Re: When it comes to 6L6 tubes...
depends what year you buy them, and which factory they came from, not necessarily which distributor
usually though, my votes are =C=, and Chinese filtered by Ruby or Mesa for 6L6, but I don't know how true that is in 2010. Those get my vote for 2007-2009. In the 90s I would have said Svetlanas, which are now called =C=s or SEDs. The currently labeled "Svetlanas" are not real Svetlanas. The name was stolen. In 2002 or so, I *might* have said JJs.
edit: forgot to make my point about tubes of the same type
I don't think choosing a tube brand based on sonic characteristics like "tight" or "bright" is valid.
I think it is better to choose tubes based on quality. They *will* sound better, when the amp is biased for them.
THE PUNCHLINE
If
with known good tubes (perhaps o'scoped by a tech to really know) of ANY brand,
and with an amp biased for them,
you don't like your sound,
then
it is not the tubes.