Anyone try KT88's in an EL34 Shiva?

[UberMetalDood]

I verified with Bogner that KT88's can be installed without modifications, and they gave me the recommended bias settings. However, KT88's are not cheap so I don't know if they will be worth buying just to see if they sound good.

The Shiva 20th comes with KT88's, but from what I've read, isn't necessarily built specifically for KT88's since it has R6 resistors or something to that effect. I don't know technically what exactly those guys are talking about but they claim that the difference between the regular and the 20th are minor. It seems the difference besides cosmetics are the added gain stage and clean tone controls enabled when the boost is engaged.

The Shiva EL34 can also run 6L6's safely according to Bogner, but they say the transformers aren't really matched for them so they don't sound that good. I'm seriously thinking about getting a good pair of KT88's. What say you?

 

[Toe-Knee]

Re: Anyone try KT88's in an EL34 Shiva?

It depends what you are wanting to achieve really.

I've tried kt88s on a number of occasions and just found them too OTT in the lowend.

It's one of those things you will have to try yourself though to see if it works for you.

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: Anyone try KT88's in an EL34 Shiva?

I'd like to see what my Shiva sounds like with a little less low mids and a bit more high mids which is exactly what the KT88's do for the 20th ann. model. I also like the warmth and aliveness that KT88's offer.

 

[Toe-Knee]

Re: Anyone try KT88's in an EL34 Shiva?

I'd like to see what my Shiva sounds like with a little less low mids and a bit more high mids which is exactly what the KT88's do for the 20th ann. model. I also like the warmth and aliveness that KT88's offer.

I'd say do it then!

If Bogner have confirmed its just a drop in switch & a rebias I don't see a reason not to other than the extortionate cost of KT88s.

 

[Soulcrusher_X]

Re: Anyone try KT88's in an EL34 Shiva?

I really liked what a set of KT88s did for my Splawn QR vs. the EL34s. It definitely had a thicker tone and maybe a little 'juicier' I guess you could say. I don't know if it had less low mids than the EL34s, but they were definitely tighter.

 

[mwalluk]

Re: Anyone try KT88's in an EL34 Shiva?

Really I don't consider them much more expensive. Yes $10-20 more, but that being said if you're the type who would drop $40-$200 on a single preamp tube, its really no different than taht

 

[sosomething]

I really liked what a set of KT88s did for my Splawn QR vs. the EL34s. It definitely had a thicker tone and maybe a little 'juicier' I guess you could say. I don't know if it had less low mids than the EL34s, but they were definitely tighter.

That's part of the reason I kept my Pro Mod and traded my Quick Rod. The Pro Mod just has something extra I can't define.

 

[Soulcrusher_X]

Re: Anyone try KT88's in an EL34 Shiva?

That's part of the reason I kept my Pro Mod and traded my Quick Rod. The Pro Mod just has something extra I can't define.

That would be called balls. Not to say the QuickRod did NOT have balls. The ProMod just has bigger balls. Just look at the size of a KT88 compared to an EL34. The Pro Mod is OBVIOUSLY more 'well hung' than the Quickrod.

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: Anyone try KT88's in an EL34 Shiva?

I'd say do it then!

If Bogner have confirmed its just a drop in switch & a rebias I don't see a reason not to other than the extortionate cost of KT88s.

No "drop in switch" if you're referring to some kind of component. Just rebias with the new tubes.

 

[mwalluk]

Re: Anyone try KT88's in an EL34 Shiva?

What do you got tO lose?

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: Anyone try KT88's in an EL34 Shiva?

Nothing. I'm going for it. For now I'll try some EHX KT88's since they're cheapest or might splurge a little and go with Sino which are about $20 more.

 

[Hellion]

Re: Anyone try KT88's in an EL34 Shiva?

I've got a little bit of experience with KT-88s and the thing that really impressed me was how CLEAN they are. I couldn't seem to make them distort at all, and it seemed to taked an amazing amount of signal at the front of the amp to make them even grunt a little. I think it depends on what you're looking for in your sound. At the time, they weren't what I was looking for, but I'd NEVER say that they sounded bad, and I can't think of a single instance in which they would.

 

[Toe-Knee]

Re: Anyone try KT88's in an EL34 Shiva?

No "drop in switch" if you're referring to some kind of component. Just rebias with the new tubes.

By drop in I meant you can just drop them in and rebias

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Anyone try KT88's in an EL34 Shiva?

I've got a little bit of experience with KT-88s and the thing that really impressed me was how CLEAN they are. I couldn't seem to make them distort at all, and it seemed to taked an amazing amount of signal at the front of the amp to make them even grunt a little. I think it depends on what you're looking for in your sound. At the time, they weren't what I was looking for, but I'd NEVER say that they sounded bad, and I can't think of a single instance in which they would.

Actually this is how they should sound. KT88's and 6550's are not tubes that will distort or compress easily (sometimes not at all). If your after lots of headroom and klang they are the way to go.

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: Anyone try KT88's in an EL34 Shiva?

Actually this is how they should sound. KT88's and 6550's are not tubes that will distort or compress easily (sometimes not at all). If your after lots of headroom and klang they are the way to go.

They're a bit looser too but still maintain amazing definition. I have come to think of it as congestion. EL84/6V6's sound a bit congested, EL34/6L6's sound less congested and more open, KT's aren't congested at all. The "biggness" of KT's seems to come from that and not just because of moer low and top end. I'm really liking KT88's these days.

 

[Soulcrusher_X]

Re: Anyone try KT88's in an EL34 Shiva?

Two amps that I've done swapping between EL34s, 6L6s and KT88s were my 2ch Recto and my Quickrod. I agree that the KT88s are a tad looser but brighter than the EL34s in the same amp under similar EQ settings, but the KT88s were tighter, middier and thicker than the 6L6s. The 6550s Ive used were closer to the 6L6, very glassy top end and BIG bottom end. The KT88s were warmer and had more midrange.

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: Anyone try KT88's in an EL34 Shiva?

Two amps that I've done swapping between EL34s, 6L6s and KT88s were my 2ch Recto and my Quickrod. I agree that the KT88s are a tad looser but brighter than the EL34s in the same amp under similar EQ settings, but the KT88s were tighter, middier and thicker than the 6L6s. The 6550s Ive used were closer to the 6L6, very glassy top end and BIG bottom end. The KT88s were warmer and had more midrange.

I know the Shiva 20th is a very different sounding amplifier and has a redesigned preamp. However, I think that I will essentially end up with a lower gain version of the 20th anniversary. I think the cleans will be close and the gain should be voiced similarly to the vintage channel of the 20th. I won't know until I drop the KT88's in. Hopefully they will arrive in the mail in the next couple of days.