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Post by chilicat on Nov 12, 2010 14:45:46 GMT -7
Took my 2 -12 combo in for a re tube/tune up and decided to replace the GT EL34's with KT77's. Just wondering what to expect tone wise when I get it back. Also I may change the. VI preamp tube from the jj that's in there now. Any suggestions or feedback (harmonic or other wise) is appreciated!
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bigredridinhood
New Member
Give me a few months and I'll change my mind again -Ignatious
Posts: 41
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Post by bigredridinhood on Nov 14, 2010 18:53:47 GMT -7
Not sure about the KT77s, but I was told by Brent at the shop to try a Tung Sol 12ax7 in V1 and V2. I did and the results were favorable. Mitch
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Post by chilicat on Nov 15, 2010 9:06:16 GMT -7
Thanks for the suggestion. The 2 pair of KT77's that my amp tech had in stock were bad so we went with JJ el 34's until the 77's come in as we have a gig this saturday. I've been bad and haven't changed tubes in about 3 years, the amp sound good so I let it go in favor of buying pedals and guitars. I'd forgotten what a difference it makes! It reminds me of watching a movie on a standard DVD and then going to Blue Ray, you don't realize what your missing! We went with a Hand selected Ruby (Chinese) tube after a blind test of 3 diff tubes JJ, sovtek, ruby. The Russian tube sounded great but the ruby had a nicer midrange sparkle to it. He did not have a Tung sol but I sill shop around and try to find one. He also isolated my reverb in a bag and mounted it on the back panel. It sounds great now and does not feedback if I turn it up past 3. I'm very happy with the 34's but will let you all know how the 77's turn out when they come in.
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Post by Phil (aka Phil) on Nov 15, 2010 16:17:49 GMT -7
I've got 'em in my SRZ -65 LE right now. I got a quad when Myles first told us about 'em. I had GT EL34LS #5's in there stock. I found the KT77's to be beautifully made for a new production tube. Very thick glass. They seemed to have a little more clean headroom, extended bass, and more lower midrange crunch than the EL34 sizzle we all know and love. They definitely thickened up my Strat. I biased 'em at 65-70% max ID. Sounds great for Trower tunes ;D
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Post by chilicat on Nov 15, 2010 21:47:51 GMT -7
That's what I was looking for Phil! My amp tech said it would give me a sweater more"Fenderish" sound with more bottom end. I would like a little more clean head room, after all the master vol is so useful you can dial in as much gravel as you need. I wanted to hear from some other SRZ players out there. I think one of the bad set of 77's were GT. Is that what you got from Myles? My tech thought that maybe someone returned them and they may have accidently got back in to stock. Who knows, I think were going to go with JJ's. I've always had good luck with them. Thanks for the post.
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Post by muzacman02 "Jamie" on Nov 16, 2010 5:10:15 GMT -7
I used the 77's in my SRZ RH and man it made it LOUDER! and made it more plexish sounding to my ears. It seemed to give it more head room. I went back to the EL34 Tungsol NOS , Where you'll see a big difference is in some good NOS Pre amp tubes as well, I'm using RCA Black Plates and an old Mullard Rectifier WOW! It 's Un Real! Keep us posted on what you think! wow, I would Love to have an SRZ Combo!!! ;D
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Post by chilicat on Nov 16, 2010 7:38:32 GMT -7
Thanks Jamie I'm gonna keep an eye out for some NOS tubes for the VI slot. As far as head room goes, this amp is already a monster. I tell you the open back 2 Greenies combo sounds killer. Our other guitarist has a ton of amps and I get to rehearse through a Fuchs OD 50 through a Bogner cab and it doesn't even get close to the tone I get through the SRZ! Not that I'm complaining at all!! I'm lucky to play through such a fine set up, but I like my combo a lot more. I also like not hauling the Z up and down stairs, its a "hernia box". (According to my tech Paul Anwiler)
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Post by troutstrat on Nov 18, 2010 10:53:16 GMT -7
I have JJ EL34LS in my LE now, still have the stock GT branded ones in the parts bin. In the past I've tried regular JJ EL34's and GTEL34M (Mullard re) and did not like them in the SRZ, too thin sounding. I've been holding on to my LE for a couple years now for many reasons: LE, TONE, etc... However, I always want it to have more of a deeper chunk to the low end in both dirty and clean settings. It's so interesting how the knobs work. I found that when start with the presence dialed back all the way and turn it up just enough for some bite while I play it really helps increase the bottom end. Plus I keep my treble turned almost back all the way. This is with using two different Strats as well. One with Seth55's and one with Quarterpounders. The lack of bottom I think I perceive in the SRZ may be due to playing the KT-45 and RT-66 sometimes which both give me that thick chunk.
