JJ 6V6 similar to 6L6?

[pics2050]

I read somewhere that JJ 6V6 sounds closer to (other manufacturers') 6L6 tubes than a "real" 6V6...is that true? How would you describe tone difference between 6V6s and 6L6s? Thank you.

[tastylicks]

I've heard the same thing, and the JJ's are a little "cleaner" than the other 6v6's I tried (though for me they were more sterile and unappealing "clean"), however they are not similar to the SED Winged-C 6L6's I have in my 2x6L6 amp. Not really close. Maybe a moderately apple-like orange, but not an apple, IMO. If you made juice with it, it would be unequivocally orange juice, not apple juice.

[stratman_el84]

I know that JJ 6V6's will take much higher plate voltages than a garden-variety 6V6. I've even put JJ 6V6's in a JTM45-style amp (445V on the plates) with some re-biasing with no ill effects.

My pet theory is that JJ 6V6's are 'modified' Eastern-Block tubes that were design-wise somewhere between a 6V6 and a 6L6, then 'Westernized' with proper pin-outs, etc.

This makes sense as it would mean minimal re-tooling costs for them to get a piece of the Wests' market for tubes, now that environmentalists have made it nearly impossible to manufacture vacuum tubes at a profit and all the US-based tube manufacturers have stopped making tubes due to the onerous costs of complying with environmental regulations.

Cheers!

Strat

[gldtp99]

To me they seem like an "in between" 6V6 and 6L6GC tube----not really either one---- but i like them when they don't rattle---- because they're rated for 500V plate, 450V screens they can be used to sub for 6L6GC, EL34 in some amps to lower wattage, if wanted.
I built a 25 watt Marshall 2204 clone (w/my favorite mods) with them and Heyboer's 18 Watt transformer set (ss rec instead of tube rec)---- they kick major butt in this application----- for stock 6V6 amps (Fender Princeton, Deluxe, etc) i'd probably go with NOS 6V6-type tubes.....................gldtp99

[rockon1]

To me they seem like an "in between" 6V6 and 6L6GC tube----not really either one---- but i like them when they don't rattle---- because they're rated for 500V plate, 450V screens they can be used to sub for 6L6GC, EL34 in some amps to lower wattage, if wanted.
.gldtp99


Yep. I really dig them in my Rivera Chubster which is EL34 based and runs around 430PV. Bob

[slider313]

They sound more like a 7591 to my ears. Crisp, clear bass, scooped mids and a bright, clear top end that's not overly brittle. Great note seperation but they just don't sound like a true 6V6.

[Jon Silberman]

to me they seem like an "in between" 6v6 and 6l6gc tube----not really either one-
+1.

[pics2050]

thanks gents!

[evacuated]

They sound more like a 7591 to my ears. Crisp, clear bass, scooped mids and a bright, clear top end that's not overly brittle. Great note seperation but they just don't sound like a true 6V6.

/\ This .. Plus the plate structure even looks like a 7591/7868 type tube.

[mc5nrg]

I think the editorial about tube manufacturing is mostly myth. USA tube production pretty much ended when the military stopped buying them. With the JAN market gone production ceased. Since the Russians were much more concerend about EMP (electro magnetic pulse) effects during nuclear war, they kept using vacuum tube technology and their tube plants still had a reason to exist. In the USA war planning ,there isn't much point in surviving total obliteration.

[stratman_el84]

I think the editorial about tube manufacturing is mostly myth. USA tube production pretty much ended when the military stopped buying them. With the JAN market gone production ceased. Since the Russians were much more concerend about EMP (electro magnetic pulse) effects during nuclear war, they kept using vacuum tube technology and their tube plants still had a reason to exist. In the USA war planning ,there isn't much point in surviving total obliteration.

The increasing costs of tubes due to the added costs of complying with the new environmental regulations being passed was also a contributing factor in the militarys' decision to drop tube technology. There was still a considerable consumer/commercial demand for tubes but because of the increased environmental-related costs, it was judged to be not worth continuing production.

My vocational electronics teacher in high school was an EE that was retired from RCA where he'd worked as a senior engineer on their tube design/production for most of his career, and had transferred over to work at RCA at their Cape Kennedy facility after tube production shut down, from where he voluntarily retired to teach because of his love for kids.

The reasons I gave were basically what he told me. Being someone who would have had more first-hand knowledge than most pontificators on the subject, I tend to believe him rather than people who only have supposition, rumor, and possible political/ideological agendas of their own.

Cheers!

Strat

[triodeamps]

Dont be fooled. They still use tubes in Military equipment and Radar at airports around the world to this day. The reasons are obvious. They are not subject to EMP and have 10,000 hours of operational lifetime specs. They are still used by FEMA and evey other GOV agency in emergency applications. You wont reinvent the wheel when it comes to tubes. Sorta like Yahoo (Chocolate Milk) and Budweiser

[s2amps]

The military is exempt from a lot of environmental regulations.

Back on topic...

They sound like a 7591 to me, which does fall somewhere between a 6V6 and 6L6. I really like them in heads, but I've had a lot of problems with rattles in combos. Lots of mechanical noise in JJ's large bottle tubes.

[Axekisser]

I have a pair in my non-verb Princeton and I think they work well in that circuit. Nice bottom and the top end isn't strident. I haven't noticed any rattles but I'm not playing real loud either. They seem to work well in my Champs also.

[merkaba22]

Played a lot of hours at home and a few sessions in the Princeton Reverb II w/ JJ 6V6's I picked up late last year -- never a problem or a rattle.

[Boogie Boy]

Awesome in my Z-28