The Tungsol 5881 is a very reliable, general purpose power tube much like the 6V6. A good choice for players who use lots of overdrive and crunch sounds. Matched set.
Item # 210098 | Customer Ratings:
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The Tungsol 5881 is a very reliable, general purpose power tube much like the 6V6. A good choice for players who use lots of overdrive and crunch sounds. Matched set.

I was previously using the GT6L6GE that are standard issue in my Fender 57 Twin Reissue, and they have always sounded good. But I finally got a digital mult-meter and bias probes so I could set my own bias voltage. This has allowed me to try different tubes. (You can't just put these in place of 6L6GC's without rebiasing. They could blow quickly and/or damage your amp. The 6L6GC is a 30 watt tube whereas the 5881 is 23 watts.) So I put in a pair of these 5881's , set the bias, and WOW! I am absolutely thrilled with the rich sound these tubes provide. Distortion when the amp is cranked is exactly what I was looking for. Richer midrange and less boomy than the 6L6's. I would add this: If you use pedals for your distortion and keep the volume down on your amp, bias these tubes on the hot side. If you get your distortion like me, by cranking the amp volume, bias on the cool side and crank it up. Very sweet sound.
Tung Sol makes the best quality tubes these days. I have used the Tung Sol El34B and the 5881s (which are 6L6 type) both sound great. I would be hard pressed to pick a fav. My amp is an easy tube switch and simple bias trim adjust between the 2 (Carvin V3). These tubes sound great, clean or gained with an extensive pedalboard. With Tung Sol you know what you are getting rather than tubes that are just relabeled for resale and often over priced for a name that means nothing. OF all the tech I have read up on, Tung Sol are rated the best in harmonics, low microphonics and great tone. Guitar Center has a really nice price for these.
