Tube Thread 2025..........

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Have some GT 6V6-S laying around which are pretty much JJs........



I have to say here with the bigger glass the JJs are that much better and I have to say I'm kind of liking these a bit nicer than the regular GT/EHX Sovtek 6V6.


And I know your supposed to take them into an amp tech to rebias but honestly no red plating at all whatsoever and good to go when you bust them in.


I also have Tung Sols and those run slightly on the hotter side and I have to say those are great too and sound more kind of like vintagey for lack of a better term and have a bit more sag, more open mids than with and the JJ/GT it's more compressed.


The EHX/GTs feel more balanced overall mids wise but are brighter. Tung Sol have like a scooped mid tone but still very open in the lower upper mids and overall nice and warm, can get really chainsaw like in a good way and chuggy. The JJ/GT have more compressed and present mids overall but it's not harsh or jagged or boxy for lack of a better term likechugging. El84s can be, nice and tight bass and relaxed/balanced highs.



Overall very impressed with the GT/JJ 6V6 and really can't go wrong with a set of these power tubes IMO and it just depends on what your after and highly recommend.
 
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Yeah and honestly I love the GT/EHX 6V6 but yeah........


They are getting older and it's been 5 years since I got the amp and kind of want to set them aside for special occasions. Some of the best clean tones on it too and kind of just want to preserve them now and probably going to put the GT/JJs or the Tung Sol 6V6 Reissues in there now.


The Tung Sol seem to run a bit hotter with the stock bias and not bad but the JJs seem to handle the bottom end more and the highs are just right.


Probably need to rebias the amp for the Tung Sol but the JJs actually run as hot but the plates seem to be a bit more robust even more so than the EHX ones too. If I did rebias I'd run the Tung Sol just a bit cooler but overall feel the difference would be neglible overall with the general characteristics of the tube and there is some slight red with the Tung Sols but neglible and not like Chernobyl red hot or anything crazy and within a norm IME.



Also don't want to rebias as much as it's advised too because I just like the stock factory bias and short of a red hot plate they are all running within acceptable norms IMO especially the JJs.



Overall pretty impressed with the JJ/GT 6V6 and it's probably going to replace the EHX/GT 6V6 for now.


Overall here I like them all and they are all good but kind of partial to the JJs right now overall although I feel the EHX/GT do have a spanking clean that is hard to beat the JJs are great too and they can handle gain better too overall when pushed in terms of crunch, grain, break up and overall dynamics etc etc.


I feel the EHX and TungSol are more of a vintage flavor and the JJs are a bit more modern and nicely balanced.
 
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Right now on sale at Viva Tubes aside from the matching they do and competitive price...... they matched my TungSol El84 and they sound great.

Definitely a great tube and if you can't get the Groove Tube versions and/or want to save some money some really great tubes IMO.



They have them at Ruby Tubes too for a good price.



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Honestly though going back and forth the JJs have more pop and are a bit more compressed....... and they do sound pretty damn good I must say and not a bad tube.....



But going back and forth between it and the Tung Sol the JJs seem to have more mids than I am comfortable with. I prefer the cut mids of the Tung Sol and this goes for their 6V6 versions too.


The highs aren't as pronounced but the cut mids and upper mid harmonics in general as are smoother and the tube does have a bit more give and sag as mentioned before and this isn't bad.


The mids are cut somewhat but more open and this leads to nicer note seperation and and giving it a second review the lows are a bit tighter even after a burn in as I've hardly used either of these and giving them a good burn in the tubes have opened up more now.


I feel they have a bit less gain than the JJs and the mids are cut but there is more headroom and give and take and the right amount of sag.


The GT JJs also handle voltages better than either the EHX GT versions and better than the Tung Sol.


While amps should be rebiased when you retube IME it's not a real big deal unless your getting red hot plates....... some red on a plate is expected sometimes and I've ever biased Amps that way slightly as it kind of just makes everything sweeter....... not too much but just a little and tubes have lasted ages.


If your getting plates that are pure red or orange/white....... then your completely fucked and the amp needs to be biased or the tubes changed/checked or whatever but a little red isn't bad ImE.


