What are your favorite 6V6 power tubes?

DirtySteve

DirtySteve

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My HG Plexi runs 6V6 power tubes. I just had one of my old GEs go bad and had to replace them. I didn't choose the GEs, they were put in there by Terry (@T-Rex ) when he redid my power section to get rid of the EL84s and I never questioned them. Now I've replaced them with my backup set, a pair of JJ 6V6S tubes. I can't help but think there are better choices out there, I just don't know what they are.

What do you like? CP, NOS? ...I can go either way. Not that it matters, but I'm currently running NOS RFTs in V1 and V2 and an old NOS Canadian Mullard in the PI.
 
I've been using Raytheon 6V6s in my Deluxe Reverb for years. I bought a couple of matched pairs 15-20 years ago. I might still have a pair left in my stash. Never had an issue until either a screen or bias resistor (I forget which, it's been ages) went, and took out one tube. They were an "under the radar" tube at the time, and fairly inexpensive.
 
SG John said:
I've been using Raytheon 6V6s in my Deluxe Reverb for years. I bought a couple of matched pairs 15-20 years ago. I might still have a pair left in my stash. Never had an issue until either a screen or bias resistor (I forget which, it's been ages) went, and took out one tube. They were an "under the radar" tube at the time, and fairly inexpensive.
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There's a matched pair of Raytheon 6V6GT black glass on reverb right now for $54. I'm thinking about snagging them based on you're post. Do you think it'll matter that they will be used in a high gain plexi style amp?
 
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DirtySteve said:
There's a matched pair of Raytheon 6V6GT black glass on reverb right now for $54. I'm thinking about snagging them based on you're post. Do you think it'll matter that they will be used in a high gain plexi style amp?
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If your amp is a four hole input style Marshall, it really wouldn't be high-gain. Plexis were still based on the JTM45/Tweed Bassman circuit. Unless it's a modded circuit, and quite a bit off from original. The Raytheon tubes are very robust, and have worked well for me in a Deluxe. That amp usually gets played pretty hard. It breaks up nicely at higher volumes, and takes pedals well. And it sounds great because even though it's a '71 Deluxe Reverb, a couple of things have been modded to take it to pre-'65 specs.
 
SG John said:
If your amp is a four hole input style Marshall, it really wouldn't be high-gain. Plexis were still based on the JTM45/Tweed Bassman circuit. Unless it's a modded circuit, and quite a bit off from original. The Raytheon tubes are very robust, and have worked well for me in a Deluxe. That amp usually gets played pretty hard. It breaks up nicely at higher volumes, and takes pedals well. And it sounds great because even though it's a '71 Deluxe Reverb, a couple of things have been modded to take it to pre-'65 specs.
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Well, I ordered them, I didn't want to miss out. :rolf2:

The amp is not a normal 4 holer. It's a 18 or 20 watt (I forget) Cameron/Jose high gain plexi. I'm sure calling it a Plexi is wrong, but I don't know what it actually is to call it. I rebuilt this amp after getting ripped off by a forum bro about 10 or 11 years ago with Terry's help. It has a switch to go between Cameron/off/Friedman HG clipping. It's a beast man, I named it the Lil' Devil.

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Raytheon red bank tubes are rugged I was lucky to get a case of 50 12AX7 @ $18.00 each

www.tubedepot.com

Raytheon 12AX7

The JAN Raytheon 12AX7 Black Plates consistently rated as one of the best sounding US made 12AX7. Last of the NATO stocks has smooth mids & lush top end.
www.tubedepot.com www.tubedepot.com
 
67plexi said:
Raytheon red bank tubes are rugged I was lucky to get a case of 50 12AX7 @ $18.00 each

www.tubedepot.com

Raytheon 12AX7

The JAN Raytheon 12AX7 Black Plates consistently rated as one of the best sounding US made 12AX7. Last of the NATO stocks has smooth mids & lush top end.
www.tubedepot.com www.tubedepot.com
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Are you looking to sell any of them? I have a really high gain Raytheon Black plate, but it's too high gain. I wouldn't call it smooth at all, it's kind of harsh. I always wanted to try a different one. I hear they are good PI tubes.
 
DirtySteve said:
My HG Plexi runs 6V6 power tubes. I just had one of my old GEs go bad and had to replace them. I didn't choose the GEs, they were put in there by Terry (@T-Rex ) when he redid my power section to get rid of the EL84s and I never questioned them. Now I've replaced them with my backup set, a pair of JJ 6V6S tubes. I can't help but think there are better choices out there, I just don't know what they are.

What do you like? CP, NOS? ...I can go either way. Not that it matters, but I'm currently running NOS RFTs in V1 and V2 and an old NOS Canadian Mullard in the PI.
Click to expand...
Most nos tubes are not NOS at all, but used tubes which supposedly "test good."

Note that the tube tester only detects about 50% of possible issues.
NOS is new old stock which implies that you are buying a new unused tube. Although there are real NOS tubes they can be rather expensive.
However a used tube can never be called NOS, and most of the "NOS" tubes out there for sale are phony.

But my answer to using 6V6 is to use 6L6 instead because the 6L6 has better bottom and lower mids. Might be Noticeably better sound. Pretty much anywhere you are using 6V6, you can plug 6L6 straight in.
 
Amp Mad Scientist said:
Most nos tubes are not NOS at all, but used tubes which supposedly "test good."

Note that the tube tester only detects about 50% of possible issues.
NOS is new old stock which implies that you are buying a new unused tube. Although there are real NOS tubes they can be rather expensive.
However a used tube can never be called NOS, and most of the "NOS" tubes out there for sale are phony.

But my answer to using 6V6 is to use 6L6 instead because the 6L6 has better bottom and lower mids. Might be Noticeably better sound. Pretty much anywhere you are using 6V6, you can plug 6L6 straight in.
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I was hoping Terry would show up so I could ask him if 6L6 tubes were compatible. Are you sure that they are? I would have tried them before but I wasn't sure if I could in this amp.

I know most tubes listed as NOS are not actually NOS. The Raytheons I mentioned earlier on Reverb says they're 5.5% NOS...whatever that means, lol, but they tested good and there is a good long explanation of how they were tested. I have my fingers crossed because I ordered them. They are coming from TX Audio Tubes in Houston.
 
DirtySteve said:
Are you looking to sell any of them? I have a really high gain Raytheon Black plate, but it's too high gain. I wouldn't call it smooth at all, it's kind of harsh. I always wanted to try a different one. I hear they are good PI tubes.
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In my past I would world service private amp collections the Raytheon 12AX7 sold out fast they were in a sealed carton
 
DirtySteve said:
I was hoping Terry would show up so I could ask him if 6L6 tubes were compatible. Are you sure that they are? I would have tried them before but I wasn't sure if I could in this amp.

I know most tubes listed as NOS are not actually NOS. The Raytheons I mentioned earlier on Reverb says they're 5.5% NOS...whatever that means, lol, but they tested good and there is a good long explanation of how they were tested. I have my fingers crossed because I ordered them. They are coming from TX Audio Tubes in Houston.
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it's me
I stirred up all the controversy about fake NOS tubes.
It triggered all sorts of creative responses from people who sell phony NOS tubes.

"this tube "tests" NOS." and of course, there's no such test.
Now it's "5.5% NOS." In other words, it's not really NOS.
It's just another way of saying: I'm selling old used beat tubes and falsely calling them NOS.

I have just one piece of advice: stop falling for it. It's a scam.
All types of people have a big junk box of old tubes, and they want to sell them for lots of money.
And that's what these are: junk.
 
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