KT77 Report

[JLagoon]

So, I got my JJ KT77 tubes from Bob on Saturday. Isn't he quick on shipment?

Right now the KT77 is on channel A, and EL34L is on channel B. I found out that EL34L is brighter than KT77, but KT77 has more intense tone on distortion, it is as if my distortion is thickened almost two times. I used it for about 4 hours on Saturday, 50% of the time in Class A mode.

Is it just me or do amps become more midrangey in Class A?

Does a power tube become cleaner/brighter/midrangey after it reaches its breaking point (after 5 hours??)?

Thanks!

 

[ModestCargo]

Re: KT77 Report

The KT series of tubes are so thick sounding, I love it!

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: KT77 Report

How would they affect Marshall style amps? or Marshalls? on both clean and distorton channels? Plexis?

 

[JLagoon]

Re: KT77 Report

Well, I don't use Marshall amps, so I wouldn't know exactly how KT77 would affect your Marshall tone. Nevertheless, I can say that KT77 would make your distortion thicker, and this does not mean mud. No mud!

Regarding the clean channel, given that you are using EL34 or EL34L, KT77 would probably make your clean channel either less brighter or the same. I'm not sure if you can compensate this with an EQ or the built-in EQ.

The reason why I tried KT77 was that there was a poster on JP forum who recorded a comparison clip between EL34 and KT77 with his Mark III. The clip with KT77 sounds smoother with better clean. However, in my case, I don't really like the clean sound of KT77, I prefer the EL34L, because it is more open/brighter sounding.

I wonder if Dukeofmetal has got his VHT cab yet, he's going to try KT77 too.

 

[Curly]

Re: KT77 Report

Is it just me or do amps become more midrangey in Class A?

probably, since they're running hotter

I would expect the EL34s to sound cleaner, but a real A/B comparison would require rebiasing

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: KT77 Report

Anyone know how many mA those are biased at? Are they about the same as E34L's?

 

[Duke of Metal]

Re: KT77 Report

Well, I don't use Marshall amps, so I wouldn't know exactly how KT77 would affect your Marshall tone. Nevertheless, I can say that KT77 would make your distortion thicker, and this does not mean mud. No mud!

Regarding the clean channel, given that you are using EL34 or EL34L, KT77 would probably make your clean channel either less brighter or the same. I'm not sure if you can compensate this with an EQ or the built-in EQ.

The reason why I tried KT77 was that there was a poster on JP forum who recorded a comparison clip between EL34 and KT77 with his Mark III. The clip with KT77 sounds smoother with better clean. However, in my case, I don't really like the clean sound of KT77, I prefer the EL34L, because it is more open/brighter sounding.

I wonder if Dukeofmetal has got his VHT cab yet, he's going to try KT77 too.

Hey Bro,
no not yet.. VHT is taking their time. if the cabinet ever gets here, it'll be the first and last thing I order from VHT. i am hoping this cabinet doesnt dissapoint me like the Mesa Traditional did big time. if it does, then I'll most likely go back to a marshall cabs and be done with it.

Also, since i am cab-less, then I havent had a chance to try the KT77s. But definitly looking forward to trying them the more and more threads I read by people who have tried them.

Cheers

 

[JLagoon]

Re: KT77 Report

Anyone know how many mA those are biased at? Are they about the same as E34L's?

I think that I have my power tubes (both KT77 and EL34L) biased at 36 mA.

I found out that my sound was actually sounding cleaner in class A. The clean was rounder and seems to be more consistent. And the distortion channel became so refined and pure, it did not really sound too much like distortion anymore. It sounded like a stacked of powerful light OD. However, when I switched back to class AB, the clean is not as powerful anymore and the distortion texture is more audible (not volume).

Does anyone else who uses his amp in class A experience the same thing?

Does VHT make the cab per order? Well, I hope that it arrives soon.

 

[Duke of Metal]

Re: KT77 Report

I think that I have my power tubes (both KT77 and EL34L) biased at 36 mA.

I found out that my sound was actually sounding cleaner in class A. The clean was rounder and seems to be more consistent. And the distortion channel became so refined and pure, it did not really sound too much like distortion anymore. It sounded like a stacked of powerful light OD. However, when I switched back to class AB, the clean is not as powerful anymore and the distortion texture is more audible (not volume).

Does anyone else who uses his amp in class A experience the same thing?

Does VHT make the cab per order? Well, I hope that it arrives soon.

In Class A, the tubes are driven harder and they get hotter. which means they're is a chance they'll sound smoother. But I've never used an amp in class A, so I couldnt comfirm.

Regarding VHTs cab per order.. I am not sure to be honest. Maybe I put my order in between productions. who knows. But if this is the case, then I seriously feel sorry for a shop who puts an order in with VHT of lets say 20 or so cabinets. They'll take a freaking year to finish all of them.

anyways.. we'll see how it goes. I'll let you know when I get the cab.


Cheers

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: KT77 Report

My little class A el-84 amp has some definate mid range honk when it starts to overdrive . . . not that mid rangey before it breaks up though . . .

 

[shredaholic]

Re: KT77 Report

Anyone know how many mA those are biased at? Are they about the same as E34L's?

IIRC they're both 25w tubes, so they both should be biased around the same in an amp with E34L's or EL34's.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: KT77 Report

Thanx for the review!

Funny how the KT77 questions and reviews are seeming to come out of the woodwork now!

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: KT77 Report

My question is still out there:

How will they sound in Marshalls? old AND new??? Plexis? Channel switchers (will the clean get sweeter?)

 

[JLagoon]

Re: KT77 Report

Well, I don't use Marshall amps, so I wouldn't know exactly how KT77 would affect your Marshall tone. Nevertheless, I can say that KT77 would make your distortion thicker, and this does not mean mud. No mud!

Regarding the clean channel, given that you are using EL34 or EL34L, KT77 would probably make your clean channel either less brighter or the same. I'm not sure if you can compensate this with an EQ or the built-in EQ.

I used Marshall amps before and this is my approximated guess.