Anyone ever Mix Power Tubes??

[tonmazz]

I just put in 4 EL34s after having 3EL34s and one El34L that I put in temporarily after a failure. The 4 EL34s ended up being way too thin. Just adding the one L makes the thing perfect, puts some bottom back into it. Does anyone else mix power tubes?? The bias is almost perfect so I figure there should be no issues.

 

[Capulin Overdrive]

for sure on amps they are built for it. never tried it in a regular old amp.


don't see what it matters if the bias is right.


i have SED 34's, Tung-sol 34's, and Gold Lion KT-77's in my Herbert. SED's just because they're SED's, Tungs for some low end, and the Gold Lions for a deferent type of crunch than the SED's.

 

[tonmazz]

That's what I thought, it's not like mixing a 6550 and an EL34. I'm telling you it makes a big difference and gives you the best of two great tubes. I think maybe one more L would really make the thing a powerhouse.

 

[Ancient Alien]

If you want to put the bottom end on a set of EL34's, then just get a set of KT77's.
Direct replacement for any EL34 but with way more headroom, bass response, and you don't loose that mid range growl of the EL's
I would not feel safe mis matching tubes unless it had a bullet proof transformer or 4 independent bias pots.
Way too many variables.
Hell even matched quads are not even truly matched

 

[tonmazz]

If you want to put the bottom end on a set of EL34's, then just get a set of KT77's.
Direct replacement for any EL34 but with way more headroom, bass response, and you don't loose that mid range growl of the EL's
I would not feel safe mis matching tubes unless it had a bullet proof transformer or 4 independent bias pots.
Way too many variables.
Hell even matched quads are not even truly matched

Really? Thanks. I will have check out those KT77s, sounds like the ticket. Any other thoughts or opinions on these KT77s?

 

[fek]

My main amp is a Randall RM100. Those were made for mixing tubes. I have 34L's on the outside and 6550's on the inside. That has been my favorite combo. I have tried all kinds of mixes and matches with 6L6's, 34's, and 6550's.

 

[Nigel Tufnel]

If you want to put the bottom end on a set of EL34's, then just get a set of KT77's.
Direct replacement for any EL34 but with way more headroom, bass response, and you don't loose that mid range growl of the EL's
I would not feel safe mis matching tubes unless it had a bullet proof transformer or 4 independent bias pots.
Way too many variables.
Hell even matched quads are not even truly matched

Really? Thanks. I will have check out those KT77s, sounds like the ticket. Any other thoughts or opinions on these KT77s?

The JJ kt77's I tried made for a good set of firecrackers, be wary, they sounded pretty good for a very short while before one of them croaked. The JJ E34L's have been pretty solid tubes in my experience though.

 

[CaseyCor]

I was going to suggest 77's, but they beat me to it.
Give 'em a try. Sounds like it's right up your alley. And if not, go right back to mixing the 34's and the 34L's. Drop in replacements, no bias.

 

[HerbieBoogie]

my roadking2 runs 4 6l6s and 2 el34s. sounds awesome actually!

 

[FIREBALL]

If you want to put the bottom end on a set of EL34's, then just get a set of KT77's.
Direct replacement for any EL34 but with way more headroom, bass response, and you don't loose that mid range growl of the EL's
I would not feel safe mis matching tubes unless it had a bullet proof transformer or 4 independent bias pots.
Way too many variables.
Hell even matched quads are not even truly matched

Really? Thanks. I will have check out those KT77s, sounds like the ticket. Any other thoughts or opinions on these KT77s?

kt88s rule even more dude

 

[CaseyCor]

If you want to put the bottom end on a set of EL34's, then just get a set of KT77's.
Direct replacement for any EL34 but with way more headroom, bass response, and you don't loose that mid range growl of the EL's
I would not feel safe mis matching tubes unless it had a bullet proof transformer or 4 independent bias pots.
Way too many variables.
Hell even matched quads are not even truly matched

Really? Thanks. I will have check out those KT77s, sounds like the ticket. Any other thoughts or opinions on these KT77s?

kt88s rule even more dude

I dig them too, but they aren't drop in for 34's, are they?

 

[tonmazz]

Guys, thanks for all of the idea and suggestions. I think you get as much bang out of mixing the power section as you do the preamp, maybe more. Are the KT77s sterile or in the same family as the ELs. I hate the sterile tone of KT88s and 6550s. Had the KT88s in a Twin Jet.

 

[PaulyPanacea]

KT77s are awesome to me. I used them in a few amps & def prefer them to 34s. Really will wake an amp up IMO. Not "sterile" like the big bottle tubes. More like a hybrid of an EL34 & a 6L6 to my ears. Give em a try... i have used the JJs...worked great for the $$.

 

[_actual time_]

i've been running the JJ KT77s in my Bogner 101B for several months now. they sound like a great mix of EL34 and 6L6 to me--more highs and low-end than a 34 but a bit less midrange snarl.

mine came from Eurotubes, last June or so, and no problems so far. i read somewhere that the reliability issues with this tube were something about the pin size and they fixed it.

 

[stephen sawall]

Several of my amps are designed to mix tubes.

I recently read from someones I trust that the EH KT90 very much has the voicing of a EL34 on top and a 6L6 on the bottom. Much more than the KT88's that are around. I am very interested in checking these out.

If you like KT77 you may like 6CA7 ..... the ones I have are very old but I like them better than the KT77.

 

[Capulin Overdrive]

i think it's maybe not so good to get caught up in the tube types(ie; 34, 77, 88, etc.) and generalizations about them.

i think the focus should be on each individual tube, and to a lessor extent brand.


used to hear a lot of, "i tried KT-77's and didn't like them". well yea! you tried JJ KT-77's! try some friggin Gold Lion 77's and get back to me.


for me there is similar properties in the SED tubes, no matter if they're 34, 6L6, 6550, or 88's. same for the Gold Lion line of tubes.

there's lots of deferent 88's, and there for sure is a lot of deferent sounds to be had. from a metric fuck ton of bass, to good old Marshall crunch, and everything in between or beyond.