Highest Headroom in a 6L6 Tube?

Scott_F

Flushologist
Staff member
What brand 6L6GC would yield the most clean headroom if you just started plugging and playing different ones into the same amp?
 
Re: Highest Headroom in a 6L6 Tube?

The cleanest ones I've used are the GT #8's. They're actually too clean for my tastes. Personally I like the EH 6L6 tubes. they stack up pretty well against the NOS RCA Blackplates I've had in my Bassman.
 
Re: Highest Headroom in a 6L6 Tube?

If you contact any tubes shop like Doug's Tubes.. you can ask him to grade your power tubes for higher headroom levels.

All the shops use the "Groove Tubes Grading system.

It goes as follow:
- Low Headroom --> #1 to #3
- Medium Headroom --> #4 to #7
- High Headroom --> #8 to #10

Ofcourse the higher you go with the number, the higher headroom level your'll get, the less breakup you'll have, the more clean your tone will stay.


Hope that helps!
 
Re: Highest Headroom in a 6L6 Tube?

Blackplates for sure, you can save some bucks if you find some Silvertone branded ones. The TAD big botts are supposed to be quite clean as well. I have not tried them though. I find the EH just to stiff and harsh on the hi end. I love their EL34 tubes, but not the 6l6.
 
Re: Highest Headroom in a 6L6 Tube?

Scott the highest headroom 6L6 I ever ran through any of my amps was a JAN 7581A (particular ones I had were Philips). They came in the MKII that I bought when I sold you the MKI. Man were they tight and packed a lot of punch. Head and shoulders above any other 6L6's I tested. I believe they were designed as a higher power handling 6L6.
Check out this link. I just came across it as I was checking out were to get them. I know they are available somewhere
http://studentweb.eku.edu/justin_holton/headroom.html

http://kcanostubes.com/content/estore_list.asp?category=90&catname=7581
http://kcanostubes.com/content/estore_details.asp?product=118

If I had a Twin and wanted the cleanest high headroom sound for country or funk this would be the tube. I would send them to you to test but unfortunately I broke one (don't you hate it when that happens) and currently only have one.

Well actually since I wrote the original post I thought about these tubes and ordered a replacement set. Not ones I use all the time but when you want the clean punch nice to have them on hand.
 
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Re: Highest Headroom in a 6L6 Tube?

Thanks Al. KCA"s description sounds perfect. This is for the upcoming EvanRude amp. (a much better name than SkoppSchiznit!)
 
Re: Highest Headroom in a 6L6 Tube?

kt66's and 7581's stay pretty clean. as far as real 6l6gc's the big bottle rca tubes are good as well, the coke bottle shaped ones break up earlier. new production stuff i think the jj 6l6 has a good amount of headroom, especially if you get a gt branded one with a 8 or 9 rating
 
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