5881 & 6L6 Confusion

Yngwiestein

Yngwiestein

New member
So I always thought of 5881 tubes as a different sounding 6L6 with less power, or not as loud as 6L6. I think I developed this opinion from using them in different amps and from very limited reading. Now I want to know what the heck I'm talking about.

I bought some Groove Tubes and didn't really like them. They were labled as 5881/6L6. When shopping for tubes they are categorized as 6L6 or 5881. So if you're buying a 5881 and it's just a 6L6 then what's the freaking difference? I looked some of this up and saw some talk about Sovtek 5881/6L6 vs other 5881 & 6L6 and it only added to the confusion.

I thought it was a common misconception that 6L6 is the American term for 5881. Man I've gone crosseyed! LOL!

I need the bottom line here bros. Why and how to choose them for your amp.
 
Re: 5881 & 6L6 Confusion

to my knowledge these days a 5881 is just a lower power rated 6L6 (20watts?). Noone really makes a true 5881 if i remember right.

even the new sensor 5881 tung-sol reissue is just a lower power handling 6l6 right?

A true 5881 is a NOS treasure that is a little different. Think a thinner more compressed tone with earlier breakup.
 
Re: 5881 & 6L6 Confusion

There is a very long answer that goes with this but in short the 5881 is the military upgrade of the original 6L6G from the late 40's or early 50's. However more modern 6L6GC tubes from the late 50's and early 60's put out more power and are stronger/cleaner than the 5881.

5881's have a lot of the same tone of a 6L6 but are creamier and smoother.

BOTH are American tubes and both can be used in the same amp depending on the amp...example old Tweed Fenders like the 4x10 Bassman, 3x10 Bandmaster, 2x10 Super etc can be run with either 6L6G's, 6L6GC's, 6L6GB, or 5881 however I wouldn't put 5881's in modern amps with higher plate voltages unless you wanna waster a great set of tubes.

All this said I have only scratched the surface...google is your friend!
 
Re: 5881 & 6L6 Confusion

A NOS pair of 5881's is great in most amps, but the new ones don't have the punch--they were originally mil-spec tubes for servo amps in B-52's, so they were built heavy duty and last a long time. Old Tung-Sol's are what you want.
 
Re: 5881 & 6L6 Confusion

I took the stock 5881s out of my ENGL and replaced them with JJ 6L6GCs. I believe the 5881s were sovtek. The 6L6s are bigger and creamier for heavy distortion. But the 5881s were a bit sparklier for cleans I thought. But they weren't as big or organic sounding with high gain as the JJ 6L6s that replaced them.

But I still wonder how EL34s would sound in a Screamer.
 
Re: 5881 & 6L6 Confusion

I thought that 5881 were a smoother lower output version of 6L6 which T.G.W.I.F confirmed.

I'm not sure if there is a noticable difference in characteristics if you compare back to back, but i haven't- so i dunno.
 
Re: 5881 & 6L6 Confusion

shawnr said:
A NOS pair of 5881's is great in most amps, but the new ones don't have the punch--they were originally mil-spec tubes for servo amps in B-52's, so they were built heavy duty and last a long time. Old Tung-Sol's are what you want.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't say that at all...first I think there are some new 5881's that sound killer! Also, I wouldn't go around suggesting that "5881's sound good in most amps" and that "old Tung-Sol's are what you want"...thats gonna lead to someone dropping a LOT of money on a killer set of NOS Tung Sol 5881's, dropping them in an amp that needs a more stout set of tubes. Plus there are a lot of players that are looking for a stronger, tighter more powerful sound and IMO 5881's don't give that...
 
Re: 5881 & 6L6 Confusion

I have a D'Lite 22/33 that I've tried JJ-6V6 (22w), Tung-Sol 6L6GC (33w), GTs Chinese 6L6 (33w) and what turned out to be my favorite Tung-Sol 5881s (25w).

They are rated for lower plate voltage but in talking to the Brown Note guys, they recommended that they would work in the 6L6 settings of that amp. They break up a bit sooner and don't have quite as much head room. They are about half way between the 6V6 and 6L6 in the way they sound.

But I'm betting the lower plate voltage would be a problem in some amps. I would not have even tried them if I had not known the Brown Note guys had tried them.

