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Post by jb on Jul 27, 2006 7:18:29 GMT -7
Hey Myles,
For my Rt66, what power rating do you recommend for the Kt66's. Currently running 4's and my main guitar is a rather dark sounding alder body strat type. With the bias set at 38 and my RC booster adding some additional brightness, I am just about there. Thanks.
John
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Post by myles on Jul 27, 2006 9:39:04 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... These five matched PIs.... are they silkscreened "matched phase inverter" on the tubes? When these are matched at GT they are not matched for static specs such as gain or TC etc.... all these factors come into play and the tubes two curves have to lie on top of each other for the entire range of operation. As an example ..... these are NOT matched:   A MPI from the SAG at GT would have the two curves directly on top of each other. I do not have an example handy of that but one typically has to go through between 20 and 50 tubes of a given run to find one on most days. 1 in 20 is about an average day. Never use a GT SAG-MPI that is silkscreened as an MPI for anything other than phase inverter use. There are other factors in the tube selection that make it not as suitable for a primary tone and gain stage from my personal point of view and the head of the SAG (special applications group). |
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Post by myles on Jul 27, 2006 9:40:38 GMT -7
Hey Myles, For my Rt66, what power rating do you recommend for the Kt66's. Currently running 4's and my main guitar is a rather dark sounding alder body strat type. With the bias set at 38 and my RC booster adding some additional brightness, I am just about there. Thanks. John Number 6's biased at 36mA (a bit cooler) but try a 12AX7R3 in the phase inverter of your amp first as this is fast, easy, cheap and will have more impact than a pricy output tube change. This will get rid of a bit of the lows and mid lows and balance the amp out a bit if you want a touch more perceived brightness. |
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Post by dzabbeb on Jul 27, 2006 10:44:55 GMT -7
These five matched PIs.... are they silkscreened "matched phase inverter" on the tubes? Nope, just the expected GT12AX7M. That's why I now think they were probably only matched for gain (three of which have 1 triode reading in the 90s). This would be fine if I liked them in the tone/gain stages of my amps, but unfortunately I greatly prefer my NOS tubes there. These were just bought to be PIs. Should I expect to get comparable performance from a new prod tube in the PI stage as long as it has been properly selected? Thanks again. |
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Post by prowler on Jul 27, 2006 16:43:26 GMT -7
Myles,
Where would you set the bias for a Rt.66 running the KT66 HP tubes rated at #4 ?
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Post by myles on Jul 28, 2006 8:59:43 GMT -7
These five matched PIs.... are they silkscreened "matched phase inverter" on the tubes? Nope, just the expected GT12AX7M. That's why I now think they were probably only matched for gain (three of which have 1 triode reading in the 90s). This would be fine if I liked them in the tone/gain stages of my amps, but unfortunately I greatly prefer my NOS tubes there. These were just bought to be PIs. Should I expect to get comparable performance from a new prod tube in the PI stage as long as it has been properly selected? Thanks again. A trace matched PI will perform differently. If Mike at KCA NOS did the matching on his equipment they will also be nicely matched also. A properly matched PI will always work better than one not matched. |
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Post by myles on Jul 28, 2006 9:01:51 GMT -7
Myles, Where would you set the bias for a Rt.66 running the KT66 HP tubes rated at #4 ? I like about 34-36mA regardless of the rating. A higher rating will just need more bias to keep it at this optimum range which stays the same regardless of rating. That is why we adjust bias depending on tube characteristics. |
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Post by fuzzkarl on Jul 28, 2006 13:25:28 GMT -7
Hey Miles,Do you anything about these KT66 tubes ...... www.dougstubes.com/premium.htmAbout half way down He claims there maid on the same tooling as the HP's I was thinking of grabbing some for my 66. Thanks in advance. |
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Post by fuzzkarl on Jul 28, 2006 13:27:29 GMT -7
Hers a pic  |
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Post by prowler on Jul 28, 2006 13:39:01 GMT -7
I'd like to what Myles thinks of these tubes as well. I wonder if he has had a chance to hear them.
