SLO Powerubes

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Alex_S

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Hi,

I found a SLO with 6l6 power tubes. Didn't even know that exists. Can anyone please educate me on SLO power tubes:

I know you can buy SLOs with different power tubes in. Are these all equipped with same Transformators etc. and just set up with different biases, or are there different versions of the SLO out there?

So can I switch to 5881 etc. and just rebias without the risk of damaging the amp?

What power tubes do you guys use in your SLO and why? Are 6l6s a good choice? I thought the SLO is played with more Marshallesque setups usually. What did George, Eddie, etc. use?

Ciao Alex
 
You can use 6L6/5881, they are essentially interchangeable. Also, KT66 are also pop in replacements in the SLO. Ultimately my favorites were the ones Mike sends with each new amp, the cheap Sovtek wafer bottom 5881s. I liked the bias around 28-30ma, you should always re bias when changing power tubes.
 
Racerxrated":1j3493xv said:
You can use 6L6/5881, they are essentially interchangeable. Also, KT66 are also pop in replacements in the SLO. Ultimately my favorites were the ones Mike sends with each new amp, the cheap Sovtek wafer bottom 5881s. I liked the bias around 28-30ma, you should always re bias when changing power tubes.
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Yup! +1 on the 6L6 / 5881's being interchangeable, and on Sovtek 5881's in Soldano amps in general.
Mine is an HR25, not an SLO, but nothing can touch the Sovtek 5881's it came with, and I tried a lot of tubes.
TAD black plate 6l6GC's were 2nd best, but there's something about the Sovtek 5881's that just jell with the amp :dunno:
 
I use Philips 5881/A on my SLO. Like everyone said, 6L6 = 5881.
 
Racerxrated":lurst8c8 said:
You can use 6L6/5881, they are essentially interchangeable. Also, KT66 are also pop in replacements in the SLO. Ultimately my favorites were the ones Mike sends with each new amp, the cheap Sovtek wafer bottom 5881s. I liked the bias around 28-30ma, you should always re bias when changing power tubes.
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Agree 100%...Sovtek wafer bottoms biased around 28ma gets the best tones and are sturdy tubes.
 
6L6 and 5881 are interchangeable, but they don't sound the same, imho. I didn't like 6L6's in my SLO all. It was too scooped and polite. Sovtek wafer bottom 5881s all the way for me. Ymmv, of course.
 
-6L6GC is a 30w tube-(more clean head room)-
-5881 is a 23w tube-(so it will break up sooner)-its also a military grade tube, thicker glass, thicker getter, thicker grid wires, thicker everything,
 
Mine has 6l6's that the previous owner installed. I love the tone but now I'm curious about 5881's
 
nevusofota":1koj4zhy said:
Mine has 6l6's that the previous owner installed. I love the tone but now I'm curious about 5881's
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Try the wafer bottoms. My guess is you'll love the tone even more. If not, you'll have a backup quad.
 
-the 6L6GC's are the closest to the 5881as far as swapping/exchanging them, any time you see a "W" in the tube nomenclature it means that there a military grade 6L6.
 
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