Having said that usually one socket always gives a bit more juice to one tube vs another IME too and these things aren't perfect. Once I had a Blues Deluxe RI that did need to be rebiased though as those plates were running hotter than normal and when I cooled it down the tone improved but too cool never worked out and it was always like at that brink of safe/red where the amp sounded the best and that's sort of like how this amps been set up out of the factory.



Plus with the Princeton it's kind of a bitch to rebias vs a Hot Rod Deluxe or Blues Deluxe and if it ain't going full meltdown yellow/orange I ain't probably ever changing the bias as it's nice stock and these.


Using an Epiphone 59 Standard MIC Burstbuckers 3 in bridge and 2 in neck Gibson USA pups into a Princeton Reverb Reissue MIA with Alnico Jenson P12Q Made in Italy........



The Tung Sols sound fantastic here..... plenty of dig, plenty of head room and note seperation and handles the lows so well a bit darker than the JJs with cut mids but overall still have plenty of articulation. And that Martial Artist by Bearfoot definitely is a real fantastic MIAB.


These are Apex matched but yeah check them out at Viva Tubes too for that Memorial Day sale or yeah Apex sells these too and the prices aren't bad either way IMO.


If your after a decent tube honest the EHX or JJ 6V6 isn't bad and it depends what your after but I really like these Tung Sols for sure.



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These Tung Sol really are kicking ass. Will ask the dudes at Viva Tubes if they can match a "Hard Set" for me and they usually do at no extra cost if I ask in the comments section when making an order.


Aside from bringing that mid range growl just right and really bringing the glass they really warm up that Reverb and make the Vibrato more pronounced and prominent. The Vibrato has always been good on the Princeton but it's never sounded so good. Before had to bring up the Intensity to 8 or 9 for it to be really present but now it's more like 5 or 6.



Just digging it and yeah they really just make the amp that much better ^_^
 
But going back to the GT 6V6-S/JJs.....


I mean there are more mids here and it's more compressed and it's not as warm or dark but still warm and they really do have mids in a bell like way....... not as tight as the Tung Sol but giving it a further burn in as I never really plugged them in before for long the JJs definitely surprise again.


Pretty much don't like anything JJ but here the GT 6V6-S are really are nice, the mids aren't boxy like on the El84s and the Plates can handle the heat a bit better than either the GT/EHX version or Tungsols here thanks to the design where there is a hole in the plates on either side to dissipate heat better and the double mica for better insulation.


The TungSols made the Vib nicer out of all of them and there is more note seperation and cut mids than either the JJ or EHX. The JJ is has the most mids of all but not in a boxy way feels a bit fuller than the EHX version and warmer but not as warm as the Tung Sols.


Mainly what I'm liking about the JJs is the mids in a good way and the relaxed highs and open bass, still tight but a bit more open and more bell like. A lot of harmonics thanks to the mids here.


Honest can't go wrong with either but I feel like after going back and forth all day the GT6V6-S are staying on the Princeton for a while.



Definitely recommend either though and yeah these JJ 6V6 aren't so bad and sound pretty goof.



I say Definitely check out the Groove Tube rebrand JJ 6V6 and that but if you feel it's more of an upcharge then get some from Viva Tubes, Stumac or Ruby Tubes or wherever else matches them like Apex tubes too.


Definitely a great sounding tube and pretty damn robust too. I didn't want to like it but I really can't complain.
 
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Overall feel the JJ 6V6 versions just have more of a British tone to them vs the Tung Sol or EHX version and those straight up sound more in line with your regular "American Tube" but honestly they all sound great.

The Tung Sol are great too for other things but overall I like the mids the JJs bring here and definitely a bit more of a British type feeling to the amp too.
 
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Also hell don't know if the GT 6V6-S are the same JJ Double Mica versions you get aftermarket but I figure they are as there really are no microphonics and the Plates handle heat exceedingly well compared to the EHX and especially the Tung Sols at the same factory set bias.