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Post by myles on Jul 28, 2006 14:15:45 GMT -7
Hers a pic Actually it is not a claim that they are made on GT tooling it is a fact that they are GT KT66HPs. GT is now out of these but some folks had bought bulk from GT in the past and Doug was one of them. Basically what happened was GT had their own tooling and line in the Reflector complex in Moscow. To keep the tube as ours GT had to build something like 5000 per month. GT had a big stock of them and needed warehouse space. Many thousands were sold off in bulk factory sealed boxes. Unfortunately .... there were problems in the tube complex over there ( many of you read about them in regard to Sovtek and Mike Mathews perhaps). The GT line was shut down and they cannot even contact any of the folks that ran it to turn it back on. It looks like these are a GT item that is now in the past and will go down in history as one of the first GT tooled tubes. The HP (high power) is not really "higher power" to be accurate. It is a tube that was patterned off the specs and characteristics of the Genelex KT-66. The HP came about because the tube would keep working in the GT S-75 and Dual 75 and these amps have about 525 plate volts and would blow up any other aftermarket KT66. Maybe they should have been called KT-66HV for high voltage. In any case, folks with JTM-45's love them and I used a ton of these in Fender 6L6 amps. They sound huge in Fender amps. So ... yup .... the only difference between these and the GT version is that the original silkscreen is still on the tube as they looked when delivered to GT. There will also be a date code that will generally be earlier than 2005 and in many cases as early as 1998 or earlier. They are a spectacular tube. In fact, Dr Z. liked the tube so much that this was part of the reason for the Route 66 design in the first place. I guess when I want some for my Marshall I will have to call Doug myself. To answer the question .... have I heard them? Hundreds of them over the years in various amps. By the way .... date codes prior to 2003 had a mica design that I preferred but either design is super. |
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Post by fuzzkarl on Jul 28, 2006 14:21:21 GMT -7
Thanks Myles ,your wisdom as always is appreciated.
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Post by myles on Jul 28, 2006 14:51:20 GMT -7
Thanks Myles ,your wisdom as always is appreciated. You are more than welcome |
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Post by telefan24 on Aug 1, 2006 13:58:07 GMT -7
Myles,
Some kind folks in another forum suggested I try my question here about a sound Brad Paisley gets that I am dying to replicate.
It's the intro from "The World" that is a very lo-fi, crunchy sound. Almost like he's playing through an old AM radio. Anyways I love it and have been searching to find out how he gets that sound. His web site says this is the gear he uses on that song...
Time Well Wasted
THE WORLD
Main Guitar: 52/57 Telecaster, Dr. Z ES RX and Maz 38, Boss CS-2, Aqua Puss Delay, and an Axess BS-2 Splitter.
Solo: 68 Paisley, Dr. Z ES RX, 62 AC 30, Mini Z, Boss DD-2, Axess BS-2 Splitter.
Lo-Fi Intro: Crook Salsa Paisley, Mini Z and a Line 6 Filter Modeler. Acoustic: 1965 J-45
Crunch Guitar: Music Man Axis, Mini Z.
Additional Fills: 85' G&L ASAT (Jorgenson), 62 AC 30, and a Boss DD-2.
My question is it the Line 6 Filter Modeler that gives it the majority of that sound (I know its a combination that gives it the complete sound)? If it is the Line 6, which model and which effect is he using? Unfortunately, I don't have a Mini Z so I'll just try and get as close as possible.
Thanks so much!
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Post by myles on Aug 2, 2006 9:40:21 GMT -7
Myles, Some kind folks in another forum suggested I try my question here about a sound Brad Paisley gets that I am dying to replicate. It's the intro from "The World" that is a very lo-fi, crunchy sound. Almost like he's playing through an old AM radio. Anyways I love it and have been searching to find out how he gets that sound. His web site says this is the gear he uses on that song... Time Well Wasted THE WORLD Main Guitar: 52/57 Telecaster, Dr. Z ES RX and Maz 38, Boss CS-2, Aqua Puss Delay, and an Axess BS-2 Splitter. Solo: 68 Paisley, Dr. Z ES RX, 62 AC 30, Mini Z, Boss DD-2, Axess BS-2 Splitter. Lo-Fi Intro: Crook Salsa Paisley, Mini Z and a Line 6 Filter Modeler. Acoustic: 1965 J-45 Crunch Guitar: Music Man Axis, Mini Z. Additional Fills: 85' G&L ASAT (Jorgenson), 62 AC 30, and a Boss DD-2. My question is it the Line 6 Filter Modeler that gives it the majority of that sound (I know its a combination that gives it the complete sound)? If it is the Line 6, which model and which effect is he using? Unfortunately, I don't have a Mini Z so I'll just try and get as close as possible. Thanks so much! I do not know the answer here on this but.... Post this in the Ask Zac area and he WOULD know the answer! And ... he can give alternate suggestions. I do not know how fast he will be answering stuff as he may be out on tour soon but this time as a player rather than the head tech. |
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Post by Curt on Aug 2, 2006 11:50:31 GMT -7
Zac has already answered this question as posted by "paisleytele", do a search under his user name.
