KT88's

[JumpMarine]

WOW, what a tube! POWER TONE is what first came to my mind on hearing the amp. My buddy put a set of Winged C's in his Frenzel 5e3. I know what you are thinking, 88's in a Tweed Deluxe are you crazy?
The amp is loosely based on the 5e3 and can handle the tubes well as per the builder's say so. But I can honestly say that the amp has never sounded so good. Good head room, but man can it get gainy if you want it. Huge and very tight in the low end and great mids plus the warmest/smoothest highs you've ever heard. The set up: Frenzel 5e3 Deluxe Plus(Pair of Winged C KT 88's, EH 12ax7's in all positions) Schecter C-1 EA semihollow with Phat Cats. We tried my Golden Dragon and Tung Sol 12ax7's in her as well and they were head and shoulder's above the EH's. This little amp has turned into one of the best buys my buddy has ever had. It's similar to, but a bit more versital than an THD Bivalve. But it's half the price. We've tried nearly all of the standard power tubes in it with the exception of KT 66's and 77's. But after trying the 88's, I don't think that there is any need. The real stand out tubes for this amp were the Ruby 6v6's, TAD 6l6 STR's and especially the 88's.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: KT88's

It sounds fanatical, but it's pure joy to sit around a highend amp, popping tubes in and out, seeing how good you can make it sound. I guess it's something only a tube amp fanatic gets excited about, but once it's dialed in.....then you can sit around and make music and forget the technical stuff. With superior tone, I might add. LOL

I still have to try out those Golden Dragons. It'll have to wait though, because this weekend I'm thinking about bullets, and blowin stuff up in the desert with my pistols! LOL

 

[JumpMarine]

Re: KT88's

I haven't gone shooting for quite a few months, what all are you taking out?

 

[cream123]

Re: KT88's

so what kind of tubes do they go in place of? were they the SED winged c's and then tung sol 12ax7's? how would they make my amp sound?

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: KT88's

I love the KT88s in my Marshall....different amp, but good tubes.

Back to your regularly scheduled tweed.

Luke

 

[JumpMarine]

Re: KT88's

so what kind of tubes do they go in place of? were they the SED winged c's and then tung sol 12ax7's? how would they make my amp sound?

This particular amp has the ability to utilize any of the octal based power tubes: 6v6, 6l6, EL34, KT66, 77, 88 without rebiasing the amp. NOT all amps can do this so don't just pop in any set of power tubes into your amp without first talking to an amp tech to see what other changes may have to be made plus the proper biasing. As far as the Tung Sol pre amp tubes, I have no idea how they would make your particular amp sound. But they have been consistantly warm, full and chimey in the few amps that I've tried them in. Try one in V1 of your amp, you may like it.

 

[JumpMarine]

Re: KT88's

I love the KT88s in my Marshall....different amp, but good tubes.

Back to your regularly scheduled tweed.

Luke

I'll tell you what, with the 88's there was nothing even remotely tweed sounding coming out of the amp. Very marshally sounding eq. This amp does have two channels, Fender side and Marshall side. But the marshall side always lacked something until now.

 

[cream123]

Re: KT88's

i contacted THD about a possible yj-like converter that would allow me to use these on the 6l6 setting. i contacted them earlier about a version of the yj that could handle 6973, the said they could do it but i was a high price! i'm hoping for something affordable.i'm thinking about one of each on the out side (6l6 and the kt88) so i can get each tube on the 50 watt setting. i'll try the tung-sol in v1 as well....
i'm guessing close to 140 or 300 dollars depending upon how many kt88's i want. 1 tube would be about 140 with the converter, 2 tubes = 300, i'll try one tube first

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: KT88's

I fell in love with KT88's after trying the VHT Deliverance
Also, I played a modded JMP at GC that had KT88's
they wanted 1500 for it, and man did it sound GOOD
Too bad I already have a 100w JMP, don't need another!

CREAM, go get the Marshall, dude! I am proud you are happy with what you got, but I'll tell you this - THE WORST PART WITH DISCONTINUED MESA STUFF is that a lot of it ended for a reason, ie Nomad, SOB, etc etc

You will spend the rest of your life tweaking, playing far less, and never being satisfied. The beauty of the Marshall is that you will have a great springboard to work from, knowing that the tone is always right in the ballpark somewhere. So on those off days you don't like your sound, you will not spend hours tweaking tubes.

