Hey guys I want to re tube my Marshall DSL50 head, and I'm not sure if I want EL34's which is what it has or KT77's. The reason I'm not sure is because I don't know what the difference is between the two. I want a old AC/DC meets Robben Ford tone if that's possible. Please tell me what sound differences there are between the two.
KT77 vs. EL34
- Thread starter rgreen11
- Start date
drew_half_empty
Looking for Real Life
Re: KT77 vs. EL34
i think kt77's have more highs and lows
i think kt77's have more highs and lows
metlking
Well-known member
Re: KT77 vs. EL34
I tried KT-77 and liked them in my Marshall 9100 poweramp.....but tried them in a Splawn QR and a DSL50 and didn't care for them. I have yet to try them in the Ecstasy I use these days. Very tight and clean. They don't breakup as easily as an EL-34 in my opinion.........
I tried KT-77 and liked them in my Marshall 9100 poweramp.....but tried them in a Splawn QR and a DSL50 and didn't care for them. I have yet to try them in the Ecstasy I use these days. Very tight and clean. They don't breakup as easily as an EL-34 in my opinion.........
Markk
New member
Re: KT77 vs. EL34
That's what I heard. I was going to order them in but I kinda ran out of funds.
That's what I heard. I was going to order them in but I kinda ran out of funds.
der scheiss
New member
Re: KT77 vs. EL34
KT77's have a harder vacuum on them when produced. A little more dynamic, less compression. They also don't last as long as a regular EL34.
The new Gold Lion tubes are crap to me. They are still russian or Chinese. Save your money.
You're better off getting a NOS set of Mullard or Amperex EL34's. They last forever and sound like an EL34 should.
The KT77's are more for the audio crowd. You want your power tubes to snort,snarl and compress when beaten like a mule.
KT77's have a harder vacuum on them when produced. A little more dynamic, less compression. They also don't last as long as a regular EL34.
The new Gold Lion tubes are crap to me. They are still russian or Chinese. Save your money.
You're better off getting a NOS set of Mullard or Amperex EL34's. They last forever and sound like an EL34 should.
The KT77's are more for the audio crowd. You want your power tubes to snort,snarl and compress when beaten like a mule.
StillLearnin'
New member
Re: KT77 vs. EL34
I haven't tried Gold Lion KT77's but The GL KT66's are *very* nice if not exceptional. The Gold Lion reissues are Russian -they are also licensed to the New Sensor Corp. It's not worth the ridiculous price that even used sets of the originals are demanding these days (unless you're an audiophile running ultralinear amps and have more money than sense). Though there are definitely differences between NOS and the NewGen of tubes, there is great tone to be had in what's available today.
I haven't tried Gold Lion KT77's but The GL KT66's are *very* nice if not exceptional. The Gold Lion reissues are Russian -they are also licensed to the New Sensor Corp. It's not worth the ridiculous price that even used sets of the originals are demanding these days (unless you're an audiophile running ultralinear amps and have more money than sense). Though there are definitely differences between NOS and the NewGen of tubes, there is great tone to be had in what's available today.
Lake Placid Blues
New member
Re: KT77 vs. EL34
Since a relatively high gain amp like a DSL relies on overdrive and distortion created mainly in the pre-amp and by the pre-amp tubes, it doesn't hurt to use a cleaner set of power tubes. In the case were there's a master volume and a clean channel, the use of cleaner, higher headroom, power tubes will probably improve the amp's clean channel as well.
Since a relatively high gain amp like a DSL relies on overdrive and distortion created mainly in the pre-amp and by the pre-amp tubes, it doesn't hurt to use a cleaner set of power tubes. In the case were there's a master volume and a clean channel, the use of cleaner, higher headroom, power tubes will probably improve the amp's clean channel as well.
