Preferred new production KT66s?

[neikeel]

I have an early 45/100 PA to be reworked. At present it has cascaded front end, Dagnall EL34 OT with JJ s.

I only have 6 GEC KT66s and these are in my JTM45 and 45/100 respectively.

Plan is to get the amp returned to stock, up and running with the correct OT and some new production KT66s. I have heard old clips from George and most of the ones I have heard sound pretty ok.

Choice seems to lie between the Genelex Gold Lion RI, Shuagangs, TAD (relabelled Shuagangs?) or the Harmas.

Will the 560v of an original 45/100 kill these prematurely?

Experiences and advice would be gratefully appreciated

[demonufo]

Hmm, it's a shame there aren't any pictures of those Harma's since they're not giving away any clues as to who manufactured them. Had a few problems with some Harma's myself, but then they tend to rebrand all sorts. Some were even old Svetlana's a while back (not the KT66's obviously). Their STR EL34 was actually a modern KT77. A lot of their preamp valves and even some of the EL84's are JJ's.

I'm not saying don't get them, but personally after the experiences I've had, I don't know whether I really trust Watford Valves anymore. They're also getting pretty expensive when you add the VAT onto their prices these days.

[elronhoover]

My experience is limited to GL and shuagang in my mojo jtm45..

I much preferred the GL's, the shu's got kind of ratty/harsh/spikey at hi vol IMO. I'll also note that I have these GL's in a bluesbreaker combo, and they have held up to the vibration just fine for about a year now..

Here's a kt66 review, I fully agree re. the GL-shu comparison noted here, matches my experience above..

http://thetubestore.com/kt66reviews.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

As for the plate V, dont know; you are over the max plate V spec obviously, but if you keep it biased back you may be fine. Maybe someone w/ direct experience in this respect can reply..

Dave

[AustinTx]

Shugs = Melted
JJ = Melted
G. Lions = 1 Year and going strong.

[Roe]

my lions have been running strong for 2 years but the voltage is only around 510v

[neikeel]

Thanks for adding your experiences and tone opinions.

Looks like the Golden Lions are the ones to try.............

Hotrox are offering them at £88 for a matched quad which does not sound too bad if they last a little while any way.

[Flames1950]

As much as I hate to recommend a New Sensor marketed product, the "Tung Sol" KT66's sounded quite nice in my JTM100 PA, and lasted three years in it at 530V. They had plenty of time on them, although I don't have a gig so it wasn't a three-nights-every-week thing. I pulled them on principle, they still hadn't given up. I have them boxed up as spares.

All the new production KT66's have good but different qualities to my ears. I usually don't have a spiky highs problem with the Shugs, although I do find them a touch less defined than others.

[antosimoni]

I love TADs, after more than an year still going strong

[neikeel]

I have been told that that the TADs draw quite a lot more screen current than the GECS?

[antosimoni]

I have been told that that the TADs draw quite a lot more screen current than the GECS?

Im no tech but I can check if you need just tell me what to do and I'll put my meter on my amp (Marshall Super 100 JH), I love the TADs as they give me perfectly the ZZ Top's First Album Billy Gibbons tone... huge, hoarse, warm and detailed with plenty of body...

[seantalope]

There's a company called Grant Fidelity - http://grantfidelity.com/site/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - check out their site - they get Shuguang tubes that are called treasure series from the Shuguang factory and further test/match etc. They are a reasonable price considering NOS prices & so far the pair of KT66's I have are going great & they stand by the product. Worth looking at.

[tubetone74]

Curious what folks are biasing the GL's at in their Metro JTM45's.
Thanks for feedback.