What 6L6 for Twin Reverb '72 SF

[Robert Delahunt]

Hey all,

The amp store just called and it appears that my old '72 Silver Face Twin Reverb needed de-gunked and the bias caps replaced. Someone already replaced the filter caps so she's basically good to go.
However, two of my 6L6s are dead and need replacement. They moved the other two over so that the amp will "work" (but I doubt I'll be running it because I don't want to damage anything right now).
I told them to bias the amp in the "middle" so that I can "guestimate" the tubes (though I told them to hold on to the specs so that I can call them some time and get tubes that ought to work for it).
So, what brand should I go with? My playing style is guitar -> Boss ME-50 -> Amp. I prefer the amp clean and beautiful with lots of low volume and high volume clean headroom. I would like to keep her as stock sounding as possible, but beautiful tone is my desire.
And thanks again for the help with tube selection for my Pro Junior!

Respectfully....

 

[dlc1953]

Re: What 6L6 for Twin Reverb '72 SF

Have a mid 90's Twin 25 switch and I had it re-tubed about a month ago with JJs-power tubes and pre-amp nice and bright on clean channel. Got em from Tube-Depot.

 

[Hellion]

Re: What 6L6 for Twin Reverb '72 SF

I like Sovtek, but they're not for everyone. I'm not really much of an audiophile, so I can't really tell that much of a difference.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: What 6L6 for Twin Reverb '72 SF

a lot of people told me that the winged C 6l6 are the way to go. Haven't played em but it's a pretty common recommendation.

 

[PVFan]

Re: What 6L6 for Twin Reverb '72 SF

man I don't know for an amp like that, you'll have to wait for GuyWhoMadeFire or somebody who knows about the 1000 types of old Fenders or at least Fenders in general and that aint me

but I'd like to know what tubes the techs doing this work recommended, esp. for this amp?



if the answer is not NOS, and current production is the choice, I can tell you that I bought Mesa 6L6s (China) and they still seem fine and warm after a year or so of somewhat frequent blasting

 

[PVFan]

Re: What 6L6 for Twin Reverb '72 SF

also, why are they biasing the amp before you even get the tubes?

i'm confused

 

[LReese]

Re: What 6L6 for Twin Reverb '72 SF

I think the OP wants to do the "mesa boogie" thing - set it and forget it. He's buying tubes tested to a certain spec so that it should idle within a specific window.

I've got 2 Mesa's (and a 50/50, also) - I think its a good idea to have adjustable bias, even with those. Its not that hard to adjust, just need to be careful and aware of the dangers. A twin (think the siverface needs a slight mod) can be biased without going inside the amp.

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: What 6L6 for Twin Reverb '72 SF

also, why are they biasing the amp before you even get the tubes?

i'm confused

They're going to bias them "middle of the road". The bias isn't really the issue, I can get tubes from them that ought to work, and they already know the spec they biased it to. I'm referring to brand only.

 

[jeremy]

Re: What 6L6 for Twin Reverb '72 SF

if you want big and clean look for some rca style tubes. ive had good luck with tad and groove tubes. i need to retube my '69 dual showman reverb ('69 twin in a head) and ill be using groove tubes. yes they are more expensive but ive always had good luck with them

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: What 6L6 for Twin Reverb '72 SF

I recently went to Winged C SED 6L6's in my 69 SF Twin Reverb and love them!

They have a lot of power and headroom and a great tone...before that I used GT's for a LONG time in the same amp and they did very well but the Winged C's were suggested by my tech so I tried them and I'm glad I did!

Othe great options are the Tung sol reissues, not the 5881's but the 6L6's...

The Sovtek 6L6WXT's are nice too...

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: What 6L6 for Twin Reverb '72 SF

I like jj's in my fender amps

 

[Bludave]

Re: What 6L6 for Twin Reverb '72 SF

The old fenders had RCA or Phillips. Find something that would be tonally close to these.

I would also NOT recommend biasing until the new tubes are in. My recommendation would be to put 4 new tubes in, not just 2. Tubes work like valves. If 2 are shot the other 2 won't be far behind. Change them all.... if you are not running the amp hot you should get a few years before they will need to be changed. keep the other 2 as spares.

I have had good results with the Electro harmonics tubes. They sound a lot like the old RCA to some degree. Most tone through a Twin is effected by the pre amp tubes more so then the power tubes.
Check here:
http://www.tubedepot.com/6l6.html?gclid=COCBwbHQ46ICFYM65QodLCpZyA

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: What 6L6 for Twin Reverb '72 SF

The old fenders had RCA or Phillips. Find something that would be tonally close to these.

I would also NOT recommend biasing until the new tubes are in. My recommendation would be to put 4 new tubes in, not just 2. Tubes work like valves. If 2 are shot the other 2 won't be far behind. Change them all.... if you are not running the amp hot you should get a few years before they will need to be changed. keep the other 2 as spares.

I have had good results with the Electro harmonics tubes. They sound a lot like the old RCA to some degree. Most tone through a Twin is effected by the pre amp tubes more so then the power tubes.
Check here:
http://www.tubedepot.com/6l6.html?gclid=COCBwbHQ46ICFYM65QodLCpZyA

I know that I should bias after tubes are in, but right now I don't have that luxury. I barely have the money to get it out of the shop, much less for the next set of 6L6. It's a long story....

