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Post by myles on Jul 18, 2006 8:29:21 GMT -7
Hey Myles, I had a chance to meet with Patrick S. at Summer NAMM. I was working at the Curt Mangan String booth. Patrick was trying to hook up with Alex Weeden. I gave Patrick a set of Mangan strings for you. Many thanks for all you do! Rick I had an appointment to meet with Alex Weeden last Friday at noon before a Miranda Lambert show. I was going to sit with him and teach him a number of things and had a lot of free stuff for him. In any case, he ran off before noon and left me standing there after rescheduling other appointments. Alex told Nick Greer (who builds his amp) that he thought we were supposed to meet at 3pm. I had talked to Alex the day before and asked when they were going to arrive and when load in was scheduled. I said I would met him at noon. It would seem to me that the simple logic of being able to work with him at a time when they were not in the start of sound check with everything hectic and rushed may have vanished from his logic apparently and he may have thought that I could teach him all he needed to know in three minutes. In any case .... I wrote a bunch in the past after the ACM awards where I felt that Miranda Lambert should have won over Carrie Underwood when I did not understand the decision of the vote. My sincere apologies to Carrie Underwood. Perhaps part of the reason that Carrie won is that some of the judges tried to see a Miranda Lambert live show and their tickets were misplaced or things did not sound that good or who knows what else. The other people I met from the band seemed to fall in with the general lack of ideas of what was going on in general and the level of disorganization was about as high as I have seen things since junior high school. In any event, I will not be working with anybody from Miranda Lambert's group in the future. But .... thanks a LOT for the strings that are on the way! |
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Post by Curt on Jul 19, 2006 8:48:22 GMT -7
Per you request;
Hello Myles,
Folks here are saying the KT-66HP's are discontinued, is this true? when can we expect to see them again?
I noticed a rush of used Route 66's on ebay, they are selling cheap so I'll assume people are affraid there will be no tubes, I actually picked one up off ebay very reasonable (this will be my second as a back up) and would like to experiment with other tubes, can I rebias and run EL-34's? 6L6's?
I'd like to set the second one up as a dirtier amp.
What is the plate voltage of a Route 66.
Any recommendations bias etc. for any of these is greatly appreciated.
As always "THANKS",
Curt
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Post by myles on Jul 19, 2006 12:02:32 GMT -7
Per you request; Hello Myles, Folks here are saying the KT-66HP's are discontinued, is this true? when can we expect to see them again? I noticed a rush of used Route 66's on ebay, they are selling cheap so I'll assume people are affraid there will be no tubes, I actually picked one up off ebay very reasonable (this will be my second as a back up) and would like to experiment with other tubes, can I rebias and run EL-34's? 6L6's? I'd like to set the second one up as a dirtier amp. What is the plate voltage of a Route 66. Any recommendations bias etc. for any of these is greatly appreciated. As always "THANKS", Curt Curt The GT-KT66HP was a GT exclusive tube built at the Reflector factory in Moscow. When all that Sovtek vs Russia stuff happened the factory became somewhat of a mess and they are still recovering. This was a tube developed by GT and produced on GT tooling in one area of that tube complex. I do not not know if or when this tube will be able to be made again. In the meantime, we have changed some aspects of the KT-66C and are trying to make that tube what the HP was. If you need KT66C's that are traced to be the same as the HPs just let me know as I can do this for folks in this forum. Plate volts is usually around 470 or so and I prefer the bias at 36mA or so but this is really personal taste. 470 V 30 W 40% 50% 60% 70% 26 32 38 45 |
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Post by Curt on Jul 19, 2006 19:08:11 GMT -7
Thanks for that Myles, This 66 I have was biased at 28 mA, I ran it up to 34 but it sounded harsh, I changed the Rec to one of the mismarked ones from Mike @kcnos and that dropped the bias from 28 to 26, I raised it back to 28mA and love the tone?  Still curious if I can run EL-34's or 6L6's in one of these as I have a second on the way. Thanks, Curt |
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Post by myles on Jul 20, 2006 9:21:56 GMT -7
Thanks for that Myles, This 66 I have was biased at 28 mA, I ran it up to 34 but it sounded harsh, I changed the Rec to one of the mismarked ones from Mike @kcnos and that dropped the bias from 28 to 26, I raised it back to 28mA and love the tone? Still curious if I can run EL-34's or 6L6's in one of these as I have a second on the way. Thanks, Curt Curt, 6L6 yes EL34 no .... the screen resistors are of the wrong value and the output transformer will be a mismatch. |
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Post by Curt on Jul 20, 2006 13:04:05 GMT -7
Thanks for that Myles, This 66 I have was biased at 28 mA, I ran it up to 34 but it sounded harsh, I changed the Rec to one of the mismarked ones from Mike @kcnos and that dropped the bias from 28 to 26, I raised it back to 28mA and love the tone? Still curious if I can run EL-34's or 6L6's in one of these as I have a second on the way. Thanks, Curt Curt, 6L6 yes EL34 no .... the screen resistors are of the wrong value and the output transformer will be a mismatch. OK cool, Thanks. I'm ready to experiment ! Any suggestions on 6l6's would be appreciated, I think I'll play with PI 's as well. |
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Post by myles on Jul 20, 2006 16:07:52 GMT -7
Curt, 6L6 yes EL34 no .... the screen resistors are of the wrong value and the output transformer will be a mismatch. OK cool, Thanks. I'm ready to experiment ! Any suggestions on 6l6's would be appreciated, I think I'll play with PI 's as well. For 6L6's I'd try either Svetlanas (real ones) or 6L6GE in a #7 rating (they are not as strong as 66HPs) and bias at 30-32mA for a start. For the PI .... either a 12AX7M or 12AX7R2 (Sovtek LPS) that is matched and has current output of at least 1.1mA or transconductance of at least 1500 per side. |
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Post by Curt on Jul 20, 2006 23:20:18 GMT -7
That's what I needed, Thanks a bunch Myles.
