Tubes Asylum: Re: Looking for warm, sweet, rich sounding 6SN7 with good bass -- any recommendations? by steven oda

Mike,

Try to beg, borrow, or steal a JAN Raytheon 6SN7WGT. Brown base. Yellow lettering on the base. TungSol VT-231 also rate, in my book, about the same. TS has blacked out glass 3/4rd of the way up the vertical surface of the envelope. Best are of the WWII versions (VT-231) and 50's, for the Raytheon.

CBS or RCA 5692's are also good bass mongers. And really built rugged. They are all mil spec, late 40's- early 50's vintage.

Both cost a fortune NOS, these days. Have them tested for microphony and symmetry across the triodes---before buying. Also, ALL of these tubes are tough and need considerable break-in time, before their true colors shine.

Time of break-in depends on the setup of your unit (voltage on plate, bias, etc). Just be patient---in two weeks to a month, you'll see that very few modern 6SN7 can touch these "classics."

BTW---for my apps (in Ampeg guitar amps) are the Raytheon, TungSol, and Sylvania 6SN7GTA (lightning "S" logo on base).

This tube rolls off, oon the treble, faster than the Sylvania 6SN7GTA, but has more oomph in the midrange and bass (my opinion).