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Post by submersible on Jun 16, 2010 13:56:23 GMT -7
Can you believe that? Has that sentence ever been uttered before?
I recently bought an older KT-45 for a loud band I'm playing in. The KT-45 was purchased to replace a Sovtek MIG-50 that is just about the right volume, but I wasn't digging the tone.
Enter the KT-45. Previous owner says it was well-maintained (I believe him) and the output tubes are fresh (matched GT set, biased by a tech). It has a tube rectifier.
The amp is a tad quieter than the MIG-50 through the same cab, and way more distorted. I use overdrive and fuzz pedals, but you can't really tell a difference between them because the amp is already running flat out.
Anyone know what's going on here? Any steps recommended for converting the KT-45 to a super clean, high volume amp? I've tried speakers of all different configurations and sensitivities in both open and closed back cabs.
BTW, the other guy in the band plays a Carlsbro (also dual EL34, kind of Hiwattish). Through the same speaker cab and with all other factors being equal, he has enough volume and clean headroom to utterly annihilate me. I bought the KT-45 expecting a similar Hiwatt kind of tone and performance.
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Post by timford on Jun 16, 2010 14:39:37 GMT -7
Go to the ask myles section in the experts column and ask or read some of his latest comments. For head room choose the el34LS (I think they are called - from memory they are about 10W more power). And see if you have a solid state rectifier in there. That ups the volume quite a bit. May be able to play around with the bias. Might need to lower it if it is biased a little high (the tech may have liked it like that if he tested it at lower volume). PI (long tube 12ax7?) that is well matched. And then play around with the ef86. In short, everything can make a difference, and Myles could give you the lowdown real quick as he loves the amp and has written about tube/headroom questions many a time. You should be able to make it real loud and clean
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Post by timford on Jun 16, 2010 14:39:58 GMT -7
I'll have a look around for more details on the tubes later today and post again.
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Post by submersible on Jun 16, 2010 14:52:55 GMT -7
I appreciate this, guys. Will see what Myles has to say.
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Post by Shannon on Jun 16, 2010 16:18:38 GMT -7
Switching to a solid state rectifier should give you more clean head room.
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Post by mtlrecords on Jun 16, 2010 18:52:32 GMT -7
I now what you mean- I think a solid state rectifier will help, but I wonder if you just need, "more." Maybe you could buy another KT-45? Mostly kidding, but that kinda makes sense.
Perhaps you need a 100 watt Hiwatt...or a Marshall 1959 Super Lead Plexi. That is one of the loudest amps I have ever heard and it rocks. Or a Electric Amp 120 watt KT88 beast...that could be rad.
Love my Z amps, but when it comes to INSANELY loud stuff, I grab my Marshall 100 SLP. It just goes to 11 for me.
But 90% of the time, I can't really cut loose volume-wise, so the Z amps get used way, way more often and I love em. Anyway, I will be curious what happens if you switch the rectifier, check the bias, re-tube and then try it out. Let us know!
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Post by jimmysmith on Jun 17, 2010 10:58:15 GMT -7
i will chime in, my first kt45 had a solid state rectifier,,, and i agree about the e34ls,, the second kt45 i had, there was a gz34 rectifier tube in it,, it was not as clean,, i remember my solid state rectified kt45 was very very loud and clean,, backing off the treble and bass should get you clean,,
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Post by submersible on Jun 17, 2010 13:40:12 GMT -7
Thanks, glad I'm not the only one who has sought more headroom from a KT-45. It has a glorious clean sound. I just need to stay clean higher up the dial instead of going into Marshall territory. I'd really like to avoid a 100 watt amp if possible, but that may be where I'm heading.
My last regular band before this one was supporting singer/songwriter Vienna Teng. My Maz Jr. was too loud for that gig!
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Post by submersible on Jun 23, 2010 14:42:52 GMT -7
I asked the experts for advice. The experts' strategy for maximizing headroom in a KT-45 is to always rebias your amp when you change output tubes.
