KT66`s in an Express clone?

[59model]

Anyone tried it?

[johnspeck]

yes. sounded REALLY good, until one of my tubes went bad. wasn't the amp's fault. I just haven't had any spare cash to get another pair, and I have a nice pair of E34L's.

the tone reminded me of ZZ Top. a little more "70's Rock" than the amp sounds with the 34's.

[908ssp]

Yea sounded good. I tried both Chinese and GEC KT66 tubes both sounded good surprising how close they were in the Wreck the same tubes were much farther apart in a JTM45. I settled on KT88s or 6550 I love the way they sound. They impart more highs and lows then other tubes make the response a little flatter.

[img:500:375]http://home.comcast.net/~908ssp/CageWreckTubes.jpg[/img]

[img:500:375]http://home.comcast.net/~908ssp/CageWreckTubes1.jpg[/img]

[59model]

Awesome! Thanks for the input. I wasn`t sure if the bias could go low enough with any 6L6 type tube, but now I feel safe. I didn`t care for the 6V6 sound that much, but now I`m gonna put in some KT66` and 88`s and try it out. Did the 88`s give a little more headroom before breaking up? I`m real curious as this amp has more gain than I need at 12 o`clock, and a little more linear breakup would be nice. THANKS AGAIN!

[sobersuds]

I've tried Valve Art KT66's, and they sound nice...they really sparkle at lower volumes and are quite edgy when you turn the volume up.

I have tried all kinds of tubes recently, mullard el34s to JJ KT88s. The best sounding tubes to my ears so far are the NOS RCA grey plate 6v6s from the late 1950s. They have a real sparkle at low volumes with a really smooth overdrive when cranked up. I have also found that my wreck clone sounds better with tubes that are not quite matched.

[rockstah]

Yea sounded good. I tried both Chinese and GEC KT66 tubes both sounded good surprising how close they were in the Wreck the same tubes were much farther apart in a JTM45. I settled on KT88s or 6550 I love the way they sound. They impart more highs and lows then other tubes make the response a little flatter.

[img:500:375]http://home.comcast.net/~908ssp/CageWreckTubes.jpg[/img]

[img:500:375]http://home.comcast.net/~908ssp/CageWreckTubes1.jpg[/img]

how about a gut/chassis shot?

[Brad737]

Just wanted to revive this thread and see if there's any news about KT-66s in an Wreck?

Thanks,
Brad

[doctord02]

What kind of news are you expecting on a two year old thread?



I run Valve Art KT-66's in my Paul Ruby wreck. It's the spalted maple one featured on his web site. KT-66's sound great in a wreck - they have this great big 'kerrang!' sound when you do a Pete Townshend windmill on an E chord.

[Brad737]

I really like the KT-66, so I'm glad to hear that it sounds good in the Express. Did you change any values of anything, or just the bias?
Thanks,
Brad

[Lonely Raven]

We should have a file in the files section with tube options and any value changes related to those tube options.

Anyone who knows this care to put something together for us newbs to learn from?

I'd love to use 6L6 in my Ceriatone Express. I love 6L6.

[Brad737]

Excellent idea, Eric.

[doctord02]

I really like the KT-66, so I'm glad to hear that it sounds good in the Express. Did you change any values of anything, or just the bias?
Thanks,
Brad

Paul built it with enought range/lattitude on the bias circuit to handle any standard pinout octal power tube thats shares the same base. So EL34's, 6v6's, KT66, etc all work in mine. You just need enough range in the bias circuit and enough current draw for the heaters.

[guitarsnguns04]

I am running the JJKT77's right now and they sound awesome

[Paul86]

That's a great thread. What about some clippage showing the results of these different tubes in a Wreck circuit?

[stubbyfex]

Yes! I've used 6L6GC tubes in my Express. I had to adjust the bias to about -47vdc on the grids. I used a Dynaco output transformer, A420, which is 6.6k ohm plate to plate, which is very nice for a 6L6 kind of tube. I liked the tone a lot, it had real tight bass, and was not as bright sounding as the EL34's. (I usually run the EL34's at -34vdc on the grids in this amp). Try the 6L6GC's for a warmer tone.