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Post by aarondavis on Jul 4, 2011 16:28:54 GMT -7
I took my KT45 upstairs where it wouldn't bother my fam (fun 4th of July!). Man... my ear's hurt. I've even got mine tamed a bit by having a 5V4 rectifying the voltage...
This amp just with the volume on 10 oclock was too loud after a while. Heaven forbid taking it to 1 oclock. This amp is a beast! Sound's *amazing* though. It's a good thing this isn't my only amp. Thank God for my Z28 and TopHat Club Royale.
Happy 4th of July KT45 owners.
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Post by bradtfw on Jul 8, 2011 6:21:16 GMT -7
So tell me about getting breakup...
I tried the KT45 though a single V30 and it started distorted relatively quickly. I tried it through 2xG12Ms and I wasn't getting any real crunch until about 2 o'clock.
When it is driven it sure sounds great. How do you use it?
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Post by aarondavis on Jul 9, 2011 8:15:58 GMT -7
Hey Brad... it's nice to see *someone* wants to chat about the KT45. "Is this thing on?"
As with all my amps, I use the KT 98% of the time set clean and run multiple pedals. The cool thing about the KT45 is that with both the 5AR4 and 5V4 rectifiers I've tried (with a rebias on the 5V4) at non-ear bleeding volumes (but still LOUD) it has a spongy, more compressed, lightly broken up response that soaks up dirt pedals in a really cool way. It makes a more realistic "amp dirty tone" when using pedals. And it does this in an uncanny way that doesn't blur up delay and modulation effects like many other amps *that I own* do.
This is such a unique amp in how it reacts in the manner above, I've not really experienced this *exact* combination of slight breakup (I mean it's *so slight*) and how it reacts to an OD pedal. I just have to put extra emphasis on this trait.
Regarding the crunch coming on quickly with the single V30. I bet that was almost *all* speaker breakup with how powerful the KT45 is. And your experience with the G12M's, that's exactly my experience too. There's not a ton of crunch from the KT45 on it's own and once you start really pounding speakers there's a lot of speaker breakup. Which, I'm not a fan of a *lot* of speaker breakup. It tends to be a little too furry and loose compared to a nice balance of preamp, output tube and speaker breakup. All in good measure for my tastes.
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Post by bradtfw on Jul 11, 2011 6:23:06 GMT -7
Thanks for the information. I've been very interested in the KT45 ever since I had the opportunity to play one at Make'n Music. I even tried the Z-Wreck right next to it and the 45 came-out the winner. In all fairness, I just prefer the big bottle power section sound. I like the depth and punch from EL34s, 6L6s, and 6550s.
I'm usually not a big fan of speaker break-up either, but it was nice to get some crunch at lower volumes.
I have to save-up for a couple months, but I hope to join the ranks of KT-45 owners soon.
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Post by aarondavis on Jul 11, 2011 7:40:53 GMT -7
Ha! Brad, I too played the ZWreck back to back with my KT45 the day I went to pick it up. Short story of it was that my local dealer had ordered a KT45 with us knowing it was a 98% chance I'd take it home. I also knew they were getting a ZWreckl in around the same time so it was a nice opportunity to put them back to back.
The great thing to me was that IMO these two amp's EQ footprint isn't drastically different. It's mainly in the feel of the amps - naturally as you'd expect, the Wreck is a bit more compressed and saturated. In a nut shell the KT45 has what I like about the ZWreck and not what I could do without in the ZWreck. All in all, both amazing amps - but the KT45 is just better for my tastes.
Good luck on aquiring your KT - I look forward to hearing the good news.
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Post by bradtfw on Jul 11, 2011 7:51:36 GMT -7
I had a similar thought when auditioning both as well. I love the sound of the Z-Wreck, but it doesn't feel big enough.
I said that the KT has everything I like about the Z-Wreck, but with a big power section. I am a sucker for the thump and thud, but I want clarity and touch sensitivity as well.
I hope to find a used KT-45, but they don't seem to come up for sale too often.
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Post by Pete aka shouldb on Jul 11, 2011 15:19:12 GMT -7
Hey, have you guys seen this video? KT45 features heavily, and I love the tone!
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Post by timford on Jul 12, 2011 2:12:09 GMT -7
It's great seeing the 'Katie' getting some lovin' - she deserves every bit of it - what a singing voice
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Post by aarondavis on Jul 21, 2011 21:10:35 GMT -7
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Post by aarondavis on Jul 22, 2011 13:11:21 GMT -7
Hey Timford, figure I'd give the gig report in my own thread here.
First, a warning to anyone playing outdoor gigs during this heat wave. By the end of the night when it was time to pack up it was clear that I was suffering from heat exaustion. I had drank at least 3 water bottles, but clearly this wasn't enough; maybe it wouldn't have helped. During pack up, I had to sit down several times in front of my fan to catch my breath and felt slightly dizzy and slightly nauseous. *BE VERY CAREFUL*, I'm only thirty seven and *slightly* out of shape.
OK - the gig went great. Although I wasn't playing top notch due to how I felt. But it was still pretty fun. This was for a "summer concert series" this large outdoor mall puts together each year. So there's always a great crowd, last night was no exception.
The KT45 was great. I was concerned I would blow everyone away, but at 9 oclock on the volume it was the perfect level. To be expected, I had a great fat tone with some bite. Not too much midrange and not too little. After changing from my hollowbody to my Tornado the tone got darker and I knew my ear's could be playing with me so I didn't tweak my tone.
To Tim's question in the gearmandude thread. We a cover band that "covers" quite a few styles. But it's all in the pop realm. We've got 3 horns, 3 lead singers (two guys and a girl), keys, bass/drums/guitar. Music by Chicago, Steve Wonder, Santana, Michael Buble, Sara Bareilles, Steely Dan, B52's, Madonna, Steve Miller, The Beatles, The Police... off the top of my head and some originals too.
One more time... Drink plenty of water and do your best to cool down if possible in the middle of outdoor gigs in the over 100 degree heat.
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