I see that JJ now has 6CA7's and this description from eruotubes has me wanting to try them too.
Big Bottle 6CA7 Factory description: Gold plated control grid for improved fidelity. Special plate alloy to improve plate dissipation.
Our observation: The JJ Big Bottle 6CA7 is another welcome addition to the already extensive line offered. It has the harmonic complexity of an EL34 in the upper mids and highs and the round low end of a 6L6 so it's as close to mixing an EL34 with a 6L6 in one bottle as you can get. We just loaded up Marshall DSL50 with a pair of these and and the first word that came to mind was "wooly". The low mids were FAT, and the high end sparkle was outstanding!
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Post by chilicat on Nov 18, 2010 12:04:10 GMT -7
I'm goona try that method with my presence knob. I don't think I do it justice keeping it at about 11:00 along withe the treble. I set the bass around 2:00. This setting tames the thinness of my strat. Not sure about the power tubes yet, I'm excited to try the 77's first.
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Post by chilicat on Dec 20, 2010 10:17:19 GMT -7
Swapped the 34's. For the JJ KT 77's this past weekend, and have to agree that they have more bottom end than the 34's. The amp seems to have less grind and more "roundness" if that makes any sense. I haven't opened it up to gig volume yet but I like what I'm hearing so far! I'll keep you all posted .
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Post by The Fifth Column on Dec 20, 2010 11:47:13 GMT -7
Hey all,
I don't know about the JJ KT77's but I recently put a set of the reissue Gold Line KT77s in my SRZ (somewhere in the middle of the range in terms of breakup). These are way more expensive then the JJ's and a lot of the EL34s, but I wanted to give them a shot as I put a set of reissue Gold Lion KT66s in my Rt 66. I was totally prepared to be disappointed, think they were overpriced and promptly put the EL34s back in, but so far I don't think that's going to happen
I put a NOS rectifier in the amp as well, everything else stayed stock, and biased at just a tick over 60% by my math. I have been playing the results every night for about a week now.
So far I think they sound fantastic!
Maybe it's the combination of the NOS rectifier and these tubes, but I'm really digging the sound. It's not the typical EL34 sound perhaps, but I actually think 77's make the amp sound a little less "modern" and a little more "vintage", if that makes sense... it really works for me. They do seem to have a touch more headroom or maybe just sound more open and raw... not as saturated... but they also seem to have more impact. When I hit a chord it feels like it hits me right in the chest with good force even though there's a touch less gain at the same settings. Maybe a little louder too, but I turn it up anyways.
To my ear they definitely have more lower mids and a different top end. I find I've turned the bass down a little from where I had it with the EL34s, but the sound is still really thick and rich. I also have turned the treble and presence both down a little, but not much. The top end is different than an EL34 to my ear... less fizzy perhaps? More raw? Not really sure how to describe it. I've been playing this amp through a Bogner Cube with a V30. Recently with the EL34s I was thinking it was a little "sharp" and was thinking about swapping the speaker because I just couldn't dial that sharpness out. With the 77's though, so far I'm liking the V30 a little more and think I'll leave it alone... for now at least. That might be a good indication of a little of the change in top end with these tubes.