Thanks for the recommendations though

 

[PVFan]

Re: What 6L6 for Twin Reverb '72 SF

if you don't have the luxury to do it right, then why are you asking about NOS tubes?

that is a luxury!!!!! save your money and have it done right. Get a sorted, filtered, tested, matched quartet, and then bias the amp for them. If you can afford the NOS tubes that might make a difference with an amp like this, goodie.

If you can't afford NOS or decide current production is fine, I've had the best luck with SED and Ruby Chinese across 20 years in all kinds of amps. I have not had good luck at all with any JJ, but I do realize that *occasionally* they produce a quality tube.

AFAIK, all other tubes for amp applications come from NewSensor. That's every other tube, EHx, Tung-Sol, Mullard, Sovtek, fake "Svetlanas", etc., from one factory in St. Petersburg. For the most part I would stay away. See if your tech agrees.

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: What 6L6 for Twin Reverb '72 SF

if you don't have the luxury to do it right, then why are you asking about NOS tubes?

that is a luxury!!!!! save your money and have it done right. Get a sorted, filtered, tested, matched quartet, and then bias the amp for them. If you can afford the NOS tubes that might make a difference with an amp like this, goodie.

If you can't afford NOS or decide current production is fine, I've had the best luck with SED and Ruby Chinese across 20 years in all kinds of amps. I have not had good luck at all with any JJ, but I do realize that *occasionally* they produce a quality tube.

AFAIK, all other tubes for amp applications come from NewSensor. That's every other tube, EHx, Tung-Sol, Mullard, Sovtek, fake "Svetlanas", etc., from one factory in St. Petersburg. For the most part I would stay away. See if your tech agrees.

I didn't ask about NOS tubes, I asked about tubes.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: What 6L6 for Twin Reverb '72 SF

If you want the GE sound the TAD 6L6WGC or whatever is supposed to be golden in twins, haven't tried them but the STR's are real good (for new tubes) and these are supposed to be even nicer.

If you want a 7581/STR-387 sound, SED (the best), TAD STR's, and JJ are the best options.

 

[PVFan]

Re: What 6L6 for Twin Reverb '72 SF

I didn't ask about NOS tubes, I asked about tubes.

Right.

Hey forum, this guy is biasing his amp *before* replacing tubes, and he's only replacing 2 of the 4.

...and you're telling him to go find some RCA this and NOS that ???????????

how bout wake up and help the guy instead of dropping tube designations like they were the names of celebrities and this was Hollywood instead of SDUGF. Who cares it's a Fender whatever. It needs to be treated like any tube amp should, (edit: and "heard") before it gets special treatment like special tubes.



what good would any specific tube do if the amp isn't even biased for them - I mean for half of them because only 2 are being replaced?

Gaaaah.

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: What 6L6 for Twin Reverb '72 SF

Right.

Hey forum, this guy is biasing his amp *before* replacing tubes, and he's only replacing 2 of the 4.

...and you're telling him to go find some RCA this and NOS that ???????????

how bout wake up and help the guy instead of dropping tube designations like they were the names of celebrities and this was Hollywood instead of SDUGF. Who cares it's a Fender whatever. It needs to be treated like any tube amp should, (edit: and "heard") before it gets special treatment like special tubes.



what good would any specific tube do if the amp isn't even biased for them - I mean for half of them because only 2 are being replaced?

Gaaaah.

Dude, please re-read. I'll buy them from the amp shop that swapped out the bias caps: that's my best bet. I'm not buying them totally blind. Yes, it would be best if done all at once in a shop, but I don't have that luxury right now: I live in Japan.

 

[PVFan]

Re: What 6L6 for Twin Reverb '72 SF

The workarounds and alternate routes just to save a few dollars ?

I predict another thread later asking about why it doesn't sound quite right, and what can be done about it? with replies like "dude change yer tubes, get these other ones over here!!!" without realizing the tubes you already have weren't really installed correctly, in order to sound good?

... with the real answer in that case being the same answer and the same first step as now: good matched tubes and a bias for them.

From there you can better hear what needs a tweak or a change, if any is in fact needed.

but for your question right now, if you're buying the tubes from the amp shop, the amp shop should know which tubes they get locally in Japan that are the most consistent and reliable, shouldn't they? Maybe we should know what they have in the shop to choose from, first?

my brain hurts dude

 

[PVFan]

Re: What 6L6 for Twin Reverb '72 SF

let me crystalize my walls of text, Robert.

in order for an amp to sound good by anyone's ears,

it is far LESS important which brand of tube you use - who cares?

it is so much MORE important 1.) that the tubes are good ones (not broken, microphonic, or otherwise produce a malformed signal), 2.) that they are matched, 3.) that the amp is biased for them.

That's what techs and o'scopes are for. You are skipping 2.) and 3.) for now BUT !!!! the amp shop should have an o'scope to verify 1.), which makes this thread nonsensical to me.