I thought GT 6L6 GEs were supposed to be identical to GL6 GCs? WTF?

[Leonc]

Okay so Scott Lerner was nice enough to send me a pair of 6L6GEs from Groove Tubes. As I read it on KCA's site, they're the same as 6L6 GCs made by GE.

http://kcanostubes.com/content/estore_details.asp?product=102

However, they've got a pin in #1...but the old GE 6L6 GCs do not (http://www.ofgb.org/reference/Music/Tubes/6L6/6l6gc%20GE%20datasheet.pdf) have a pin there.

My amp won't take these 6L6 GEs as it's not expecting anything in pin 1.

:confused:

[Old Tele man]

...like computers, some vacuum tubes are "...more compatible..." than others.

[brad347]

You'll note that many 6L6s do not have the full octal base... a couple of pins are often removed. What kind of amp are you using? Unless it's a funny tube socket of some sort it should accept it whether it has the full octal base or not.

Did you even try inserting the tubes in the sockets?

[Leonc]

It's an '69/'70 Ampeg Gemini GV22. Yes of course I tried inserting the tube. They've apparently got some solder or something part way in the socket as the it appears open at the top of the socket, but you can't get anything all the way in.

[Fxrs]

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that pin is only there as extra support.

[brad347]

you could probably remove the pin with no adverse effects. However, I won't officially go on the record as recommending this just in case i'm somehow wrong.

Look inside the socket and see if the contacts are bent and covering the hole. If so, just bend them back with a small pointy object. Be safe

[Blue Strat]

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that pin is only there as extra support.

That would be the only reason. Pin one is not internally connected.

I guess you could say that this was an "enhancement".