Trust me on this. I wasted wayyyy too much time with my Mesa Heartbreaker (tried YJ's, 6v6's, 6L6's, etc etc etc), then got back to my 100w Marshalls, and never looked back. I almost traded the Heartbreaker for a Nomad, and then realized the Heartbreaker was much browner when A/B'd. The worst part? Both amps got smoked by 80s Marshalls at a gig I did. They never sat in the mix.

I did 3 studio projects, and lordy! A fuzz, OCD, Hot Plate, and Mesa 2x12 v30 with the Marshall, and the producer was THRILLED. He spent 15 mins voicing the cab, and we did 14 hours worth of session and I was out, and well paid!

The Nomad is fine, and VERY road worthy. THE MARSHALL you may keep the rest of your life.

 

[cream123]

Re: KT88's

CREAM, go get the Marshall, dude! I am proud you are happy with what you got, but I'll tell you this - THE WORST PART WITH DISCONTINUED MESA STUFF is that a lot of it ended for a reason, ie Nomad, SOB, etc etc

Trust me on this. I wasted wayyyy too much time with my Mesa Heartbreaker and Mark 2b, then got back to my 100w Marshalls, and never looked back. I did 3 studio projects, and lordy! A fuzz, OCD, Hot Plate, and Mesa 2x12 v30 with the Marshall, and the producer was THRILLED. He spent 15 mins voicing the cab, and we did 14 hours worth of session and I was out, and well paid!

i can't do that, i started out civilized and ended civilized and somewhere in the middle i begged and started crying :27:. and she said quite plainly "no, you researched this for a year etc etc" i tried to explain to her that i made a stupid descision. she just wouldn't let me go back on it. i'm now making the best of it *cries*
i even tried the financial thing and i tried the whole "i'll spend more than it's worth" thing. eventually it turned into a screaming match and i might be able to scream louder but in the end she's my mom and she has full dictatorship over what i buy even if she has no idea what she's talking about

i suppose it was my mistake and i'm paying for it. my next amp will be a marshall though.
it's my own fault and i'm really quite pissed off about this whole quagmire of a deal. more angry at myself than my mom though

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: KT88's

Stares at the dead Park....with the KT-88's...yep they sound fab!

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: KT88's

I put some KT88s in a Hiwatt Custom 50 I had.....made that amp sound

HUGE !!!!

Very smooth....clean....sweet.....:32:

I threw one in a UniValve once & it was also amazing. Made that little amp sound gigantic !

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: KT88's

Then there is the Hiwatt DR-201...it has six of those buggers in it
Low volume, high volume it just sounds clear and full.

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: KT88's

I can only imagine losing my hearing to one of those!!!!

 

[Young Angus]

Re: KT88's

i can't do that, i started out civilized and ended civilized and somewhere in the middle i begged and started crying :27:. and she said quite plainly "no, you researched this for a year etc etc" i tried to explain to her that i made a stupid descision. she just wouldn't let me go back on it. i'm now making the best of it *cries*
i even tried the financial thing and i tried the whole "i'll spend more than it's worth" thing. eventually it turned into a screaming match and i might be able to scream louder but in the end she's my mom and she has full dictatorship over what i buy even if she has no idea what she's talking about

i suppose it was my mistake and i'm paying for it. my next amp will be a marshall though.
it's my own fault and i'm really quite pissed off about this whole quagmire of a deal. more angry at myself than my mom though

Man i thought you were talking about a wife there for a second and i was shaking my head in disgust at the power i thought she had over you...but a mum is a different story...you don't wanna mess with those :27:

 

[cream123]

Re: KT88's

but a mum is a different story...you don't wanna mess with those :27:

yeah +1, i learned that the hard way :laugh2:

 

[JumpMarine]

Re: KT88's

Mmmmmm....Edana with KT88's.....oh Scott?

 

[JumpMarine]

Re: KT88's

Then there is the Hiwatt DR-201...it has six of those buggers in it
Low volume, high volume it just sounds clear and full.

That would be an eardrum buster!

 

[Scott_F]

Re: KT88's

Mmmmmm....Edana with KT88's.....oh Scott?

It'd probably take a resistor change. That'd be about it.

 

[JumpMarine]

Re: KT88's

Scott, do I get the royalties? LOL!!!