Re: KT77 vs. EL34
I know this is an old post, however, it was one of the first returns in google when I was searching kt77 vs el34...so figuring others searching the same might care to see a new post and my two cents...then again, maybe not :scratchch
So, I have a DSL 100 and had been running the EL34's with the ECC83S preamps...when I had the all too common issue of my output jacks crapping out, I took my amp to Steve Hunter in Athens, GA (REM amp tech) and had him install the Tone Clone choke, Mercury Magnetics output and power transformers in. After getting the amp home (Steve's work is AWESOME, btw!) and about 8 hours of play time, I blew the HT fuse...thus more research (more than likely related to the output jacks screwing up my power tubes...maybe not). Anyway, back to the story, I did some troubleshooting and sure enough, bad power tube. So, I ordered the JJ KT77s (paired) and installed them, baised at 86.4 mV right and left and have put about 2 hours of time on them. My initial response is that they add a small amount of bottom, yet, the highs are ear piercing to me :eyecrazy: I'm still reserving my final opinion in hopes that more time burning the tubes, they'll soften on the brightness. Will post an update once I get more burn time on the tubes...
Ok, so I'm updating my post because of my elementary oversight...what a maroon!!!
At the time I was first listening to my DSL with the new JJ KT77's, I also was running my THD Hotplate...without realizing the one rocker switch was moved, I presumed the tubes were adding ear piercing highs to my tone...WRONG!!!, it was the fact that I didn't realize my Hotplate 'Bright' switch was in the 'Bright' position, thus the unbearable highs...once I moved that back to where I normally have it, 'Bright' off, the tone was awesome!!!! So, I'm retracting my opinion of the KT77's adding ear piercing highs...they don't...in fact, I love the tone of the KT77's much more than the EL34's!!!!!
I know this is an old post, however, it was one of the first returns in google when I was searching kt77 vs el34...so figuring others searching the same might care to see a new post and my two cents...then again, maybe not :scratchch
So, I have a DSL 100 and had been running the EL34's with the ECC83S preamps...when I had the all too common issue of my output jacks crapping out, I took my amp to Steve Hunter in Athens, GA (REM amp tech) and had him install the Tone Clone choke, Mercury Magnetics output and power transformers in. After getting the amp home (Steve's work is AWESOME, btw!) and about 8 hours of play time, I blew the HT fuse...thus more research (more than likely related to the output jacks screwing up my power tubes...maybe not). Anyway, back to the story, I did some troubleshooting and sure enough, bad power tube. So, I ordered the JJ KT77s (paired) and installed them, baised at 86.4 mV right and left and have put about 2 hours of time on them. My initial response is that they add a small amount of bottom, yet, the highs are ear piercing to me :eyecrazy: I'm still reserving my final opinion in hopes that more time burning the tubes, they'll soften on the brightness. Will post an update once I get more burn time on the tubes...
Ok, so I'm updating my post because of my elementary oversight...what a maroon!!!
At the time I was first listening to my DSL with the new JJ KT77's, I also was running my THD Hotplate...without realizing the one rocker switch was moved, I presumed the tubes were adding ear piercing highs to my tone...WRONG!!!, it was the fact that I didn't realize my Hotplate 'Bright' switch was in the 'Bright' position, thus the unbearable highs...once I moved that back to where I normally have it, 'Bright' off, the tone was awesome!!!! So, I'm retracting my opinion of the KT77's adding ear piercing highs...they don't...in fact, I love the tone of the KT77's much more than the EL34's!!!!!
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UberMetalDood
New member
Re: KT77 vs. EL34
I have not tried KT77's in a DSL but I have tried a few different power tubes. I would figure in a high gain amp like that, and the way the DSL gets distortion out of the preamp section that you should be more concerned with preamp tubes. All I can say is I loved the way my DSL sounded with JJ EL34's and JJ preamp tubes.
In my experience KT77's have a little more extended range and more balanced in the mids than EL34's but I think it really depends on how the amp is designed. I'm not sure they would be a good choice in a DSL. I don't have expertise in this so I could be off but I can't see KT77's making very much improvement except on the clean channel.
