KT-77 tubes

[JeffB]

Re: KT-77 tubes

I finally ended up grabbing a set of JJ KT77s.With the holidays coming and 2 kids, I had to pinch some pennies and pass on the Genalex KT77s.

I still need to fine tune the bias, but initial impressions are it's a VERY nice sounding tube. It kind of sits between an EL34 and a 6L6. Compared to the El34s its got a slightly bigger ass end (clear), a little more top end..clear/open, but not harsh at all. It also seems to have the midrange of an EL34, but it's also clearer and a little more refined? It does seem to have a bit less headroom than the Mullard RI EL34s (which is not a bad thing for me).

It was a very noticable and immediate improvement in my DSL. More data as time allows.

 

[kjrocks]

Re: KT-77 tubes

I've been running a set of 77's in my Rivera for years now in place of the el34's for the same reasons. Gained some bottom end and smoothed out the highs. I like them a lot.

 

[JeffB]

Re: KT-77 tubes

I'm going to have a few hours to put them though their paces today, so hopefully some updates later.

 

[JeffB]

Re: KT-77 tubes

Clarity
Clarity
Clarity

Its not "bright" it's just clearer across the spectrum. Bass is bigger/tighter. Highs are clearer and more open/less spikey. Mids are more focused and clearer, but not nasal.

Two biggest observations

1) The tone controls on my 50s wiring now significantly and noticably affect mid-range, like they are supposed to. Roll them up- more mids, roll back, pulls them back. Only around 3 or lower does treble content get significantly reduced.

2) Red channel lead 2 is very usable now (I never use it). I can actually dial up my crunch tone with guitar volumes and tones rolled back to 5-ish. Roll off to cleans, or jack up to 10 and get super saturated leads. No pedals needed.The addition of the guitar tone control functionality really makes for a much wider variety of tones than I could previously get out of green crunch.

The downside is that

1) red channel is extremely noisy no matter what tubes are in it. I need to do some rolling here in v2.

2) My SC245 does not agree with the changes as much. Its is much clearer than my Les Paul to begin with and so it is a bit more clinical/sterile with the additional clarity of the KT-77s.

 

[jclampitt]

Re: KT-77 tubes

I got a set of JJ kt77s for my next set of power tubes in my dsl, I was gonna wait for the el34s I just put in to wear out but it could be a while and this thread has me wanting to try them now.

 

[JeffB]

Re: KT-77 tubes

I got a set of JJ kt77s for my next set of power tubes in my dsl, I was gonna wait for the el34s I just put in to wear out but it could be a while and this thread has me wanting to try them now.

I don't know what type of el-34s you are switching from, but the JJKT77s are very different from the Mullard RI EL34s that I was running previously.