But the 6L6 is a stronger tube that can withstand higher plate voltages. But I do love the sound of the 5881s. :)
 
Re: 5881 & 6L6 Confusion

doveman said:
I have a D'Lite 22/33 that I've tried JJ-6V6 (22w), Tung-Sol 6L6GC (33w), GTs Chinese 6L6 (33w) and what turned out to be my favorite Tung-Sol 5881s (25w).

They are rated for lower plate voltage but in talking to the Brown Note guys, they recommended that they would work in the 6L6 settings of that amp. They break up a bit sooner and don't have quite as much head room. They are about half way between the 6V6 and 6L6 in the way they sound.

But I'm betting the lower plate voltage would be a problem in some amps. I would not have even tried them if I had not known the Brown Note guys had tried them.

But the 6L6 is a stronger tube that can withstand higher plate voltages. But I do love the sound of the 5881s. :)
Click to expand...

I got this from the Soldano FAQ

"If you're buying stock tubes, such as 5881's or 6L6's, there won't be any problem. For other applications, such as a using KT66, KT88, or 6L6S tubes, call Soldano for re-biasing recommendations."

I guess Tung-Sol 5881 reissues will work but I'm just going to with Tung-Sol or JJ 6L6 tubes. What is a 6L6S?
 
Re: 5881 & 6L6 Confusion

A few years ago i saw a '6L6 tube shootout' in an audiophile magazine, and the Sovtek 5881 came up as being the best currently available tube for 6L6 usage. From that point on, i always used the Sovtek 5881 when re-tubing customer's amps and when building 50 watters. I still do.

The Sovteks put out the same power as 6L6's, work fine with the high plate voltages in Fender amps and, to my ear, sound fatter, possibly a little less glassy and maybe a bit more creamy. Originally Sovtek's 5881's only had a wafer base, meaning the retaining clamps used in Fenders had no base to bite into, and touched the glass instead. Later they brought out a second type with a full base, ala the 6L6, in acknowledgement of this issue.

The local valve supplier would comment that the other guys around town would always buy 6L6's, and i was notable for always ordering the 5881's instead. Every customer who had me service their Fender was more than happy, and i feel that the 5881 is a far more durable valve. (many of these people are sent to me via a recording studio in the heart of Melbourne, when their battered Fender amps show up as being noisy and tone-dead during recording sessions). Any feedback i ever get after re-tubing these amps has always been very good.

For me, the Sovtek 5881 has been consistently good and reliable. 6L6's can vary widely.

Such have been my experiences to date, Hope that may help.

cheers, Philty Crustrum :scratchch
 
Re: 5881 & 6L6 Confusion

crusty philtrum said:
A few years ago i saw a '6L6 tube shootout' in an audiophile magazine, and the Sovtek 5881 came up as being the best currently available tube for 6L6 usage. From that point on, i always used the Sovtek 5881 when re-tubing customer's amps and when building 50 watters. I still do.

The Sovteks put out the same power as 6L6's, work fine with the high plate voltages in Fender amps and, to my ear, sound fatter, possibly a little less glassy and maybe a bit more creamy. Originally Sovtek's 5881's only had a wafer base, meaning the retaining clamps used in Fenders had no base to bite into, and touched the glass instead. Later they brought out a second type with a full base, ala the 6L6, in acknowledgement of this issue.

The local valve supplier would comment that the other guys around town would always buy 6L6's, and i was notable for always ordering the 5881's instead. Every customer who had me service their Fender was more than happy, and i feel that the 5881 is a far more durable valve. (many of these people are sent to me via a recording studio in the heart of Melbourne, when their battered Fender amps show up as being noisy and tone-dead during recording sessions). Any feedback i ever get after re-tubing these amps has always been very good.

For me, the Sovtek 5881 has been consistently good and reliable. 6L6's can vary widely.

Such have been my experiences to date, Hope that may help.

cheers, Philty Crustrum :scratchch
Click to expand...


I used 5881s in my Tremoverb combo for the reasons you state above....took away most of the fizziness that is inherent in that amp.
 
Re: 5881 & 6L6 Confusion

Ditto what Crusty Philtrum and TGWIF said. I used to know the owner of Blues Pearl amps....a Fender clone company. He used to be a power section designer for GE in the 70's, and he really liked the Sovtek 5881.

I've always thought of them as lower headroom 6L6's....better for vintage type amps, while 6L6's seemed better in highgain channel switchers.
 
Re: 5881 & 6L6 Confusion

Yeah its a good deal though i saw that it could take a week or more to reach you from taiwan...
 
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