Shootout of Nos 6sn7 tubes

Charles, I wanted to report back to you on adding Sylvania VT-231 to 1578 in the gain stage. What a great combination, thank you.
To use your words, there's a spooky black background.  Listening to some Blue Note, I  heard the drummer breathing during his solo. 
The VT-231 is so quiet and refined, fantastic tube and perfect top-end for the Melz.

@lowrider57 
the base stays intact.  I lightly clamp the tube in a soldering vice (soft rubber pads on the jaws). I position the tube on a slight angle, so if solder gets on the outer pin it’s all on one side for easy clean-up. I then put a few drops of liquid flux in the hollow pin. I use a soldering gun with a flat tip at high temp to heat the pin as fast as possible until the flux starts to bubble..then start feeding solder into the pin until top is closed. Not sure on the exact solder..my buddy who soldiers circuit boards for a living had given it to me for this specific job. It’s a very fast process,

i see your in philly. I’m just outside of KOP area. I would be willing to help you solder you tubes ..

@93cobra 
That is most kind of you. Will send a PM.

so the resoldering process is to fill the hollow pins with solder?

My 6n8s tubes arrived yesterday.  I was only able to play a couple of songs, but right out of the box, these sound like winners.  Very quiet and detailed, good dynamics, and a little more "tubey" sounding than the 1578s.  I'm reserving judgment on them until I can do some extended listening, but initial impressions are very good.