Curt
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Post by rcrecelius on Jul 21, 2006 7:01:02 GMT -7
Myles,
Once you set the bias in an amplifier, what causes it to change?
I put new tubes in my Z28 3(or was it 4) weeks ago and it already sounds like something is not quite right.
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Post by fuzzkarl on Jul 22, 2006 10:04:18 GMT -7
Hi, Myles
I'm new here.I just got a RT66.I'm running it w/ a 112 v30.
I'm useing a les paul(JB & JAZZ pup's) or firbird(low out put mini buckers).
I was wondering what tubes &/or speakers you would reccomend to get some more Gian out of it/less clean head room?
Also I got the head new from a local store,but they have no qlue as to the rating of the KT66's.
How would I determine that?
Thanks for any input.
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Post by myles on Jul 22, 2006 10:16:11 GMT -7
Myles, Once you set the bias in an amplifier, what causes it to change? I put new tubes in my Z28 3(or was it 4) weeks ago and it already sounds like something is not quite right. Your tubes may have seated in and the bias changed from where it was set or one of the duet went out of match. |
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Post by myles on Jul 22, 2006 10:20:03 GMT -7
Hi, Myles I'm new here.I just got a RT66.I'm running it w/ a 112 v30. I'm useing a les paul(JB & JAZZ pup's) or firbird(low out put mini buckers). I was wondering what tubes &/or speakers you would reccomend to get some more Gian out of it/less clean head room? Also I got the head new from a local store,but they have no qlue as to the rating of the KT66's. How would I determine that? Thanks for any input. You cannot do much with the Route 66 in regard to front end gain with tube changes due to the design of using an EF86 pentode in the front end. But ... due to the design these amps are more versitile than a triode front end as in you can alter the gain with the tone controls (lots of this info buried on my website) and the amp's front end also loves pedals. Try this ..... run both tone controls to their upper settings and lower the volume. Think of the amp's volume control as something of a master volume and the tone controls as two gain controls. Let me know what you think after you try it. Folks that were not aware of this aspect of the amp are generally pretty amazed when they learn this trick. |
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Post by fuzzkarl on Jul 22, 2006 10:27:47 GMT -7
I accualy run it this way now.I was under the impression that differnt rated power tubes & differnt EF86'S would result in more/quicker break up?
Maybe "gain" was the wrong term.
Also is there a way to to tell what # kt66's are in there now?
Thanks
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Post by myles on Jul 22, 2006 10:41:25 GMT -7
I accualy run it this way now.I was under the impression that differnt rated power tubes & differnt EF86'S would result in more/quicker break up? Maybe "gain" was the wrong term. Also is there a way to to tell what # kt66's are in there now? Thanks The KT66's can be changed to higher ratings for more clean headroom or lower ratings to break up faster. If they are GT tubes there is a rating label on the tubes on the base. On EF86's .... all good EF86s (NOS) have very very close specs. They are no more or less gainy than different makes but do have a different sonic character. This is not the case with dual triodes where even the same tubes from the same maker from the same batch will vary more than +/- 50% |
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Post by fuzzkarl on Jul 22, 2006 10:45:42 GMT -7
Thanks so much for your speedy responce.