Also while there was a bit of red plating on the Tung Sol and minimal at best I just feel more comfortable with the JJs here especially given the harmonics the extra mids offer. The JJ versions just handle the heat extremely well and was really surprised and overall if I were to use the Tung Sols for safety would want to and need to get the amp rebiased which I really would like to avoid. Pretty much no sign at all of any type of red plating on the JJs and another reason I'm sticking with them for now on the Princeton Reverb Reissue Bordeaux. I mean being honest would probably be safe putting in the Tung Sols without rebiasing as they run a bit hot on factory bias buy not too hot or crazy red/white hot.



Generally I like a more scooped sound like the Tung Sols offer but with an already scooped sound a Blackface amp inherently has the JJ 6V6 here really balance it out with more mids.


AC15s are naturally mid heavy already so there the cut mids in a Tung Sol El84 does the opposite and balances out the mids by cutting them. Here I feel the Tung Sols while offering a good sound may cut the mids too much for some but in general it sounds as good or better than the JJ and it just depends on what you want and are after.



Plus as said the JJ 6V6s really do offer more of a British tone vs an American tone like on the EHX/Tung Sol versions and are practically more of a mini El34 more so than the El84 version.


But in general would say the Tung Sol is more for the like a straight up vintage sound and the JJs are more a general purpose sound. Really both are great and would use either over the standard EHX versions but here using the JJs for now as that midrange really does balance out the Princeton some and is very bell like too.



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From left to right GT/EXH 6V6, Tungsol 6V6 and GT/JJ 6V6-S.


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I mean the EHX/Tung Sol look more like a vintage 6V6 or a NOS one pretty much, not exactly but more similar/like and the JJ looks like an El34 but in a smaller version.


You can also see the glass is bigger and thicker on the JJs here. Have to say the Tung Sols do sound amazing and spot on vintagey and give a classic sound but overall really impressed with the GT/JJ version. They kind of made a EL34 into a 6V6, Mickey Moused it and kind of made a better 6V6 one could argue with thicker glass too.


The JJ has about 1.25-1.50 more glass/thickness or more and even bulges out of the sides than the Russian versions. It's also a bit louder on the same setting and provides more volume overall but slightly less headroom as a result and yeah more gain too. It's hard to make out as they are really compressed/compact but the GT/JJ versions seem to be the Double Mica versions too.


I mean the Tung Sols are no slouch and pretty much look very much like a NOS tube and sound like one too and some may want the higher headroom and cut mids but feel the JJ provides enough headroom, more volume and boosted mids as a trade off and it just depends on what your after.
 
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I wouldn’t buy shit from Viva tubes. I bought a quad from them and popped them on my tube tester. They weren’t matched on my maxi matcher. They refused a return. They are flat out liars.
 
psychodave said:
I wouldn’t buy shit from Viva tubes. I bought a quad from them and popped them on my tube tester. They weren’t matched on my maxi matcher. They refused a return. They are flat out liars.
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Right on really have no affiliation but the power tubes I have bought from them have sounded great and they seem pretty great to deal with IME. Pretty good prices too and I get them on sale when I can or just buy them for the regular prices as they arent bad either......


When I asked for a Soft, Medium or Hard Set they did it as well at no extra cost with the last sets I ordered as well.


There is Apex, Amplified Parts, Ruby Tubes, Dougs Tubes or Groove Tubes as well too.
 
Also for anyone interested...... NOS Siemens EL34.......

I think GC, MF and SweetWater carry them too. Not cheap but yeah....... if your after something special for the amp. SweetWater seem to have them in stock for sure though......



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Also for 20 bucks less the Groove Tube El84 could be had vs the Mesa one and I think it's pretty much the same tube and both seem to be rebrand JJ.



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El34L going for about 10-15 bucks less after shipping and taxes if you don't want to or feel the GTs are worth it.



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Used the GT6V6-S/JJ here into the Princeton Reverb Reissue with 112 P12Q Alnico Jenson. Burstbucker 2 in neck and Burstbucker 3 in bridge of an Epiphone 59 Standard with an SD1W in stock setting, FATRAT set to 18 volts in FAT/Mosfet mode and an MXR 6 Band EQ in a seagull at the end of the chain ^_^








These are the settings on the amp and pedals and plugged into the first input. Intensity at 0 so no Vib and Reverb at 4 with Treb at 8 and Bass at 7 and barely at 2 volume.


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