The Best Tubes 6550

💣 👉🏻👉🏻👉🏻 ALL INFORMATION CLICK HERE 👈🏻👈🏻👈🏻

Remember me Not recommended on shared computers
Best current production 6550? Opinions?
By silverfacechamp,
October 21, 2010 in Amps
I have a custom built amp that runs on 6550's. I need some new power tubes for it, and have been looking at the new Tung-Sols. Thoughts? Other suggestions?
Link to comment
Share on other sites
More sharing options...
I prefer my Tungsols to the almost new Sovteks that were in the amp when I got it. Those are the only two 6550 tubes I've tried, so I won't say yeah, Tungsols are the best, but I really do like the tone. They're nice and brassy like 6550 should be, with a bold bottom, and clear top. The Sovteks were harsher by comparison, and sounded flatter.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
More sharing options...
This is another revival of a defunct brand/logo by Mike
Matthews/New Sensor, and quite an audacious one. In my
experience, when it comes to 6550s there's Tung-Sol and
then there's everything else. I've been running the old
Tung-Sol 6550s in my Leslies since dirt was rocks. In
fact, I have a Leslie that I got in 1968 that still has
the ORIGINAL Tung-Sol 6550s in it that were installed at
the factory - and that Leslie has gone down a *{censored}load*
of road since then. They still sound *great*. I was
skeptical when I received the first samples of these
Reflektor-production (Russian) Tung-Sol 6550s; they looked
great, very similar to the old ones, in fact, but...Tung-Sol?
I put the samples through my standard burn-in/QC routine
(which they passed easily) and installed a pair in one
of my Leslies. Now, I've been listening to those Leslies
for nearly FORTY YEARS, and I *know* how they sound.
Well, the new Reflektor Tung-Sols kicked BUTT, is what.
Except for a slightly meatier bottom end, I literally
couldn't tell the difference, and I switched back and
forth between the two types three times. We put a set
in a 50W Marshall head and they *smoked* the (admittedly)
worn-out GEs that we pulled out. So - with the caveat
that there are as of yet no field reports/track records
for this tube, it's my personal favorite of the current
production 6550s. I have sets in all 5 of my Leslies.
One of the things which made the old Tung-Sol 6550s last
so long was the triple getter system - one top and two side
getters - and this has been incorporated in the new-production
Tung-Sols, too. Those of you who own tube testers are no
doubt aware that most current-production 6550s are low in
the gain department; not so these, as they read in the 9,000
to 11,000 umoh range like the old ones did. NS says they
have *extremely* beefy screens, and that's good - screen
failure is usually what kills power tubes. I'm hoping the
price will come down when availability increases, but these
UPDATE 04/22/06 - No field failures. No negative performance
or tone reports whatsoever. *Everyone* who has bought these
UPDATE 12/29/08 - I haven't changed my opinion of these at
all...I still think they're kickass tubes.
PAIR..................................$79
QUAD..................................$158
SEXTET................................$237
Only a few on hand. Pretty good copy of the GE, but I'm
PAIR..................................$ASK
I was fortunate to come across a small stash of this
*excellent* US-made 6550A; some of these are branded
"Rivera Research and Development" but it's easy enough
to see who actually made 'em. Some of them have a fancy
Rivera sticker on the base with Rivera's match numbers
(it appears he used a 1-10 system like Boob Toobs does)
and some don't. At any rate, I did not find the tolerance
on the matched pairs and quads to be within my specifications;
they did not appear to have been burned in, either, so I put
them through my usual burn-in/matching process and now I have
some tight pairs and quads to offer to those on my SPAM LIST.
THESE ARE HARD TO FIND!! If you want some, buy 'em *NOW*,
because I can't guarantee that I'll ever get any more.
UPDATE 12/29/08 - Damn near unobtainium now. I still
PAIR..................................$DANGER MONEY!
QUAD..................................$ARE YOU KIDDING?
SEXTET (may be supplied as 2 triads)..$ROFLMBFAO!!
SED 6550C FORMERLY "SVETLANA" - PLEASE SEE 6L6 UPDATE (ABOVE)
Used in the Ampeg SVT and the Ampeg V-9, as well as in older
Sunns, Marshalls, Leslies, and a host of other high-powered
audio applications, the 6550 is known for its big dynamic
range and authoritative low end. This SED version is *very*
rugged and long-lasting, and at less than half the price of NOS
they're a good value. Favored by audiophiles the world over.
UPDATE 12/29/08 - Due to bias drift issues when exposed to
high vibration environments, I don't recommend these for
the SVT (or any other bass amp) or Leslies. Good for hi-fi
amps and other stationary use, might be OK in a lead guitar
PAIR...................................$ASK
QUAD...................................$ASK
SEXTET (may be supplied as 2 triads)...$ASK
This is the highest-powered 6550 I have ever tested. I was
able to obtain a 352.8 watt RMS output from an old SVT head
with a sextet of these installed...*without* correcting for
line sag with my variac! This is the highest output I've
ever recorded from a stock SVT. KILLER low end, and very
reliable. 24 hour burn-in, and precision matched. I have
this tube installed in Todd Smallie's (bassist for the Derek
Trucks Band) '73 SVT head and he's been running the same set
for THREE SOLID YEARS of touring - and they *still* kick ass.
UPDATE 04/22/06 - the Derek Trucks Band's equipment trailer
was stolen in March 06, so I reckon whatever lowlife asshole
wound up with Tod's amp is still getting excellent service
out of the 6550WEs that were in it and still going strong.
PAIR...................................$59
QUAD...................................$118
SEXTET (may be supplied as 2 triads)...$177
The same tube as above, except with a plastic base that fits
the Fender/Ampeg beartrap clamps. Especially useful when
subbing for 7027A in older Ampegs, and good for use in the
earliest Mesa-Boogie D-180 amps, which shipped with a smaller
Philips 6550 that was specially made with a plastic base.
Good for use in 6550 conversions where you don't want to
UPDATE 12/29/08 - NO LONGER IN PRODUCTION. I may have some
PAIR...................................$NO STOCK
QUAD...................................$NO STOCK
SEXTET (may be supplied as 2 triads)...$NO STOCK
An updated version of the 6550WE, in a Tung-Sol style
bottle. ("Coke bottle" shape.) This tube has heavier
screen wires, and a *lot* of additional support for the
internals, including four heavy rods which go all the way
up to the additional topside mica disc. A great-sounding,
reliable, and downright *beautiful* looking tube; the
gold graphics and the old-style bottle really make this
one a looker. If you have an amp with the tubes visible,
this is the coolest-looking 6550 I've seen in quite a while.
UPDATE 12/29/08 - I can't see any significant differences in
tone, reliability, or performance from the Sovtek 6550WE,
which is essentially the same tube in a straight-sided bottle.
Since at current prices I would have to sell this tube for nearly
as much as the Reflektor/Tung-Sol, I've decided to stop carrying
it. I have one or two laying around - if you need a singleton
for your THD Univalve (or whatever) give me a call and I'll sell
you one cheap...until they're all gone.
PAIR...................................$NO STOCK
QUAD...................................$NO STOCK
Link to comment
Share on other sites
More sharing options...
Link to comment
Share on other sites
More sharing options...
I had NOS GE 6550's in my savage and those sounded awesome but they are like 300 for a pair.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
More sharing options...
Link to comment
Share on other sites
More sharing options...
Have you ever compared those to the Tung-Sol RI's? I'm curious because the winged C and the tung-sols are often talked about as being very similar.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
More sharing options...
I had NOS GE 6550's in my savage and those sounded awesome but they are like 300 for a pair.
http://thetubestore.com/ge-6550.html
Yah. I bet those are pretty nice, but the amp itself probably isn't worth $300. Maybe down the road a ways once I figure out if this thing is even decent sounding that'll be an option.
The amp is a custom build done for a well-known jazz guitarist in a silverface Champ chassis. The iron on it is absolutely HUGE, so I imagine that, coupled with the 6550 duet, this thing is gonna be LOUD. It's non-working right now, but I have to get new power tubes for it before I can bring it to have it worked on.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
More sharing options...
I've got them in my RM100 and it sounds tits.
Though I've never compared them to others, I know these sound awesome
Link to comment
Share on other sites
More sharing options...
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.
© 1995-2019 Harmony Central, Inc. All rights reserved. Powered by Invision Community

