New Tung Sol 6V6?

terrapin

Member
Messages
4,066
I replaced the JJ 6V6's in my Morgan Deluxe Reverb clone with Tung Sols and thought they were much smoother and less harsh. A nice change IMO. THEN I got a matched pair of NOS Raytheon 6v6GT's and the Tung Sols will serve as back ups.
 

ledzep618

Member
Messages
5,503
Definitely a smoother, warmer break up. Less headroom than the JJ 6V6, not as crystally clean. Having said that, that is exactly what I look for in a 6V6, so I love them.
 

Dawg76

Silver Supporting Member
Messages
2,582
Replaced the original RCA 6V6s in my SFPR with these. Sound good to me.
 

Tommy_G

Member
Messages
3,271
I bought both the JJ's and Tungsol RI's. I don't exactly know how accurately they were selected for my amp, as no set worked acceptably on the intended bias setting. However, with a EL34 bias setting, the Tungsol's stayed in, the JJ's are in 'storage'.
 

cochese

Member
Messages
2,169
It's really amp dependent. Supposedly the JJ's which I like are more like a 6L6 not a true 6V6. The JJ's can take a lot more voltage. It might be best to find out what voltage the amp operates at and go from there.

I found the Tung Sols to have break up earlier than the JJ's.
 

chervokas

Member
Messages
6,839
I have no experience with the JJs, but like others have, I've replaced an aging set of RCA gray plates with the New Sensor "Tung Sol" 6V6s and thought they sounded excellent and similar.
 
Messages
12,268
It will depend on amp voltage as to what you have to use. I have used the Tungsol RI 6V6's in a 5E3(cathode AB1), and a Gibson GA-8(series class A). Fat, harmonic, and loud enough. The voltages in a DR (class AB) are very high. YMMV.
 

RupertB

Silver Supporting Member
Messages
4,364
I like them in my (modded) 5E3 build. Lively, balanced, nice high-end sparkle. Definitely an improvement over the EH which were a little dark, though not as warm as the Mazdas that were there previously.

I liked the JJs in that amp as well but I haven't solved the rattle problem with those. Haven't given up on them yet.
 

freaksho

Member
Messages
3,998
actually biasing a set as we speak and can't find a definitive answer on whether they are a 12W or 14W tube. anyone?
 

jboyjams

Member
Messages
2,300
I've used both the TS RI and JJ in my 1979 Champ.

The TS is much sweeter tone but much less durable in my amp.
The JJ is louder and clearer and more durable.

If my amp could take it, the TS would be used but I blew two of them.
I bought a batch of 3 used old stock (TS, GE and RCA) that sound like the TS RI but are durable and last in my amp.
 
Last edited:

Blue Strat

Member
Messages
30,744
Another vote for the Tung Sol Reissues (if limited to new production tubes). They're much less likely to rattle than the JJ's too.
 

big mike

Cathode biased
Platinum Supporting Member
Messages
16,128
Sound good in my 5e3.
Sound good in my express clone.
Warmer smoother and rounder than the JJ to my ear.
 



Trending Topics

Top Bottom