Quote Originally Posted by Radioboy950
For what it's worth, Kite...and knowing you enjoy swapping tubes...don't overlook the JJ 6L6GC and the SED's Winged "C" 6L6GC. Both of these sounded great in my combo.

The JJs were more durable and seemed to really withstand the beating of such a small enclosure. They never rattled.

I preferred the sonic character of the =C= a little more, but they could rattle.

Both sounded better with a warmer bias (around 70% plate dissipation), as most tubes do, IMHO.

Tubes rule!

Enjoy
And for those who've used the Svetlana 6L6GC's in the past and liked them, know that the SED Winged "C" tubes were formerly marketed as Svetlana until Mike Mathews took over the Reflektor Saratov plant and acquired the rights to the name "Svetlana". He now markets Reflektor/Saratov Svetlanas...which aren't bad tubes at all. But, the SED Winged "C"'s are still better 6L6GC's IMHO.

Some of the Shuguang tubes are pretty good as well. The 9th generation 12AX7's are good in high gain amps like Mesa's. I have several of them and have found that they're not as good in more vintage sounding amps. Their KT66's are good too, but not as good as the Gold Lions.

All in all, the New Sensor tubes coming out of the Reflektor plant in Saratov are very good. Certainly quite a leap from the old Sovtek and the like.

I'm still waiting for someone to come out with a truly good EL84, though. Something that harkens back to the tone of the Tungsrams, Telefunkens, RCA's, or Mullard "B" (Blackburns). Fortunately, I have a good stash of the Polam/Telam's, Tesla Rosnovs (NOT JJ's), and even a couple of quads of the Russian mil. 7189's (6P14P-EB(EV)) that were made in the Reflektor plant.

I expect that Mike Mathews will eventually come up with something.