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Post by timford on Jun 24, 2010 4:00:37 GMT -7
It might take a few days, but I'll see if I can find some good links from the forum. I've recently read most of the KT 45 threads, and especially the oldest ones, and I know there is heaps of stuff there somewhere. Have you picked up a SS rec for the amp to try? Should get you from 445 (tube) up to around 475/480V. Just make sure it is not one of the weber ones that is designed to replicate a normal tube rec response. And the el34ls's? I'll have to have a look back at your other posts in the other section. My guess is that the experts have answered the same questions so many times that when people like you and me first come to the forum it is a bit hard to get the simpler (for them) questions answered. They all volunteer their time and probably feel a bit used when people like me ask too many questions that have been answered elsewhere. It can take a long time to find all of the tid bits that are buried deep in the archives. Here is the link to a section from Myles' webpage regarding the KT45 and mentioning the el34ls www.guitaramplifierblueprinting.com/doctorzamps2a.htmlThere is probably more there too.
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Post by submersible on Jun 24, 2010 15:08:17 GMT -7
Thanks, Tim. I admit I was expecting something a little more...experty.
This information is very helpful. I'm taking the amp to a tech this weekend (armed with information from Myle's site and previous posts, and all the other tidbits I've gathered here). I picked up a solid state rectifier plug.
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Post by timford on Jun 24, 2010 17:45:35 GMT -7
If you can, get some el34ls tubes too. Not sure which brand they are - possibly GT or JJ, but they are 30W tubes where the standard el34 is a 25W tube which should equal more headroom, and the tech can then bias the machine for those tubes. Either than or get a bias tool like the compubias and do it yourself and that way you can really experiment and see what will work best for you.
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Post by jimmysmith on Jun 24, 2010 20:53:36 GMT -7
yeah,, i got fishmans' kt 45, we traded,, man, it is nice and clean,, i am leaving the solid state rectifier in it,, the jan philips 12ax7wgt preamp tube and the bugle boy that he had in it is a fantastic combination,, you have to get a preamp tube in this amp that is lower in gain than, say, a groove tube 12ax7m,, and the j j e34l's that are in it are probably the factory installed tubes by doctor z,, maybe not, but mike said the last person had biased it at 32.5 and he left it there,,, there are really many ways you can go with this amp,, more ways, i think, than, say the route 66 and the z 28,, i know , i owned a 66 and a z 28
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Post by timford on Jul 6, 2010 23:18:30 GMT -7
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Post by submersible on Jul 7, 2010 15:33:13 GMT -7
Thanks, Tim. Looks like there is no tube suggestion under $100/pair except for the tubes that Dr. Z himself has been using in the KT-45 for the past few years.
I've got practice tonight and will crank it up and see if the rebias/retube I got last week makes a difference. Will report back!
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Post by submersible on Jul 8, 2010 11:34:32 GMT -7
I've got practice tonight and will crank it up and see if the rebias/retube I got last week makes a difference. Will report back! REPORT The KT-45 is slightly louder than it was and a lot cleaner. Success! It is still far from the loudest 50 watter in the stable. As long as the second guitarist doesn't go too nuts, however, it is usable.
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Post by timford on Jul 8, 2010 18:04:30 GMT -7
Can't wait to hear how it goes in the band situation. Keep us posted.
I was interested to read Myles' information again and see how many things can affect the sound. He claims it can bench around 60/65W, but I was surprised to hear that the SS rec only made a difference of a few watts.
Hope everything goes well.
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Post by eliot1025 on Sept 8, 2010 2:51:58 GMT -7
How do you set the controls? As mentioned above, the easiest way to clean up the tone is to keep the tone knobs at, or below noon. Crank the vol. Adjust to taste.
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Post by submersible on Oct 28, 2010 9:14:42 GMT -7
Coming back to this: the rebias and fresh tubes knocked up the clean headroom quite a bit. I've been running it through a 2X12 with all controls at noon--it's a loud band. I also swapped out the EF86 for a very lightly used NOS tube instead of the JJ equivalent I had in there, and it seems like that may have contributed to a few dB in apparent output. That said, when my tech put it on the scope with a dummy load, it measured at more like 55 watts. That's enough for me.
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Post by eliot1025 on Nov 12, 2010 5:14:49 GMT -7
This may have been mentioned earlier, but you might consider a more efficient speaker. That could get you more clean decibels without working the amp harder. ( if it's a clean speaker, of course.)
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