Any thoughts on best 6L6's to use for D'Lite design?

[markmalin]

I'm going to order a set fo 6L6's, just curious what people's thoughts are. I figured the old standby, JJ Tesla, but am open to suggestions.

Mark.

['67_Plexi]

Had good luck with the Chinese TAD 6L6's recently. Had a quad running at maximum dissipation with pink noise for 3 days straight and they didn't flinch and afterwards they measured the same as they did before the test with no degradation. Sound good to.
JJ EL34's have had some QC issues recently, don't know about the 6L6's, but I believe their QC process has been changed in a negative way for all tube models. Unfortunately despite some of the claims, none of the tube suppliers actually burn in tubes in a real world environment, so you still need to rely a lot on the original Manufacturers testing. It's not that I think the manufacturing process of JJ tubes has changed, it's just the selection and rejection process has been put more the customer. I had to return about 50% of one order. THe 12AX7's are measuring all over the place to, they were never that bad.

[heisthl]

They all have infant mortality - that's my conclusion after trying everything in the 6L6 arena. Just yesterday I had a new Tung Sol STR fail after 15 minutes. Believe it or not I've had the least failures with Sovteks.

[Structo]

My D'Lite came with TAD 6L6 but one redplated after only about 8 hours....

Then I got some JJ 6L6 to tide me over. They seemed a bit darker and not as articulate.

Then I bought some Winged =C='s which are in it now. They sound good but nothing to write home about.

In the few tubes I tried I think the TAD's sounded the best but I'm a bit gun shy after the redplate incident.

Perhaps I should have another go at them.

Anybody know what the TAD 6L6 actually are?

[phsyconoodler]

I use TAD's exclusively now,after having issues with winged C's and JJ's.The TAD's sound better to my ears.The short bottles are chinese and the tall bottles are russian made.Both sound great to my ears with the nod going to the short bottles for vintage tone.The tall bottles have more punch and a tad more headroom(hey I made a pun!)
But it is true that there can be a bad batch with many new production tubes.
I prefer the tone of the TAD's with Sovtek actually being a close second,that is if you can actually get a 'matched' set.I go through a few sovteks til I find a pair that match.Not a bad tube overall.

[talbany]

The JJ 6L's are a tough tube.. They seem to give you a bit more headroom than most others, they also have a tendency to sound a bit sterile to me on the top end as well as the transition to breakup is a tad bit harsh especially with higher plate voltages..(over 500)
The TAD's are an excellant sounding tube especially in a Fender type circuit..I go through quite a few and rarely have failures.. I load all my Fralin amps with them and recommend them highly...
Sovteks never seem to be matched properly got tired of it as well....

Tony VVT

[JamesO]

I've like TAD's, but they're all I've tried. I have four new ones waiting for my 100 watt build and the four I've used in the two D'Lites I've made haven't had any issues that I've heard about.

[guitarsnguns04]

I like the TADS as well

[M Fowler]

I can't tell the difference between any of them and I have variety of 6l6s sitting around from various projects. I recently put all Groove Tubes in my Fender SuperReverb because that is what the local stores seem to stock and they sound very good. Matched sets. I did make sure that I used 12at7 in the tube driver section otherwise is gets squashed sounding.

Mark

[scotto]

I had Tung-Sols in that came with my low rent clone and they started sounding like they were checking out so I put a pair of reasonably matched RCA blackplates in that I had found in our retired EE engineering lab. These things sound very tight/articulate with much better bass response. It sounds like a very different and better amp now, but I'd be reluctant to spend the high price that these things list for these days. I haven't tried others in my clone, so if people say the TADs sound good, I'd go with them. If you have the $$, a set of these RCAs might make you happy. If I were spending the big bucks I'd certainly want some type of warranty beyond 15 minutes!

[talbany]

If I had my choice of NOS 6L's it would be the large plate Sylvania's
Black Plates are nice to....



Tony VVT

[Zippy]

FWIW, when the D'Lite was in its early stages, Moss (BrownNote) commented that the best sound came from a set of KT-66s. This, as I recall, was with the tranny set that became the standard D'Lite 22/33.

[bluesfendermanblues]

I'm going to order a set fo 6L6's, just curious what people's thoughts are. I figured the old standby, JJ Tesla, but am open to suggestions.

Mark.

Best for gigging: I use Sovtek 5881wtc, they can take 40ma for bias, which means a lot of power and they are pretty tough. Perhaps a little sterile sounding, but in a good way, well suited for a D'clone amp.

Best for studio: I prefer a set of o NOS GE 6L6 CG, but its really not that critical for the sound of a D'clone amp. After all the tone is in the preamp.
My Super Reverb Clone is much more sensitive to Power Tubes and really sings with the GE's.

My D'clone is a OTS 50w, which I think I will convert to a 100w ditto. The more power the marrier in a D'clone amp IMHO.

[Aurora]

They all have infant mortality - that's my conclusion after trying everything in the 6L6 arena.

This could indicate one better stay away from 6L6's....or ?

On another foot....
Except for power lever, the D'lite seems to be simplified D- version, with slightly simpler tone controls and swithes. Am I correct here ?

[heisthl]

I meant what ever brand of 6l6 you get some will fail. I'm sure it's also true in 6V6 or EL34 output tubes too, I just have the most experience with 6l6es. Modern tubes just are not as reliable as tubes were in the old days.
You're other foot is right on the D'lite.