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Should I use 5881, 6L6, EL34, KT66...?

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2/2/2000 10:41 PM

Should I use 5881, 6L6, EL34, KT66...?

Hi guys,

I'm sure this has been talked about to death but I was wondering if you felt like sharing any insights.

I just built a JTM 45 clone and have been trying some different tubes in it. I've found that I really like the sound of 6L6GC's. The clean sound is big, warm and chimey and I'm into that. When it's dimed though, the bass gets a little out of control. To get a somewhat "tighter, more articulate" sound I really have to roll the bass almost completely off and have the treble mids and presence up pretty high.

I also tried some EL34's (another tube I really like the sound of.) At full volume I find it much more "focussed" and tight but it lacks compared to the 6L6's in the clean department...it's still relatively "tight" even when clean.

Now obviously I don't have a whole lot of experience with different amps and tube types, so I'm wondering if anyone can steer me in the right direction to find this "ultimate" tube type for this amp?

Is this a realistic goal even? I'd appreciate any thoughts/suggestions!

Thanks,

Jim

2/3/2000 3:45 AM
Casey4s	Jim, A couple of my favorites for that "clean" sound are 7581A's,and 7027A's. The 7027's are hard to find (don't get current production) and a little expensive. But Phillips JAN 7581A's are available and at a decent price. Casey4s

2/3/2000 9:36 AM
Nick	I have no experience with a pair of KT66 yet, but as far as I know the pair of KT66 shows full potential in JTM45 amps. KT66 are cross between 6L6's and EL34's - nice , shimmering clean and tight and focused when pushed to distortion. If you like E.C. Bluesbreaker tone, this is the way to go.

2/3/2000 12:24 PM
Stephen Conner	London Calling Hi Jim, You should use EL34s of course, also drink tea, eat bangers and mash, wear Union Jack underpants and drive on the left-hand side of the road Steve C.

2/3/2000 7:08 PM
anonymous	Hehe Stephen, I would have figured that KT66's would have more Mod mojo... Jim

2/3/2000 7:11 PM

When the wife and I were in the UK last summer, we grew quite fond of "cream tea" in the afternoon. There's great little cafe in Oxford called "The Nosebag" which was way cool. However, I found your bangers to be horrible. Way greasy, and grainy. What's in those things other than fatty pork? Fried toast sucks as well!!! On the other hand, english bacon was great. Your real ales on the hand-pumps in the Pubs were excellent, as were the cornish pasties. I hate to say thins, but one of the best places I had a meal was the Hard Rock Cafe in London. Your rail system is way bumpy and ramshackle compared to the continent (but none the less superior to what we have in the US), and you drive on the wrong side of the road. All in all, I enjoyed the hell out of the visit!! Why are hotels in London twice as expensive as a comparable place in Paris?

2/3/2000 7:21 PM

Re: What valves & (off-topic) what's in sausages

I've tried various 6L6's in my JTM45 reissue, but I'm currently using Mullard EL34's. These have transformed it - I wouldn't swap them, except maybe to try some KT66's. I also prefer the sound with the 0.68湩 cap on V2.

Regarding sausages, as well as meat(some), fat and cartilage they have stuff called "rusk" in them, but the old saying is that "everything but the squeal" goes into them. Alternatively - "eyeholes, earholes and arseholes".

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