Our thoughts go out to all who are affected by COVID-19. Stay well, stay safe.
Tung-Sol introduced the classic pear-shaped 6550 tube in the mid-1950s.
Tung-Sol developed 6550 as a highly linear power tube. The 6550 tube was quickly adopted by the growing American audio market entering the golden era of the Tube HiFi Audio.
Other US manufacturers such as GE and Sylvania produced 6550 tubes, but with a straight bottle. This design is replicated in tubes such as Sovtek 6550WE and Svetlana 6550SV.
Internally, a 6550 is a beam tetrode like a 6L6. The 6550 tube is the uber-6L6, a bigger better version of 6L6.
Tung-Sol designed the 6550 tube to take much higher voltages and generate more power than 6L6.
A pair of 6550 tubes can generate 100W of output. Much higher than what a pair of 6L6 or EL34 can do.
Tung-Sol rated the 6550 tube conservatively, which makes it a very reliable tube. 6550 tubes last a long time, even when pushed hard and used at its limits.
A 6550 tube is a dependable workhorse that takes abuse and keeps going. This makes 6550 tube the output tube of choice in high power audio and guitar amps today.
As with any high power output tubes, the 6550 tubes need to be matched closely as pairs and quads to get the most out of your amp.
We burn-in and precision match all the 6550 tubes in-house. We have years of experience in selecting precisely matched 6550 sets, from pairs to sextets for demanding high power amps.
© 2003 - 2021 TUBES.FOR.AMPS BY BOI SOFTWORKS / ZITTATECH

Anal Seks Besplatno
Sex Minet Qrasivey
Casting Nude Sex
Naked Feet Lesbians
Solo Round Naked Ass In Erotic Lingerie
6550 Tube Selection Guide - Tubes for Amps
Best modern 6550 tube for ARC per-amp | Audiogon ...
6550 Vacuum Tubes - Tubes for Amps
6550/KT88 tube replacement recommendations - Audionirvana.org
Best sounding 6550/KT88 tubes | Steve Hoffman Music Forums
Electro-Harmonix 6550 Audio Tubes - www.thetubestore.com
Tung-Sol 6550 Reissue Audio Tubes - www.thetubestore.com
The KT88 / KT66 /6550 Directory - JACMUSIC
The Best Tubes 6550