I have not tried KT77's in a DSL but I have tried a few different power tubes. I would figure in a high gain amp like that, and the way the DSL gets distortion out of the preamp section that you should be more concerned with preamp tubes. All I can say is I loved the way my DSL sounded with JJ EL34's and JJ preamp tubes.
In my experience KT77's have a little more extended range and more balanced in the mids than EL34's but I think it really depends on how the amp is designed. I'm not sure they would be a good choice in a DSL. I don't have expertise in this so I could be off but I can't see KT77's making very much improvement except on the clean channel.
fretburner
Well-known member
Re: KT77 vs. EL34
What's the danger if you don't rebias an EL34 amp for KT77s?
What's the danger if you don't rebias an EL34 amp for KT77s?
Edgecrusher
Well-known member
Re: KT77 vs. EL34
Good chance the amp will sound like pewp small chance of burning something up.
Good chance the amp will sound like pewp small chance of burning something up.
fretburner
Well-known member
Re: KT77 vs. EL34
I guess you need to rebias then. Nobody wants to sound like p00p nor burn something.
I guess you need to rebias then. Nobody wants to sound like p00p nor burn something.
Frogman
New member
Re: KT77 vs. EL34
Description: A truly beautiful reproduction of the original KT77 that will run in place of any EL34 type tube. A little bigger low end with a great chunk and a nice sizzle on the top end. The breakup is smooth and a bit less aggressive than the E34L's. An amazing tube for both guitar amps and Hifi.
https://www.eurotubes.com/cart/index.php?page=view_products&category_id=3&sub_category_id=104
Description: A truly beautiful reproduction of the original KT77 that will run in place of any EL34 type tube. A little bigger low end with a great chunk and a nice sizzle on the top end. The breakup is smooth and a bit less aggressive than the E34L's. An amazing tube for both guitar amps and Hifi.
https://www.eurotubes.com/cart/index.php?page=view_products&category_id=3&sub_category_id=104
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: KT77 vs. EL34
I hated KT77s in my JCM800.
I hated KT77s in my JCM800.
Lazarus1140
New member
Re: KT77 vs. EL34
Van,
I don't whether to thank you for your post or welcome you back!! :beerchug:
Van,
I don't whether to thank you for your post or welcome you back!! :beerchug:
allstarrme
New member
KT77 vs. EL34
I had considered the kt77's and the 6CA7's but ended up going with E34L's. More headroom than standard El34s with better low end.
I had considered the kt77's and the 6CA7's but ended up going with E34L's. More headroom than standard El34s with better low end.
Bludave
New member
Re: KT77 vs. EL34
I have a Komet 60 and when I bought it a few years ago it had KT77's in it. After about 2 years a needed to change them. Now the Komet is a unique amp in the sense that you can swap tubes out and it has a bias dial on the chassis as well as receptacles for a meter. The idea is you can select the tubes you want, bias them then record that info so if you choose to swap them out you can just pop in the tubes, set the bias and you are good to go.
I have NEVER done that! I retube my amp with EL 34's and it sounds absolutely heavenly. I see no reason to change it. The KT77's sounded really good also but I personally like the EL 34's. It has a little more headroom and a bit less high end. The KT77's from what I remember are somewhere in between the 34's & a 6L6. This is what I was told by both Mike Kennedy(Komet owner) and my amp tech!
I have a Komet 60 and when I bought it a few years ago it had KT77's in it. After about 2 years a needed to change them. Now the Komet is a unique amp in the sense that you can swap tubes out and it has a bias dial on the chassis as well as receptacles for a meter. The idea is you can select the tubes you want, bias them then record that info so if you choose to swap them out you can just pop in the tubes, set the bias and you are good to go.
I have NEVER done that! I retube my amp with EL 34's and it sounds absolutely heavenly. I see no reason to change it. The KT77's sounded really good also but I personally like the EL 34's. It has a little more headroom and a bit less high end. The KT77's from what I remember are somewhere in between the 34's & a 6L6. This is what I was told by both Mike Kennedy(Komet owner) and my amp tech!
