gordon_39422
New member
Okay guys here is my first attempt at "reviewing" tubes.
My Hot Rod Deluxe ( which will be abbreviated as HRDx henceforth), came stock with GT6L6B's which are nothing more than re-labelled SOVTEK 5881's. Here is what eurotubes had to say about them.....
"Sovtek 5881WXT: Let’s see, the first word that comes to mind is "cardboard". As for describing the lows, mids and highs, three words will do it, Flabby, harsh and piercing. This tube is also sold by G.T. and re-labeled GT6L6B. The 5881/6L6WGC is the same tube with a disc base."
I couldn't agree anymore, so I will add nothing and leave it at that
Within days, one of the GT6L6B's died, and the store gave me some new tubes for replacement. I received a pair of GT6L6-S's which are FAR better tubes. After I installed and re-biased, my clean headroom was raised, which allows me to play clean at louder volumes. The tone had more of a fat bottom, the mids cut through well, and the highs were a bit piercing. I toned them down a bit with the treble knob, and this thing sounds like a true Fender amp. The drive "channels" were affected by the raised headroom, but that is actually an advantage. With the 6L6B's, the distortion channel sounded like poop. The drive channel sounded harsh and muddy, and when you hit the "more drive" things only worsened. I use pedals, anyway, so that is water under the bridge. With the 6L6-S tubes, the drive channel sounded like the clean channel, only it broke up early. If you turned the gain to aobut 12 o'clok, things got distorted in a good way. It would push the evelope of hi-gain tones. On "more Drive" the thing sang like an overdriven tube amp should. A beefy quality was lacking, but I figured it was the 12" driver crammed into the small cab. Overall, the tubes were very nice. However, at $52 for a matched pair, you could buy better for less!
As such, I ordered a pair of Tesla (JJ) 6L6GCS's from the Tube Depot for $28.95. After installing and re-biasing my amp, the clean headroom was raised EVEN MORE!!! The bottom fattened up in a noticeable manner, the mids were buttery smooth, but still cut through the mix well. The highs were brightened as well, but a little twist and things are nearly perfect. The drive channels responded well to these tubes. The "drive" allowed me to get some SRV tones all the way up to some mild distortion. Othern than rolling the tone pots back on the axe, I didn't alter the tone. When I hit the "more drive" switch the gain was amazing. I can actually use it to solo. There was great sustain, and the notes were more articulate than with the previous tubes. I can see me using the drive channels with a little more dialing in a setting that will allow me to use all 3 channels with the footswitch!
I only changed the output tubes, but clearly noticed these differences. I am going to go ahead and purchase some 12AX7's and 12AT7's from the Tube Depot and do some experimentation. Once I get those in I will submit a review as well. My point is that if by changing the output tubes, my tonal color was improved, then these are some excellent tubes.
Hope this served you tube amp guys well,
Allen
My Hot Rod Deluxe ( which will be abbreviated as HRDx henceforth), came stock with GT6L6B's which are nothing more than re-labelled SOVTEK 5881's. Here is what eurotubes had to say about them.....
"Sovtek 5881WXT: Let’s see, the first word that comes to mind is "cardboard". As for describing the lows, mids and highs, three words will do it, Flabby, harsh and piercing. This tube is also sold by G.T. and re-labeled GT6L6B. The 5881/6L6WGC is the same tube with a disc base."
I couldn't agree anymore, so I will add nothing and leave it at that
Within days, one of the GT6L6B's died, and the store gave me some new tubes for replacement. I received a pair of GT6L6-S's which are FAR better tubes. After I installed and re-biased, my clean headroom was raised, which allows me to play clean at louder volumes. The tone had more of a fat bottom, the mids cut through well, and the highs were a bit piercing. I toned them down a bit with the treble knob, and this thing sounds like a true Fender amp. The drive "channels" were affected by the raised headroom, but that is actually an advantage. With the 6L6B's, the distortion channel sounded like poop. The drive channel sounded harsh and muddy, and when you hit the "more drive" things only worsened. I use pedals, anyway, so that is water under the bridge. With the 6L6-S tubes, the drive channel sounded like the clean channel, only it broke up early. If you turned the gain to aobut 12 o'clok, things got distorted in a good way. It would push the evelope of hi-gain tones. On "more Drive" the thing sang like an overdriven tube amp should. A beefy quality was lacking, but I figured it was the 12" driver crammed into the small cab. Overall, the tubes were very nice. However, at $52 for a matched pair, you could buy better for less!
As such, I ordered a pair of Tesla (JJ) 6L6GCS's from the Tube Depot for $28.95. After installing and re-biasing my amp, the clean headroom was raised EVEN MORE!!! The bottom fattened up in a noticeable manner, the mids were buttery smooth, but still cut through the mix well. The highs were brightened as well, but a little twist and things are nearly perfect. The drive channels responded well to these tubes. The "drive" allowed me to get some SRV tones all the way up to some mild distortion. Othern than rolling the tone pots back on the axe, I didn't alter the tone. When I hit the "more drive" switch the gain was amazing. I can actually use it to solo. There was great sustain, and the notes were more articulate than with the previous tubes. I can see me using the drive channels with a little more dialing in a setting that will allow me to use all 3 channels with the footswitch!
I only changed the output tubes, but clearly noticed these differences. I am going to go ahead and purchase some 12AX7's and 12AT7's from the Tube Depot and do some experimentation. Once I get those in I will submit a review as well. My point is that if by changing the output tubes, my tonal color was improved, then these are some excellent tubes.
Hope this served you tube amp guys well,
Allen
Last edited:
