The Tung-Sol 5881 brown base is a rugged American-made power tube from the golden era of U.S. production. Originally built for military and industrial use, the 5881 is a durable member of the 6L6 family known for its reliability, long life, and strong, balanced tone.
Tonally, the brown base Tung-Sol 5881 is warm, powerful, and dynamic. It delivers solid low-end weight, rich mids, and a smooth but controlled top end. These tubes respond well to playing dynamics and maintain clarity even when pushed. Built to run hard, they’re known to last thousands of hours while holding their operating stability.
In its class, the brown base 5881 is rarely matched in durability and musical response.
All Tung-Sol 5881s are fully tested and professionally matched at no extra cost.
Every tube is:
Tested for emission and mutual conductance
Screened for shorts and proper operating function
Verified for noise and stability
Matched pairs and matched quads (including sets of four) are available with no upcharge. No guessing. No inflated matching fees.
Our stock consists of:
Genuine NOS (New Old Stock)
Clean military production
Original logo variations (cosmetic differences only)
All tubes test strong and are verified before shipping.
Stock is extremely limited. First come, first served.
The 5881 is commonly found in:
Vintage Fender amplifiers
Tweed and early blackface circuits
Select American-voiced amps using 6L6-family tubes
Hi-fi power amplifiers designed around 6L6 types
If you’re unsure whether a 5881 is right for your amplifier, feel free to reach out before purchasing.
Serious vintage American power tubes. Properly tested. Properly matched.
Available while supply lasts.