New Tung Sol 5881?

I recently A/B'd some NOS Tungsol 5881 and new production TAD 6L6-WGC in a Tone King Meteor II (cathode bias) and Germino Club 40 (fixed bias). In my opinion, the TAD 6L6-WGC sounded better -- much better, actually. There is no need to hunt down an expensive NOS 5881.

This tube is also available from Groove Tube as the 6L6C-Q.
Lord Valve carries the Shuguang (OEM) version.

Check it out.

 

NOS Jan Phillips 6L6WGB's (5881) still sell for $70 a QUAD!

Angela Instruments

 

The TAD 6l6WGC (short bottle) tubes are not low power tubes. I emailed TAD and got the response back that they are 30 W tubes, hence the 6L6GC moniker (with the W in there as well). TAD did go on to say that if you were putting tubes in a "7581A" application, that you should use their large bottle 6L6GC's instead.

So I think that's the benefit of using TAD 6L6WGC's - if you are looking for a softer, 5881 type sound sound and want to run tubes out in 6L6GC applications, they are a good choice. If you will run tubes at lower levels (23 W) , the Philips 6L6WGB are still about the same price (and my choice). Nice to have options though.

Incidentally, I've a-b slyvania 5881's to tung sols in my '57 Pro in gig environments. I see what the fuss is about with the tung sols and do like them (like their tone). But I find the slyvania's more useful due to their full range. They still have great tone, but more highs, lows and volume. I say that because they are about the same tube as a Philips 6L6WGB.