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Post by rcrecelius on Jul 24, 2006 6:28:59 GMT -7
Myles, Once you set the bias in an amplifier, what causes it to change? I put new tubes in my Z28 3(or was it 4) weeks ago and it already sounds like something is not quite right. Your tubes may have seated in and the bias changed from where it was set or one of the duet went out of match. Myles, I checked the bias befor Sat's gig and found it had drifted a little to the high side so I set it back at 24 but something still isnt right. It seems like the amp does not sustain as well when I play higher up the fretboard...you can really hear this when playing an ascending run up to the higher strings(E,B)...it gets thinner sounding and actually quieter as you go up. What would cause this...Phase Inverter maybe? |
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Post by myles on Jul 24, 2006 8:44:29 GMT -7
Your tubes may have seated in and the bias changed from where it was set or one of the duet went out of match. Myles, I checked the bias befor Sat's gig and found it had drifted a little to the high side so I set it back at 24 but something still isnt right. It seems like the amp does not sustain as well when I play higher up the fretboard...you can really hear this when playing an ascending run up to the higher strings(E,B)...it gets thinner sounding and actually quieter as you go up. What would cause this...Phase Inverter maybe? Yes ... try a phase inverter swap next. Could also be a bad output set even if new. Bias is at idle and we do not know what the tubes are doing at output off of idle. |
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Post by (8^D) on Jul 24, 2006 11:47:26 GMT -7
Hey Myles,
Got back from the road and myspace is a bit quirky at the moment.
Didn't need anything, just wanted to thank you again for the help last week w/the Sr and tubes. The #6's are more inline with what I'm after. Love the pre tube setup and going to use both power quads - keep the #4's for smaller rooms.
DW.
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Post by myles on Jul 25, 2006 8:24:41 GMT -7
Hey Myles, Got back from the road and myspace is a bit quirky at the moment. Didn't need anything, just wanted to thank you again for the help last week w/the Sr and tubes. The #6's are more inline with what I'm after. Love the pre tube setup and going to use both power quads - keep the #4's for smaller rooms. DW. DW .... Yes... myspace had some sort of power outage due to the heat. Keep in touch |
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Post by rcrecelius on Jul 25, 2006 11:45:40 GMT -7
Myles, I checked the bias befor Sat's gig and found it had drifted a little to the high side so I set it back at 24 but something still isnt right. It seems like the amp does not sustain as well when I play higher up the fretboard...you can really hear this when playing an ascending run up to the higher strings(E,B)...it gets thinner sounding and actually quieter as you go up. What would cause this...Phase Inverter maybe? Yes ... try a phase inverter swap next. Could also be a bad output set even if new. Bias is at idle and we do not know what the tubes are doing at output off of idle. I stuck a Sovtek 12AX7LPS(I think this was the original PI) in there last night and it seems to be much better. About 6v6 tubes... I have the TungSol reissues from KCA...how do those compare to the GT offerings? They(TungSols) seem much tighter/brighter and stay cleaner longer than the original tubes. Also, which GT 6v6 do you prefer...S or C? |
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Post by myles on Jul 25, 2006 11:49:49 GMT -7
Yes ... try a phase inverter swap next. Could also be a bad output set even if new. Bias is at idle and we do not know what the tubes are doing at output off of idle. I stuck a Sovtek 12AX7LPS(I think this was the original PI) in there last night and it seems to be much better. About 6v6 tubes... I have the TungSol reissues from KCA...how do those compare to the GT offerings? They(TungSols) seem much tighter/brighter and stay cleaner longer than the original tubes. Also, which GT 6v6 do you prefer...S or C? The LPS is a long plate and makes a great phase inverter. The Tung Sol 6V6 .... look at the 6V6R (which is the EH) and compare to the Tung Sol .... look the same? The S is a great tube (JJ). It is not as smooth or creamy but is stronger and more agressive. It boils down to user preference. I use the S in my Fargen amps. I use the R (EH) in my Z-28 and Fender deluxes. I use NOS in my tweed deluxes and GT single as they are the only ones that hold up long term. The C's are fine and some people prefer them tonally over the R but that again is personal preference. I do not use the C's in any of my own amps. |
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Post by foxx on Jul 25, 2006 15:44:03 GMT -7
Hi Myles, I bought a used Epiphone Valve Jr. for $80, just till I can get a Mini Z. It hums very loud. Where could a person have some one modify this little amp? I have read on a review that a guy changed the impedence of the input and some caps or resistors. I have changed the tubes already to GT's.
The amp buzzes and it is a little dark. Where do I begin?
