Maybe a dumb question (6L6GC vs. 5881WXT)

[AndyM]

Power tubes just died in my amp. The amp came stock with 4 Sovtek 5881WXTs (sort of cold and lifeless; harmonics are nowhere to be found).

I was gonna replace them with some Electro-harmonix 6L6GCs, but I've heard that replacing 5881s with certain types of 6L6s may damage the amp. Anyone know about this?

Also, if anyone's tried Electro-harmonix power tubes and can give me some info on them, that'd be great. I recently put some EH 12ax7s in an old amp and the improvement was INCREDIBLE. I'm wondering if their power tubes are as good.

[big_teee]

Power tubes just died in my amp. The amp came stock with 4 Sovtek 5881WXTs (sort of cold and lifeless; harmonics are nowhere to be found).

I was gonna replace them with some Electro-harmonix 6L6GCs, but I've heard that replacing 5881s with certain types of 6L6s may damage the amp. Anyone know about this?

Also, if anyone's tried Electro-harmonix power tubes and can give me some info on them, that'd be great. I recently put some EH 12ax7s in an old amp and the improvement was INCREDIBLE. I'm wondering if their power tubes are as good.

You can replace the 5881s with 6L6s.
I did just that in my Traynor YCS50 It came with the 5881wxt Tubes.
I replaced them with the SovTek 6L6 WXT+ Tubes and there was the difference of night and day.
Much better tone and Harmonics.
The EH6L6 is the upgraded version of the Sovtek 6L6WXT+.
If you like the EH 12AX7s, try the Tung Sol 12AX7s.
They are the best sounding new Issue 12AX7 I've tried, IMO.
Good Luck,
Terry

[Gtr_tech]

Sovtek "5881" is not really a 5881, its a heavy duty 6L6 type. The Tung Sol reissue 5881 is a copy of the real 5881 which has lesser plate current and voltage specs. You can't use a real 5881 in place of a 6L6, but you can go the other way around....the 6L6 will just be loafing along in a 5881 circuit.