I'm sure they're not for everyone, especially if you have something very specifically EL34 in your mind. If these tubes last though, and things don't change to my ears as I play more, I'll definitely be getting another set in the future. Might be something specific about the way I play and my rig, but at the moment I'm just thrilled with the sound of this amp with these tubes.
Anyways, just wanted to add my thoughts on the KT77s in this amp. It's certainly nice to have options available.
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Post by chilicat on Dec 21, 2010 13:02:48 GMT -7
Very cool that they are working out for you as well. The more I play the amp now the more I like the tone and body the 77's are bringing.
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Post by mtlrecords on Dec 23, 2010 22:08:28 GMT -7
Oh, no. I may have to try this out. Which KT-77's should I get? I want a bit more clean headroom too and I love the idea of a hybrid EL-34/6L6 sound, a la the JJ 6CA7's...
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Post by chilicat on Dec 24, 2010 7:47:20 GMT -7
I can't speak for any other brand than the JJ's. I've always had good luck with them as far as quality and durability. Not sure about the Gold line reissues mentioned above or the GT's. My availability is limited to what my tech has in stock as I am reluctant to buy on line because it can be a hassle returning those that don't work out. Just my opinion of course.
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Post by skydog958 on Dec 25, 2010 9:24:59 GMT -7
I'm thinkin' of moving to the KT77s...since GT is no longer making the E34LS, I was going to have to change tubes anyways. I do have a matched quad of them left though, but they might go off with my KT-45 when I get around to moving it.
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Post by Martanthegreat on Dec 27, 2010 12:36:46 GMT -7
Just put JJ KT77's and a weber copper cap rec in my LE #8. The gain has a different flavor, not fizzy or fuzzy like el34's can be. The 77's are not a high gain tube but the gain is full and articulate. Chords are full and clear and the amp seems to cut more and sit better in the mix. More bass and mids, less highs. I thought the highs with the 34's were alittle harsh sometimes I feel the 77's really sound smooth and round. Now I have only played it through my 2x12 open back Z with gh30's but it hits hard. Just havent had time to put it with my Zbest or 1x12 with a v30 yet. It was a nice change, totally different beast...
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Post by skydog958 on Dec 28, 2010 18:41:49 GMT -7
Martan: any reason for going with the Copper Cap?
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Post by Martanthegreat on Dec 29, 2010 5:41:42 GMT -7
Well my rectifier blew so thats what prompted this whole change...just something new to try...
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Post by chilicat on Feb 6, 2011 13:24:40 GMT -7
We've had a couple of gigs since changing to the KT 77"s and I couldn't be happier with the sound of my combo! My cleans last night were exactly like I've been hearing in my head for years. More ballsy and full than my old fender and defiantly sweater than the SRZ with 34's. I'll never go back, I'm sold on the 77's with this amp.
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Post by muzacman02 "Jamie" on Feb 10, 2011 14:07:06 GMT -7
I 'm glad to hear you guys digging the 77's, I wasn't as ;D Impressed, However I use my SRZ in a Raging Manner. I like the Sizzle and Gain From the EL34's , I thought the 77's made it sound more 70's ish Bad Co. Forigner kind of tone. I'm running those JJ 6CA7's WOW! they are awesome. I have also been gifted to use an Air Break Recently with my SRZ and it's like WTF, Why Didn't I try this sooner?? I use my SRZ for Dirty Tones only , However It will clean up with the right guitars, Speakers etc... I think the SS Rectifier Change would definitely clean the amp up alot more, and may even make a bit tighter on the Bottom? I haven't tried it. I use a Original Mullard/RCA style BlackPlate 5AR4 it made the amp really Blossom, so did the preamp tube changes too.
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Post by chilicat on Feb 11, 2011 12:17:14 GMT -7
Sounds like your rig rages Jamie! I love the EL 34 tone as well. I would try the 6CA7's but not now as I like the added flexibility of the cleaner base the 77's offer. I only use one amp and get most of my dirt from boosts and OD's. So the beautiful cleanish grind I'm getting fits my needs to a "T"
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