Tube upgrade: KT77 or E34L?

thadood · 08-01-2007, 03:42 PM

I've been browsing through eurotubes.com, reading what he has to say on the tonal characteristics of different tubes, and I must say, these two appeal the most to me. Aggressive, punchy, and with tons of depth and harmonic composition. The only problem is that I don't know which to get or if my amp is capable of running either tube.

I have a Genz Benz El Diablo, which is currently tubed with GT 6L6GC's. My El Diablo is one of the first.. it lacks the bias testing pots, which makes testing a bit tough.. last time I got it tubed (over a year ago.. and hence why I'm looking to get new tubes =p), it was by a professional.

My question is, which tubes would you go for, and since my amp lacks the bias testing pots, would a bias probe (sold on eurotubes) be a worth-while purchase?

cow 7 sig · 08-01-2007, 03:48 PM

i dont know anything about the amp you have but i can say KT77 FTW

thadood · 08-01-2007, 03:50 PM

I just did a bit more researching.. and I'm sold on KT77's..

plus, check this out:

KT77's in a Diablo.. it looks hot!

cow 7 sig · 08-01-2007, 04:03 PM

and they sound hot too trust me

budda · 08-01-2007, 04:33 PM

if your tubes are only a year old, chances are they dont need replacing yet, throwing that out there..

buy a tung sol 12AX7 for V1 first and see if you're stll hell bent on a retube lol

thadood · 08-01-2007, 10:03 PM

My amp has become increasingly grainy. My tubes already run pretty damn hot, so their life expectancy isn't the longest, as is. I've found the highs becoming more and more annoying.. I've pretty much turned down the high end to around -10db, and I never run with the attack engaged. The amp has also become slightly more noisy and feeds back more than it used to.

I already replaced V1 pre when I retubed the power's, as well. I don't know what pre it was exactly, but it was a step up from the stock. I want to replace all three preamps, as well. I'm thinking of the JJ ECC803S's, with V1 being a balanced 803S.

jlagoon · 08-02-2007, 10:37 AM

I have a TriAxis that runs with VHT2502.

I actually compared KT77 and EL34L, and like the EL34L better overall. The KT77, at least with my setup, is not aggressive enough with distortion, and is not chimey enough with clean sound.

Analogically, I think KT77 is like a Blaze pickup in which the high frequencies are not piercing, the mid is slightly scooped, and the bass response can give you more thump. The EL34L is a bit like Blaze Custom in which the mid is more in your face, and the bass is not as metal-thumpy-chug-chug.

Toshiro · 08-02-2007, 10:48 AM

I can only compare the KT77s to 6L6s in my amp. I didn't get to really hear the EL34s in it, and haven't tried the E34Ls.

The KT77's, compared to 6L6s, have smoother highs, more mids(sorta "grindy"), and tight bass at about the same level.

I love them, they work perfectly for what I want.

Drew · 08-02-2007, 10:51 AM

Actualyl, about a year of heavy use is about right for poweramp tubes. If you're playing more than 3 times a week and running your tubes hot, you could concievably replace them even more frequently than that.

I've never played a diablo, so I can't speak for sure. However, if you've got the cash to spare, can the Diablo be run on two power tubes at half power? If so, buy two of each. Plug 'em in, and spend a few weeks dialing tones, going back and forth between the E34L's and KT77's, until you find one that you prefer overall. Then, hold onto the other for recording - you might prefer the KT77's, say, for all-around playing, but if the E43L's have the edge in one or two applications, then when you're laying tracks just swap to two E34L's for that particular part.

I've decided that overall I prefer 6L6's in my Recto, but I'll definitely be buying a fresh set of E34L's at some point just for different tones while recording.

kmanick · 08-02-2007, 04:10 PM

I've gone thru El34's , KT77's and 6L6's in my JSX and I've always gone back to the El34's.
at lower volumes they sound the best out of the 3 and they give me the most "chimey" tone out of all 3.
If I was gigging I would go with the KT77's, they are like a nice
blend of El34's and 6L6's and at cranked levels they sound fuller than the El34's.
It's cool to be able to go back and forth (I have a bias probe)
between the diffeent tube types to see how they sound.

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08-01-2007, 03:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
thadood 'Das brootal. Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 510 Real Name: Matthew Main Seven: Carvin DC727C Rig: El Diablo -> Vader Thanked: 17	Tube upgrade: KT77 or E34L? I've been browsing through eurotubes.com, reading what he has to say on the tonal characteristics of different tubes, and I must say, these two appeal the most to me. Aggressive, punchy, and with tons of depth and harmonic composition. The only problem is that I don't know which to get or if my amp is capable of running either tube. I have a Genz Benz El Diablo, which is currently tubed with GT 6L6GC's. My El Diablo is one of the first.. it lacks the bias testing pots, which makes testing a bit tough.. last time I got it tubed (over a year ago.. and hence why I'm looking to get new tubes =p), it was by a professional. My question is, which tubes would you go for, and since my amp lacks the bias testing pots, would a bias probe (sold on eurotubes) be a worth-while purchase?

