JJ 6V6's vs NOS

[kmcguitars]

Anybody try these yet? I'm looking into some new tubes for my Princeton.
I've got G.E. JAN 6V6s in it now. There 10 years old and maybe the cause
of the ratty distortion I get when cranked? Tube vendors who sell the JJ's
Claim there as good as NOS? Vendors who sell only NOS tubes claim there's
no production tube as good. ( How Ironic :laugh2: ) I've been looking into
Mazda's(French NOS) Brimars, JAN Phillips, and the RCA blackplates (being
the Holy Grail of 6V6s at $125 a pair ) So the bottom line is..
A good set of NOS will set me back $60 The JJ's $22

 

[kevlar3000]

Re: JJ 6V6's vs NOS

In my 69 Traynor Bassmate I had a strong set of Phillips EL84s that sounded like azz. Stiff on the bottom and and shrill on the top. These were supposedly the Brian May tube of choice... Anyway, I went to Savage Audio (whos ears I trust) here in Minneapolis and they had me try a set of GT EL84S tubes. The difference was astounding, despite my unsead skeptisim when they told me to try the GT I found these tubes warm, lush and musical. They took that amp to a new place. Some old tubes I have really dug and some just don't have it, some of my amps have the original 40 year old tubes in em and they are to die for and others needed changes that greatly improved the sound. It is a bit of a crap shoot and I personally am happy when I find new stuff that sounds great. I have no set rules other than what I hear when I turn on the amp. On your princeton, caps get tired, pre tubes might sound bad it my just need a freshening up. I don't believe NOS is nec better, it can be but there is good sounding cheap glass out there.

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: JJ 6V6's vs NOS

I forgot to add the pre amp tube's are all NOS and only 5 years old (And I
haven't giged much in the last 5 years) I just ordered some orange drops
for it,and the filter cap is next. The rectefier tube could use some attn.
It's a Mesa 5u4gb. I just can't afford to replace all at once So I'm going
for the weakest/cheapest link 1st. The new Weber was a BIG Improvment!

 

[Curly]

Re: JJ 6V6's vs NOS

the JJs are everything people claim!
I got some from the first batch Eurotubes got. They are about 1/3 larger than most NOS bottles, and they sound accordingly larger, especially in bass response. Warm and smooth, as a 6V6 should sound.

there was a need for a good current production 6V6, and JJ filled it. A Deluxe Reverb, for instance, runs over tube specs, and Sovteks just didn't hold up in that amp. Even the EH tubes that everyone had high hopes for developed problems. The JJ not only sounds good, but it's a pretty stout tube, that can handle the heat well.

FYI, I replaced the Mazdas in my DRRI with the JJ's. I like to use NOS tubes in my vintage amps, and current tubes in newer ones. The JJ's help the bright tendecies of the DRRI.

I don't know which Princeton you have, but I found with my BF Princeton Reverb, the amp's tone depended a lot on the tubes and speaker. It sounded best for my playing with softer power tubes, and a good Alnico speaker.

I'd recommend talking to Bob at Eurotubes, or another vendor of your choice, and finding a set that will match your playing. since Princeton's don't have adjustable bias, you want tubes with the right rating, and they can tell you.

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: JJ 6V6's vs NOS

Thanks Curly!! My Princeton is a 79' Fixed Bias. I checked with Bob from
Eurotube's and Doug fromwww.Dougstubes.com They Both say the same about the JJ's. But I wanted to hear it from
a player 1st. Thanks !!

 

[Scott_F]

Re: JJ 6V6's vs NOS

I've used Brimar NOS in both my old DRRI and now my Tweed Deluxe. They are AWESOME. I've not tried the JJ's but I hear good things about them.