6L6GC recommendations

[boost]

My Budda SD80 is the first 6L6 amp I have ever owned that I am looking to change tubes on. I've always been a EL34 or EL84 guy really.

Anyway the amp came with JJ 6L6's and I have no idea how old they might be. The Budda site recommended Shuagaung?? tubes which I assume are just generic Chinese tubes?

So what are the current production tube of choice for high gain 6L6 amps these days? I know brands come in and out of favor all the time based on reliability so I am curious as to what is working out there now.

Not oppossed to reasonably priced NOS tubes, but I know 'reasonably' seriously narrows the options a bit.

Thanks.

 

[Laura]

I am a fan of Ruby (Chinese), Sovtek WXT+ and SED's in that category.

 

[fluff191]

I am a fan of Ruby (Chinese), Sovtek WXT+ and SED's in that category.

+100

On a budget the WXT+ is an amazing tube. My favorite at the moment is the Ruby 6L6GCMSTR. Sounds huge.

 

[boost]

Thanks. I think the store by me has Ruby's and Sovteks. I'll check out what they have tonight.

 

[aftec]

JJ are working fine for me. Solid bass, not too piercing highs, quite musical tubes.
Winged C-s have less lows and more highs. (They are Ok, but nothing extra special which would justify the price difference)
Sovteks are good all rounders but the JJ or the old Svetlana is better IMO.
New Svetlana and Tung-sols are crap IMO
I'm not a big fan of any 5881 either.

My vote is on the JJ.

 

[Anonymous]

SED's

 

[alxdgr8]

Always have loved JJ's for 6L6's

 

[blackba]

I like the SED 6L6GC's. The TAD 6L6GC's are nice too. The JJ 6L6GC's are okay.

For the Ruby 6L6GC's is that their own design or a relabeled of something else?

 

[crwnedblasphemy]

I like the SED 6L6GC's. The TAD 6L6GC's are nice too. The JJ 6L6GC's are okay.

For the Ruby 6L6GC's is that their own design or a relabeled of something else?

Relabeled. Has anyone tried the TAD 6L6WGC?

 

[blackba]

I like the SED 6L6GC's. The TAD 6L6GC's are nice too. The JJ 6L6GC's are okay.

For the Ruby 6L6GC's is that their own design or a relabeled of something else?

Relabeled. Has anyone tried the TAD 6L6WGC?

So what is the Ruby a relabeled of?

I have a pair of TAD 6L6WGC's, nice tubes. Doesn't have the bottom of the regular TAD 6L6GC, but they are a little warmer with more mids.

 

[crwnedblasphemy]

I like the SED 6L6GC's. The TAD 6L6GC's are nice too. The JJ 6L6GC's are okay.

For the Ruby 6L6GC's is that their own design or a relabeled of something else?

Relabeled. Has anyone tried the TAD 6L6WGC?

So what is the Ruby a relabeled of?

I have a pair of TAD 6L6WGC's, nice tubes. Doesn't have the bottom of the regular TAD 6L6GC, but they are a little warmer with more mids.

That is why they intrigue me. I like mids. haha Stay clear though?

6L6GC-MSTR is from the Shuguang factory,
The Ruby Winged =C= 6L6GC is the same as SED 6L6 winged =C=, and the Ruby 6L6GC-CZ is a relabeled JJ.

 

[JerryP]

TAD is my favorite. SED/Winged C are great and the Ruby's are nice too. Hate JJ and Sovtek although the Sovtek are pretty rugged and seem to hold up real well.
Jerry

 

[crwnedblasphemy]

TAD is my favorite. SED/Winged C are great and the Ruby's are nice too. Hate JJ and Sovtek although the Sovtek are pretty rugged and seem to hold up real well.
Jerry

Have you tried both TAD's Jerry?

 

[just42dave]

I love tad
rubys are just relabeled gotta scope the guts to see
jjs are solid
tungsols good
sovtek just your normal russian tube

 

[JerryP]

TAD is my favorite. SED/Winged C are great and the Ruby's are nice too. Hate JJ and Sovtek although the Sovtek are pretty rugged and seem to hold up real well.
Jerry

Have you tried both TAD's Jerry?

I've used both. I like the short bottle tube just a little more. Both sound great though.
Jerry

 

[boost]

The Ruby's they had at the shop were 6L6GC-MSTR. No other markings on the glass that would indicate origin. Is there a way to tell by the guts or is the 'MSTR' designation enough to know it's Chinese?

 

[Laura]

The Ruby's they had at the shop were 6L6GC-MSTR. No other markings on the glass that would indicate origin. Is there a way to tell by the guts or is the 'MSTR' designation enough to know it's Chinese?

Those are Chinese rebranded by Ruby. Good tubes!

 

[blackba]

I like the SED 6L6GC's. The TAD 6L6GC's are nice too. The JJ 6L6GC's are okay.

For the Ruby 6L6GC's is that their own design or a relabeled of something else?

Relabeled. Has anyone tried the TAD 6L6WGC?

So what is the Ruby a relabeled of?

I have a pair of TAD 6L6WGC's, nice tubes. Doesn't have the bottom of the regular TAD 6L6GC, but they are a little warmer with more mids.

That is why they intrigue me. I like mids. haha Stay clear though?

6L6GC-MSTR is from the Shuguang factory,
The Ruby Winged =C= 6L6GC is the same as SED 6L6 winged =C=, and the Ruby 6L6GC-CZ is a relabeled JJ.

Yes they still stay clear. I slightly prefer the 6L6WGC versions, particularly for vintage or vintage voiced amps.

 

[boost]

The Ruby's they had at the shop were 6L6GC-MSTR. No other markings on the glass that would indicate origin. Is there a way to tell by the guts or is the 'MSTR' designation enough to know it's Chinese?

Those are Chinese rebranded by Ruby. Good tubes!

Great, Thank you! They seem to have a few quartets of these at the store. I see them at MF for $49.99 a quartet. Can that be right??? Seems these are cheaper than what I was paying for a decent quad of EL84's.

Doesn't sound right, but I'm hoping it is. Starting to really dig the fact that the Budda is supposed to like cheap tubes. I won't mind replacing them often at those prices.

 

[jerrydyer]

I have a set of winged C's in one of my 50 watters I use at shows. Its taken a beating for over 5 years. Same tubes.