KT66 tubes for Zeppelin and Hard Rock?

Corbic

New member
I've been looking for an amp that I can use clean and distorted and use my volume knob to control it. Some people have told me 30 tube watts won't be enough, so I've been looking into 50 watt amps. The Marshall JTM-45 sounds like a nice amp, and I could possibly get a Celtic Edana. I love the sound of the Bluesbreaker album, but I'm not sure if the KT66 tubes will give me the same distorted sound for the harder rock I play like Zeppelin, Van Halen, and other 80s metal. I think with a pedal or two I could nail the Bluesbreaker tone, also Fresh Cream, and maybe even get close to Hendrix's sound. So my question is, how do JTM-45's sound for the harder rock mentioned above? Thanks!

-Corbic

NOTE: I'm probably going to get the V32 for now, but I'll be looking for a larger 50 watt amp in the future.
 
Re: KT66 tubes for Zeppelin and Hard Rock?

I'm rather biased, but I think so. The cool thing is that if you really would rather have EL34's, you can put them in my amp and also potentially use a solid state rectifier and get more into the plexi-ish territory. But I am coming across as a commercial and I don't mean to.
 
Re: KT66 tubes for Zeppelin and Hard Rock?

LZ yes, EVH no

There is a difference in the tone of the amps used to record.
 
Re: KT66 tubes for Zeppelin and Hard Rock?

I agree with scott. JTM45 will not get as dirty as the EL34 version with solidstate rectifier.

look at germinio amps aswell
 
Re: KT66 tubes for Zeppelin and Hard Rock?

KT66 's will rock. EVH actually used big bottle 6CA7's that are a bit cleaner than standard EL34's too.

I'm not associated with Scott's amps, so I can reiterate his point without being biased. It's true that you can put EL34's into a JTM45 type amp, and you can also replace the GZ34 rectifier tube with a plug in SS rectifier if needed. Just re-bias and rock out.
 
Re: KT66 tubes for Zeppelin and Hard Rock?

30 tube watts is more than enough for almost everything, even loud indoor gigs. And after all, 50 watts is just a tiny bit louder ;)
 
Re: KT66 tubes for Zeppelin and Hard Rock?

Scott_F said:
I'm rather biased, but I think so. The cool thing is that if you really would rather have EL34's, you can put them in my amp and also potentially use a solid state rectifier and get more into the plexi-ish territory. But I am coming across as a commercial and I don't mean to.

Scott, I've been meaning to ask you a question about the Edana. I think getting the Edana is probably my best bet for what I want at this point. But I was wondering what the Bitch switch on the back does? It says it gets it into more plexi-ish territory, so could I have the KT66 tubes and engage the switch to get into the harder rock territory?
 
Re: KT66 tubes for Zeppelin and Hard Rock?

You'd never nail the EVH tone with a JTM 45 and KT66's, but I get the impression that you don't particuarly want to either. For generally that type of hard rock (zep, vh, hendrix) you'd get a really great sound from that setup that you'd like.
 
Re: KT66 tubes for Zeppelin and Hard Rock?

shredaholic said:
You'd never nail the EVH tone with a JTM 45 and KT66's, but I get the impression that you don't particuarly want to either. For generally that type of hard rock (zep, vh, hendrix) you'd get a really great sound from that setup that you'd like.

Not looking to nail it, just get into the hard rock Plexi-type tone. If I wanted to nail the Brown Sound I'd probably get myself a Mojave. And I think the Edana will probably be my best bet to get the sound I want. Thanks for the help guys, now I just gotta wait for Scott_F's reply about the Bitch switch.
 
Re: KT66 tubes for Zeppelin and Hard Rock?

I have the Edana... and yes it will get you those tones and much more, stretches from snappy clean fender, to clapton bluesbreakers, and hard rock Zep, and if you add a pedal it can get even more. The bitch switch just adds a bit of gain... makes it a bit grainier, good for the times when you want just a teeny bit 'more'. The cool thing is is that if your not digging the KT66s, it wont be very hard to switch to EL34s.. personally. KT66s are great for me, and i like the bit of sag from the tube rectifier.
 
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Re: KT66 tubes for Zeppelin and Hard Rock?

Scott_F said:
I'm rather biased, but I think so. The cool thing is that if you really would rather have EL34's, you can put them in my amp and also potentially use a solid state rectifier and get more into the plexi-ish territory. But I am coming across as a commercial and I don't mean to.

Details?
 
Re: KT66 tubes for Zeppelin and Hard Rock?

J-J-J-JONESING FOR EDANA!!!!!! MUST HAVE EDANA!!!!!
:burnout: :naughty: :bigeyes: :beerchug: :headbang: :banghead: :deal:
 
Re: KT66 tubes for Zeppelin and Hard Rock?

Corbic said:
Scott, I've been meaning to ask you a question about the Edana. I think getting the Edana is probably my best bet for what I want at this point. But I was wondering what the Bitch switch on the back does? It says it gets it into more plexi-ish territory, so could I have the KT66 tubes and engage the switch to get into the harder rock territory?

I also have an Edana. The Sweet / Bitch does exactly that! Adds a little bit of plexi-ish edge to the tone.









Good lord, I better get those clips over to Scott_F!
 
Re: KT66 tubes for Zeppelin and Hard Rock?

Sounds like I'm sold then, thanks for the help guys! Now I just gotta scrounge together some money for the Edana, should be awhile. But in the end it'll be worth it.
 
Re: KT66 tubes for Zeppelin and Hard Rock?

I think KT66's are gorgeous and have a sweet top. So much glass. HOWEVER, if you like Live Zep, Hendrix, or Cream - the formula is simple - CRANKED PLEXIs with EL34s and a Pedal or 2. Nothing is nastier.
 
Re: KT66 tubes for Zeppelin and Hard Rock?

If you want to kow what KT66 equipped, tube rectified JTM45's and 45/100's can do with traditional guitars plugged straight in, listen to any and all AC/DC discs. Angus records his solos in the studio using a 45 and both brothers use 45's and 100's for the rythym tracks........nuf said.
 
Re: KT66 tubes for Zeppelin and Hard Rock?

I recall reading an in depth article a few years ago were they were rejuvinating AC/DC's old Marshalls. Both the 100 watt models and Angus's 45 still had the original, but tired KT66, tubes aboard. They scoured up some NOS KT66's, some NOS mullard ECC83's, rebiased, and viola: the amps were killer again!
 
Re: KT66 tubes for Zeppelin and Hard Rock?

jdm61 said:
If you want to kow what KT66 equipped, tube rectified JTM45's and 45/100's can do with traditional guitars plugged straight in, listen to any and all AC/DC discs. Angus records his solos in the studio using a 45 and both brothers use 45's and 100's for the rythym tracks........nuf said.

I really like the tone Angus gets on all the studio albums, great stuff. If thats a JTM-45 I think I should be fine. Now the only problem other then the money for the amp...is money for new KT66 tubes if they ever die on me! Those things, even the new Tung Sol reissues are really expensive as far as tubes go!

And on a lot of Jimi's live albums, the clean tone he gets doesn't sound at all like a Marshall plexi, it sounds more like a Fender amp. So I'm guessing he has either 6550 tubes (What I heard he used) or KT66 tubes in his amps. The new Marshall Jimi Hendrix Full Stack also uses KT66 tubes. But I do agree, EL34s would get me the best Cream and Zeppelin sounds. But if I can get in the ballpark and still get some good clean tones, I'll be a happy guitarist.
 
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