taking the head out of the cab, a little light surgery to get rid of the snapped off bits, and MORE BLOODY VALVES!!!

In the end, it worked fine - I wonder if I just got bad valves?  I've chnaged valves before with very few issues.

Anyway - all good!

[Telerocker]

Congrats!  The right tubes can make a (big) difference.

[Elliot]

Sorry Ben. you misunderstood me - I was talking about reviews putting comparing Tube GE 6L6GC repros vs New Sensor Svetlanas, not =C= (which I use, and came out way above all current production in the same reviews).