08-01-2007, 03:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
cow 7 sig AU director / RHLC © Join Date: May 2007 Location: bunbury, west australia Posts: 981 Real Name: mike Main Seven: JACKSON C O W 7 + RG1527 Main ERG: RG 2228 Rig: x3live into jcm800 Thanked: 4	i dont know anything about the amp you have but i can say KT77 FTW do you have a fetish for reverse heads stocks?,do you find your self sweating or drooling over the site of a reverse head stock? if the answer is yes then i can help with therapy and rehab.join RHLC to feel normal again

08-01-2007, 04:33 PM	#5 (permalink)
budda Guiterrorizer Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Deep River ONT (summer), London ONT (school) Posts: 6,513 Real Name: Justin Main Seven: Carvin DC727 OFR Rig: JSX->XXX w/ WGS CL80 Thanked: 39 $budda is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $budda is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $budda is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $budda is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $budda is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $budda is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $budda is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$	if your tubes are only a year old, chances are they dont need replacing yet, throwing that out there.. buy a tung sol 12AX7 for V1 first and see if you're stll hell bent on a retube lol 3 cheers for free gear! "Do you like burned toast with your JAM? cuz we're on FIRE!"

08-02-2007, 10:48 AM	#8 (permalink)
Toshiro Lazy Basterd Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Port Orange, FL Posts: 4,876 Main Seven: Schecter C7 Blackjack Rig: Laney GH50L & GT8 Thanked: 9	I can only compare the KT77s to 6L6s in my amp. I didn't get to really hear the EL34s in it, and haven't tried the E34Ls. The KT77's, compared to 6L6s, have smoother highs, more mids(sorta "grindy"), and tight bass at about the same level. I love them, they work perfectly for what I want. Um, Like Sound Files and Stuff ^_^ oh yeah, and some crappy videos too!

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08-01-2007, 03:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
thadood 'Das brootal. Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 510 Real Name: Matthew Main Seven: Carvin DC727C Rig: El Diablo -> Vader Thanked: 17	I just did a bit more researching.. and I'm sold on KT77's.. plus, check this out: KT77's in a Diablo.. it looks hot!

08-01-2007, 04:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
cow 7 sig AU director / RHLC © Join Date: May 2007 Location: bunbury, west australia Posts: 981 Real Name: mike Main Seven: JACKSON C O W 7 + RG1527 Main ERG: RG 2228 Rig: x3live into jcm800 Thanked: 4	and they sound hot too trust me

08-01-2007, 10:03 PM	#6 (permalink)
thadood 'Das brootal. Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 510 Real Name: Matthew Main Seven: Carvin DC727C Rig: El Diablo -> Vader Thanked: 17	My amp has become increasingly grainy. My tubes already run pretty damn hot, so their life expectancy isn't the longest, as is. I've found the highs becoming more and more annoying.. I've pretty much turned down the high end to around -10db, and I never run with the attack engaged. The amp has also become slightly more noisy and feeds back more than it used to. I already replaced V1 pre when I retubed the power's, as well. I don't know what pre it was exactly, but it was a step up from the stock. I want to replace all three preamps, as well. I'm thinking of the JJ ECC803S's, with V1 being a balanced 803S.

08-02-2007, 10:37 AM	#7 (permalink)
jlagoon ss.org Regular Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: NY Posts: 169 Main Seven: RG7321 Rig: TriAxis + VHT2502 Thanked: 0	I have a TriAxis that runs with VHT2502. I actually compared KT77 and EL34L, and like the EL34L better overall. The KT77, at least with my setup, is not aggressive enough with distortion, and is not chimey enough with clean sound. Analogically, I think KT77 is like a Blaze pickup in which the high frequencies are not piercing, the mid is slightly scooped, and the bass response can give you more thump. The EL34L is a bit like Blaze Custom in which the mid is more in your face, and the bass is not as metal-thumpy-chug-chug.

08-02-2007, 10:51 AM	#9 (permalink)
Drew Fear the Polo! • Super Moderator • Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Somerville, MA Posts: 28,953 Real Name: Call me Ahab... Main Seven: 1991 Ibanez UV7PWH Main ERG: Sherman 5-string bass Rig: Mesa Recto-verb 50 Thanked: 137	Actualyl, about a year of heavy use is about right for poweramp tubes. If you're playing more than 3 times a week and running your tubes hot, you could concievably replace them even more frequently than that. I've never played a diablo, so I can't speak for sure. However, if you've got the cash to spare, can the Diablo be run on two power tubes at half power? If so, buy two of each. Plug 'em in, and spend a few weeks dialing tones, going back and forth between the E34L's and KT77's, until you find one that you prefer overall. Then, hold onto the other for recording - you might prefer the KT77's, say, for all-around playing, but if the E43L's have the edge in one or two applications, then when you're laying tracks just swap to two E34L's for that particular part. I've decided that overall I prefer 6L6's in my Recto, but I'll definitely be buying a fresh set of E34L's at some point just for different tones while recording. "...and everything under the sun is in tune, but the sun is eclipsed by the moon."

08-02-2007, 04:10 PM	#10 (permalink)
kmanick Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: BOSTON Posts: 2,674 Real Name: Nick Main Seven: Carvin DC727C/BK's + OFR Rig: JSX/Mesa Rectoverb Thanked: 37 $kmanick is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $kmanick is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $kmanick is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $kmanick is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $kmanick is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $kmanick is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $kmanick is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$	I've gone thru El34's , KT77's and 6L6's in my JSX and I've always gone back to the El34's. at lower volumes they sound the best out of the 3 and they give me the most "chimey" tone out of all 3. If I was gigging I would go with the KT77's, they are like a nice blend of El34's and 6L6's and at cranked levels they sound fuller than the El34's. It's cool to be able to go back and forth (I have a bias probe) between the diffeent tube types to see how they sound. Can I be the devil on your shoulder?

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Tube upgrade: KT77 or E34L?