The 1959
Miniwatt Technical Data book from
Philips lists the 6BQ5 as the
R.E.T.M.A. (American) name for the EL84 in its "Type Number Cross Reference", and hence an
exact substitute. American and Japanese manufacturers might label their versions of the EL84 as
EL84/6BQ5 or
6BQ5/EL84 or simply "6BQ5". Other manufacturers followed with their versions, such as the N709 from General Electric Co. Ltd. of England and the 6P15 from UK brand Mazda, that were designed to be drop-in substitutes.
CV2975 is the military designation (Common Tube) for EL84. Other equivalent tubes are the 7189 and 7189A, an extended-ratings version of the tube for industrial applications, the E84L (7320), a long-life, professional version with more than 10000 hours expected lifetime, and the directly equivalent 6P14P (Cyrillic: 6П14П) produced in the
USSR by the Reflektor plant. a slightly modified version of the 6P14P was manufactured in Russia for
Sovtek. An extended-ratings version of the 6P14P is also available, the 6P14P-EV (Cyrillic: 6П14П-ЕВ), and it is known among US guitar players as
EL84M or the
Russian military EL84. While not necessarily a true military version of the tube (in fact it is more comparable to the 7189), 6P14P-EVs are known for their low noise and durability. Large new-old-stock supplies of the tube are available. The 6GK6 has nearly equivalent operating characteristics with a different pinout. the tube was manufactured in
Russia (
Sovtek,
Electro-Harmonix,
Tung-Sol,
Mullard and
Genalex Gold Lion brands),
Slovakia-
Čadca (JJ Electronic) and
China (
Psvane brand made by
Hengyang Electronics). The Sovtek EL84 is often sold under their own brand name by other well-known
electric guitar and
guitar amplifier manufacturerssuch as
Fender or
Mesa Boogie. Also see
6P1P. ==Characteristics==