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Post by Sam A. on Jul 25, 2006 17:35:41 GMT -7
Hi Myles, I bought a used Epiphone Valve Jr. for $80, just till I can get a Mini Z. It hums very loud. Where could a person have some one modify this little amp? I have read on a review that a guy changed the impedence of the input and some caps or resistors. I have changed the tubes already to GT's. The amp buzzes and it is a little dark. Where do I begin? Not to step on Myles toes, but Mercury just put out a whole upgrade kit for the Valve Jr. It comes with caps, restistors, and a new transformer. Sam |
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Post by myles on Jul 26, 2006 9:14:52 GMT -7
Hi Myles, I bought a used Epiphone Valve Jr. for $80, just till I can get a Mini Z. It hums very loud. Where could a person have some one modify this little amp? I have read on a review that a guy changed the impedence of the input and some caps or resistors. I have changed the tubes already to GT's. The amp buzzes and it is a little dark. Where do I begin? I would look on the net as there are now all sort of mods out for these. |
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Post by myles on Jul 26, 2006 9:18:08 GMT -7
Hi Myles, I bought a used Epiphone Valve Jr. for $80, just till I can get a Mini Z. It hums very loud. Where could a person have some one modify this little amp? I have read on a review that a guy changed the impedence of the input and some caps or resistors. I have changed the tubes already to GT's. The amp buzzes and it is a little dark. Where do I begin? Not to step on Myles toes, but Mercury just put out a whole upgrade kit for the Valve Jr. It comes with caps, restistors, and a new transformer. Sam Sam .... thanks .... and feel free to step on my toes anytime you feel like it. You know tons of stuff that I do not know and frankly .... to be honest ... you are a much better guitar player. Then again ... you are the only one I ever saw that could play a duet of timewarp with Brad Paisley  I know ... you are going to get all humble on me and all that but do you really think that anybody else here could have done that? No. Jimmy is a great rock player and all that but when it comes to fast clean country pickin' I think you have anybody in the building beat. And .... I do not see any of us here with Brad Paisley in the photo: www.guitaramplifierblueprinting.com/images/DSC01712.JPG |
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Post by Curt on Jul 26, 2006 14:40:03 GMT -7
Myles or Mike Z,
When I tried to check the Bias on my Route 66 last night there was smoke and a pop from the back of the tube socket that my GT bias tool was on. This happened as soon as I flipped the standby switch, it made a weird sound, the resistor on the rear of the tube socket lit up , smoked, then a pop from I'm unsure where.
The fuse is fine, the power tubes lite up, the power light lites up, but there is no sound.
I have used this tool before with no issues so I have no Idea what/why this happened.
1. Doc, can I send the amp to you to check out?
2. What do either of you suspect happened here?
Now I am gun shy of this tool as I have no idea what went wrong.
Thanks in advance,
Curt
Mike Z, I left a message on your shop phone also.
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Post by dock66 on Jul 26, 2006 15:20:15 GMT -7
Hey Curt,so sorry to hear about your incedent.I am sure Myles and Doc can fix the problem.Hang in there,help is coming soon.
dock66
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Post by myles on Jul 26, 2006 16:32:08 GMT -7
Myles or Mike Z, When I tried to check the Bias on my Route 66 last night there was smoke and a pop from the back of the tube socket that my GT bias tool was on. This happened as soon as I flipped the standby switch, it made a weird sound, the resistor on the rear of the tube socket lit up , smoked, then a pop from I'm unsure where. The fuse is fine, the power tubes lite up, the power light lites up, but there is no sound. I have used this tool before with no issues so I have no Idea what/why this happened. 1. Doc, can I send the amp to you to check out? 2. What do either of you suspect happened here? Now I am gun shy of this tool as I have no idea what went wrong. Thanks in advance, Curt Mike Z, I left a message on your shop phone also. Curt, There is a resistor in the bias tool that may have shorted. Give a call to Jimmy in the morning at GT toll free at 1-800-459-5687. Since you have a tool my guess would be that you have a meter. Jimmy can tell you which pins to meter and what you should see. If the bias tool failed then it should be covered under warranty. Now speaking totally unofficially .... if the tool failed and did damage to your amp I will work with the Doc to try to get your amp fixed and put whatever pressure I can put on GT as this is something that may not be covered under the letter of the law but I am more of a "spirit of the law" sort of guy. |
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Post by Curt on Jul 26, 2006 17:40:46 GMT -7
Thanks Myles,
I'll call Jimmie tomorrow morning, and thanks in advance for any other help you can provide.
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Post by dzabbeb on Jul 26, 2006 20:47:00 GMT -7
Myles,
I bought a set of five GT 12AX7-Ms that were supposedly balanced for PI duty in the hopes that I could stop using my stock of NOS tubes for that purpose. Unfortunately, when I tried them out I noticed a loss of a bit of range (highs/lows) and touch sensitivity. My Route 66 in particular seems a little less lively as a whole. I then found your more extensive comments on PI tubes and I'm wondering if maybe the ones I got were only matched for gain and not transcoductance and current output as well. Would that be a likely explanation or are the NOS tubes going to make that much of a difference in the PI section as well? I'm hoping not, as I'd like to conserve them for use elsewhere, and I otherwise don't have much use for the five GT 12AX7-Ms I bought. Do you have any suggestions?
Thanks for your time and sharing your knowledge...
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I know ... you are going to get all humble on me and all that but do you really think that anybody else here could have done that? No. Jimmy is a great rock player and all that but when it comes to fast clean country pickin' I think you have anybody in the building beat.
