I know a guy who has been in the tube amp business for over 30 years. Has built dozens of tube amps of different types. Restores guitar and audio tube gear.
His favorite tube is the 6L6.
And, a surprise to me, his favorite go-to 6L6 is the Ruby 6L6GC-M-STR. A fairly inexpensive tube. He told me that maybe it is a little tiny bit shy of the best NOS 6L6s, but that it is very close and is a great value. It is made in China and is a copy of the Philips STR-415. The Mesa STR-440 is the same tube. He also likes the above Sovtek 6L6WXT+.
I don't tend to trust these inexpensive, guitar amp tubes. But perhaps I'm wrong. We are in a golden age of tubes and whose to say that Russia or China can't make a very good tube which is inexpensive? Back in the 50s and 60s, a lot of the tubes which are now pricey NOS, were common and inexpensive.
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