I'm building a "sorta" ST70 with some original output iron, an aftermarket chassis (from Triode), and not much else original (for sure not the circuit, heh, heh...). I may use an old organ power transformer if I can get it to fit in the available mounting holes. Anyway, I was thinking of using 6L6GCs for outputs, as I have a couple of quads on hand ("new" Svetlana and Sovtek). I've been trolling around on the web looking at other 6L6GCs, and noticed that the real Svetlana "Winged C" 6L6GCs command a healthy price premium compared to other new 6L6GCs. Do they merit it?
The site mentioned has limited utility for me, as it is about guitar amps, but they still had nice things to say about the Svetlana tubes. The way my amp will be run (both local and global feedback) may make the choice of output tubes not as improtant, as long as they don't blow up under actual operating conditions.
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I myself am now using the JAN Sylvania 6L6WGB and they are a marked improvement over the new production stuff I was previous running. You can run them at fairly high B+ voltages, too.
I just picked up two quads of Ruby 6L6GCs (real cheap). It'll be interesting to see what I get - maybe they'll be like George's "indestructable" 6L6GCs.
I like the Svet 6550-C- in triode mode.. for the cheapest way to go for lower B+ voltages the 6P3S Russian tube has been a good performer..
The pair that have been seen glowing brightly in many of my pictures ARE Ruby branded. I got them free by retubing a friends Bandmaster with Svetlana's, now known as Winged C. It was before the legal/bankruptcy stuff. The Rubys are still alive too. Ruby is a tester / relabler. The pair I have are Chinese Shuguang's but Ruby also sells Russian 6L6GC's.
After the retubing the owner hated the sound. We swapped tubes back and forth to find that he liked the sound produced by a worn out 5U4. I explained that his 5U4 would continue to degrade increasing the distortion he liked, but losing power. The solution? We went through my box of used TV set sourced 5U4's and he found 3 he liked. I wound up with his new 5U4 and both 6L6GC's which worked just fine, and he got 3 worn out 5U4's.
It is interesting to note that some players have been known to stuff a 5R4 or even a 5Y3 into a Bandmaster to get that sound. Some 5R4's will live but most 5Y3's will eventually self destruct in a spectacular manner.
I bought my Knight 0 to 400 volt power supply at a hamfest about 10 years ago. The seller wanted $50, I offered $20 at the end of the day. He asked if I was going to use it or just rob the tubes, I said I was going to use it so he accepted my offer. He didn't want to see it trashed for someones guitar amp. He told me that he put Svetlanas in it s few years previously, but didn't use it much. It does seem wrong that the power supply has Svet's and I am tinkering with Chinese tubes. Maybe I will swap some day.
My 6l6gc amp has been in the house for 5-6 years. I have tried 5-6 different brands, but alwayes end up with winged c. To me they are definitely worth the price. When that is said, the small tubes are even more important for the sound ( and last almost forever )
My Heathkit IP-32 had a pair of Hitachi RCA-like 6L6GCs in it. I swapped them for a pait of Shuguang's that have really uneven plate glow. Perfect for a frequently-overloaded power supply. 🙂
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