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Post by florencj on Oct 23, 2011 20:04:42 GMT -7
Bought a 2002 Route today off sleazebay. I'm so excited I've had a chub all day. I have never had an amp of this quality, I'm poor folk, but have had several tube amps. I'm wondering if the NOS tube configuration it comes with will be worthwhile or if I should do some shopping and swapping. The tubes are as follows:
NOS German Telefunken EF86 Reissue Mullard ECC83 NOS GE 5U4G Rectifier NOS Groove Tubes KT-66
I have next to no experience with NOS tubes. Any advice would be very welcome. Thanks JOSH
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Post by Eddie on Oct 23, 2011 23:09:54 GMT -7
Congrats on the Rt. 66 and welcome to Z Talk.
I am assuming you haven't gotten the amp yet because you say you bought it today. My recommendation would be to wait until it arrives and give the tubes the previous owned has in it a chance. You may find it sounds great as is. Then, you can shop for a few replacements just in case one fails.
For NOS tubes, many people like KCA NOS tubes. A Google search will bring him right up.
Best, Eddie
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Post by florencj on Oct 24, 2011 2:37:09 GMT -7
Thanks Eddie. I planned on giving them a chance when she gets here. Just seeing if any body knew of the particular tube compliment. Thanks for the tip on the tubes you mentioned, the KCA. Josh
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Post by Joey Beverages on Oct 24, 2011 9:12:16 GMT -7
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Post by randalp3000 on Oct 24, 2011 9:51:02 GMT -7
If it sounds good those tubes should last quit awhile, but I'd be happy to take that EF86 off your hands.
welcome and congrats. rp
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Post by kcraig on Oct 24, 2011 11:06:53 GMT -7
I installed a new set of Gold Lion KT66 in my Route. They sound great to me but I'm for sure not an expert.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2011 14:21:28 GMT -7
I installed a new set of Gold Lion KT66 in my Route. They sound great to me but I'm for sure not an expert. +1 for the gold lion reissues
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Post by prspastor on Oct 24, 2011 19:39:30 GMT -7
I would certainly hold onto the NOS tubes. Especially The EF86
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2011 21:11:05 GMT -7
The NOS rec should last quite awhile.
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Post by florencj on Oct 24, 2011 23:11:48 GMT -7
Awesome! I just keep getting more excited waiting for it to get here. I feel like camping out on my porch to wait on the delivery truck. Thanks everybody for the input. I have been reading this forum for a few months till I recently chimed in. This is the most friendly forum I have seen. No smack talk. I am glad to now be a Z family member. Sincerely, Josh
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Post by prspastor on Oct 25, 2011 4:39:33 GMT -7
Hey Josh! Welcome to Z Talk! (and congrats on buying Doc's best amp)
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Post by florencj on Oct 27, 2011 0:51:45 GMT -7
I got the Route today and the doorbell rang and by the time I got there the UPS guy was driving off and the box was beat to total hell. Man I took pics and was so worried. There were five holes in the box and one end was nearly completely ripped open. A couple of the holes were taped over. I held my breath as I opened the box and the Route looked brand spankin' new and I think it even sparkled a little bit. Ha.
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Post by florencj on Oct 27, 2011 1:00:11 GMT -7
Oops, posted prematurely. I inspected it thoroughly top to bottom and not a mark on it. I set it up, warmed up, plugged in and tears of joy, brothers. Un-friggin' real. This thang was brought to earth by ancient tone aliens. I know I probably caused damage to my ears, but I couldn't get over the tone with all dials dimed. Yes, even the volume. The tubes installed are heavenly and I think that the million or so prayers I said while awaiting it were answered. IT SOUNDS HUGE!!! The note to note clarity when playing chords is, well, just like the reviews say "piano-like". I'm calling into work for the next week and skipping college so I can spend time with the Route. Naw, but I'm tempted. Hey, my only concern is that the NOS GE power tubes have a really bizarre blue electrical glow, but only when a note is played. It is like a hundred little blue lightning strikes are shooting through both tubes when I play, but not when I don't play. It is a really cool looking effect, but is it dangerous or are they microphonic? I can't imagine they are bad because the tone and distortion at a dimed volume is absolutely smooth and angelic. Trumpets from heaven my brothers.
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Post by smolder on Oct 27, 2011 4:43:49 GMT -7
Lol... Sounds like you definitely have a route 66! Glad you're digging it.
So... You're telling us yours came with GE kt66's??? How cool is that? NOS kt66's are a treat. The blue glow is normal in big bottle tubes, well most tubes really. Enjoy!
Oh, and welcome to the Z world.
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Post by prspastor on Oct 27, 2011 5:29:12 GMT -7
Oh yeah, the blue glow is great actually, because it means that your power tubes have a really good vacuum inside them. Those lightning bolts when you are cranked are electrons screaming over to the plate from the cathode. All of those tubes should last you for years, btw. The rectifier and the EF 86 might last the lifetime of the amp so don't change them out unless something is wrong. The power tubes should last you a long time too. At my current hourly usage per week of approx 3 hours, I hope and expect my KT66 to last at least 20 years (3,000-5,000) hours.
In any case, you hit the motherload of tubes, so keep those puppies in there! One other thing, don't let anyone tell you that an EF86 is the same thing/exchangable with a 12AX7/ECC83. They are not. The EF86 is a pentode and the 12AX7 is a dual triode (2 triode tubes in one glass bottle). They are both in small bottles with nine pins but that is where the similarity ends.
Now, you can exhange the KT66 with 6l6 tubes and your amp will go from what you have now to more Tweed. Most of us love the KT66s... They are a great tube and were doc's vision for the amp.
Keep that 5U4 rectifier in there. Great tones, wonderful note bloom with that rectifier.
One other thing, your amp will need to be biased every time you change out your power tubes (the KT66). This is no big deal to do, and we can tell you more about it if you haven't heard about it before.
Glad you are enjoying the 66! It is an awesome amp, huh? Here is some Karma for choosing a great amp!
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Post by florencj on Oct 29, 2011 3:32:26 GMT -7
I posted on Oct. 27th that I had NOS GE KT66s, but I meant to write GT Groove Tubes. I wish they were GE but I am honestly quite pleased with the GT for now. The seller told me they were nos and they look old. Anywho I likes 'em.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2011 12:38:32 GMT -7
I posted on Oct. 27th that I had NOS GE KT66s, but I meant to write GT Groove Tubes. I wish they were GE but I am honestly quite pleased with the GT for now. The seller told me they were nos and they look old. Anywho I likes 'em. I wonder how long those Grove Tube kt66s have been in there? Make sure you have a back up set of output tubes. I think new Route 66s are being loaded with reissue Gold Lions. They are a great sounding tube. Chinese made Shuguang kt66s are supposed to be closer in sound to the original gold lions. YMMV. Just make sure you get your tubes from a reliable source.
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