2 channel recto guys. got a question.

[guitarman967]

Whats up guys? Got a second year 2 channel blackface Recto that sounds killer. It still has the stock chinese Mesa 420 6L6's and ive been trying to find some suitable replacements since Mesa hasnt carried those tubes in years.
Problem is, NOTHING ive tried sounds sounds close to as good as those power tubes do in that amp. Heard the same thing from Mark series guys. Mids are nice and warm and theres more clarity than most 6L6.
Ive tried the following 6L6's:

Sovtek WXT+
MESA 6L6 440 (same as RUBY CMSTR)
Tung Sol 6L6GCSTR
Shuguang 6L6CR (dont sound as good as the 420's )

Anyone have have any suggestions or should I start looking at some EL-34'S?

 

[benduncan]

I have a two channel triple rec that I'd like to retube sometime soon. I have no answers, but I am interested in hearing what others have to say!

 

[JTyson]

I had both 2 and 3 channel models, I liked both of them better with EL34's in them, but I tend to lean towards 34's in anything that will take them
They dont have the bottom of a 6L6, no doubt agout it, but they have much nicer mids, which I love
Just my 2 cents

 

[Moshaholic]

I am more of an "orange channel" guy and I use a boost pedal always with my rectifiers.

I have never cared for the 440's in rectifiers, they have a big bottom and some what of a harsh top end with no soul in the mids.

My favorite have always been Sovtek WXT+'s OR EH5881's - Very warm sounding tubes with a more musical feel in the midrange.

I have gotten both of these from Dougs tubes. He says they need to be the right voltage to match up with the fixed bias of a rectifier so he pics a matched set for me that matches up the a rectifier best.

This is and always has been my thing for many moons in racktifier, triple rectifers and dual rectifiers.

My 2 channel triple is sounding really sweet and smooth...

 

[guitarman967]

Mosh, you nailed it with your description of the 440's. Theyre harsh and souless.
Shame on mesa for boasting that these are the best 6L6 for their amps.
They clearly havent done their homework or checked with players to see whats actually in peoples amps because these tubes take away from mesa's tone IMO.

Now, the Sovteks werent horrible by any stretch but compared head to head to the old 420's they have cloudy mids and the highs are a bit toothy. Kind of always my experience with Sovteks.. they get the job done but arent necessarily the most refined sounding.
Im getting the feeling there might not be an equivalent power tube for these old two channels. It seems like the circuit was tweaked around these 420's.

 

[the4thlast1]

That stinks the you like 420s so much and they dont make them any more...It makes me want to try a nos set if its out there.

 

[jsp]

I prefer EL34's in Recto's, personally.

 

[Shask]

Mine has TAD 6L6's, but cant really compare them! Triples cost too damn much to retube! lol

 

[guitarman967]

Which TAD's? I have the short bottle WC's or whatever they are. They sounded great in my blackface vibrolux. Not sure for modern sounds

 

[JCDenton6]

+1 on the TAD 6L6GC-STR (standard size 6L6)

They sound like they were made for a Recto, I played my friends 2 channel dual with these installed and I plan on buying these for my next retube!
Gonna be a little pricey lol, got a 2 channel Triple...