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Post by foxx on Aug 6, 2006 20:01:49 GMT -7
Hey Myles, my buddy has a Fender Pro Jr. with the original sovtek stock tubes. He is interested in getting a darker tone, removing some of the brightness. He also wants an earlier breakup.
Can you suggest some different tube compliment for this amp? He is using an overseas Squire Strat, and is using the amp in an apartment studio. He even said that he wants a muddy sound, early Neil Young and Crazy Horse. thanks in advance.
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Post by myles on Aug 8, 2006 8:56:49 GMT -7
Hey Myles, my buddy has a Fender Pro Jr. with the original sovtek stock tubes. He is interested in getting a darker tone, removing some of the brightness. He also wants an earlier breakup. Can you suggest some different tube compliment for this amp? He is using an overseas Squire Strat, and is using the amp in an apartment studio. He even said that he wants a muddy sound, early Neil Young and Crazy Horse. thanks in advance. The stock Sovtek 12AX7WA in V1 and V2 with the EL84R output tubes are about as dark as this amp can get. All you can do to break up lower is a set of low rated (1-3) output tubes. If the EL84 tubes in the amp now have blue printing on them he already has a low rated set. If they are white they are medium range If red on the output tubes silkscreen they are high ratings. |
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Post by foxx on Aug 8, 2006 15:25:32 GMT -7
Thanks Myles, I will pass on the information. Thanks again for your help with the GT tubes I got a few weeks ago. I returned the rattling el84's and have recieved a new quad with no rattle. The amp sounds better than ever. I am using p-90's and the amp is a bit less "touch sensitive" than before. I also have lowered those PU's and just love it . Thanks +1
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Post by myles on Aug 9, 2006 8:45:05 GMT -7
Thanks Myles, I will pass on the information. Thanks again for your help with the GT tubes I got a few weeks ago. I returned the rattling el84's and have recieved a new quad with no rattle. The amp sounds better than ever. I am using p-90's and the amp is a bit less "touch sensitive" than before. I also have lowered those PU's and just love it . Thanks +1 You are quite welcome. |
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wilzgt
Full Member
I plumb for Z-Tone !
Posts: 151
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Post by wilzgt on Aug 9, 2006 16:30:03 GMT -7
Myles, I own a Mazerati head and use a 1x12 Z cabinet with it. You mentioned getting a more agressive Ghia tone by inserting a 12ax7 into V2. You also mentioned inserting different pairs of EL84 tubes to get some interesting sounds. What are the interesting sounds?
I would like to make my Mazerati more aggressive and give up the goods earlier since I like to rock out often. I play a strat and a Les Paul Deluxe, so both of my guitars clean up easily if I need them too and I usually need to be clean when playing rhythm. I do use a OD pedal to push the preamp tubes as well.
Any other suggestions?
Thanks!!!
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Post by foxx on Aug 9, 2006 17:32:20 GMT -7
Hey Myles, I just noticed that my Tone knob is loose, inside the amp. I would guess that I need to remove the tubes, remove the top kick panel, and drop the chasis to get inside. I would guess that there is a nut on the inside of the chasis that is just loose. I can't see having to take it to a shop for this.
Could you advise me on this matter? Thanks in advance
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Post by myles on Aug 10, 2006 8:22:40 GMT -7
Hey Myles, I just noticed that my Tone knob is loose, inside the amp. I would guess that I need to remove the tubes, remove the top kick panel, and drop the chasis to get inside. I would guess that there is a nut on the inside of the chasis that is just loose. I can't see having to take it to a shop for this. Could you advise me on this matter? Thanks in advance I do know know which amp you are talking about but in most amps you do not have to remove the chassis. Take the knob off of the pot and there should be a nut on the sleeve. |
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Post by myles on Aug 10, 2006 8:28:05 GMT -7
Myles, I own a Mazerati head and use a 1x12 Z cabinet with it. You mentioned getting a more agressive Ghia tone by inserting a 12ax7 into V2. You also mentioned inserting different pairs of EL84 tubes to get some interesting sounds. What are the interesting sounds? I would like to make my Mazerati more aggressive and give up the goods earlier since I like to rock out often. I play a strat and a Les Paul Deluxe, so both of my guitars clean up easily if I need them too and I usually need to be clean when playing rhythm. I do use a OD pedal to push the preamp tubes as well. Any other suggestions? Thanks!!! Contact Mike at www.kcanostubes.com and get an RFT 12AX7 for V1 in a high number. If you like where that is going and want to do more you can replace the 5751 in V2 with a 12AX7. Maybe try the phase inverter switch first as if you have a good 12AX7 handy this will be fast and free. You can also play with replacing one duet of the quad (they are set up as the two left are one duet and the two right are another duet .... not inner and outers as in many other amps) ... and go with a different rated set like a #2 set of EL84S tubes as one of the duets. As a side note, you can do this in your Mazerati but not in a MAZ Sr. for the output tubes. |
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Post by myles on Aug 10, 2006 8:29:04 GMT -7
Thanks Myles, I will pass on the information. Thanks again for your help with the GT tubes I got a few weeks ago. I returned the rattling el84's and have recieved a new quad with no rattle. The amp sounds better than ever. I am using p-90's and the amp is a bit less "touch sensitive" than before. I also have lowered those PU's and just love it . Thanks +1 Happy playing |
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wilzgt
Full Member
I plumb for Z-Tone !
Posts: 151
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Post by wilzgt on Aug 10, 2006 9:36:26 GMT -7
Thanks Myles! I now understand the preamp tube part.
Getting back to the output tube duet mismatch on the Mazerati.
Do the mismatched output tubes make the amp more aggressive as well?
For example, a duet of #7(cleaner) with a duet of #2(dirtier). Would this produce a more distorted tone?
Thanks again!
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Post by foxx on Aug 10, 2006 18:43:17 GMT -7
I have played around with mismatching the output tubes of my Mazerati. I guess I used a set of GT's at 4 and at 7 ratings. I would say that I could hear both sets of tubes working as seperate pairs. I mean to say both pairs were contributing to the tone, not that the tone was their average rating. does that make sense?
I could hear equal parts the 4's and the 7's. Not the same as say a 5.5 or a 6. I would like to try two different makes of tubes in there, that would be the way to get unique tones, I can only guess. The Mazerati is sensitive to tube changes, to say that one can always hear a difference between guitars and tubes with the Rati.
Good luck with swapping tubes, let us know if you get some cool results.
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Post by myles on Aug 11, 2006 10:19:21 GMT -7
Thanks Myles! I now understand the preamp tube part. Getting back to the output tube duet mismatch on the Mazerati. Do the mismatched output tubes make the amp more aggressive as well? For example, a duet of #7(cleaner) with a duet of #2(dirtier). Would this produce a more distorted tone? Thanks again! It will not make the amp more agressive ... it will make it sound different. |
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Post by myles on Aug 11, 2006 10:20:14 GMT -7
I have played around with mismatching the output tubes of my Mazerati. I guess I used a set of GT's at 4 and at 7 ratings. I would say that I could hear both sets of tubes working as seperate pairs. I mean to say both pairs were contributing to the tone, not that the tone was their average rating. does that make sense? I could hear equal parts the 4's and the 7's. Not the same as say a 5.5 or a 6. I would like to try two different makes of tubes in there, that would be the way to get unique tones, I can only guess. The Mazerati is sensitive to tube changes, to say that one can always hear a difference between guitars and tubes with the Rati. Good luck with swapping tubes, let us know if you get some cool results. Foxx, Nice feedback and nicely explained. |
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Post by foxx on Aug 15, 2006 17:36:09 GMT -7
Hello Myles,
I am re-asking a question that I did not state too clearly before.
My Mazerati combo has a loose tone knob. It's not the small screw, or the 1/2" nut on the exterior of the amp. I have tightened that nut and there is no difference. If I move the knob up and down, there is a clear noise inside the amp. Should I try to drop the chassis and tighten something or leave it alone? It currently does not affect the amp's performance, but I would rather "fix" it now and avoid a bigger situation.
thanks Myles.
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