KT 88 VS EL 34s VS 6L6s

[RSRD]

Im sure this topic has come up before but I'm just starting to dig. What is the general difference between these 3 tubes? I have EL34s all 3 of my amps (though I also occasionally use 6L6s in my tremoverb). Im curoius as to what the KT 88 would do to my Shiva. Are EL34 is generally known for its thick mids compared to other tubes? 6l6s more rounded/balanced?

Also, what are some good KT88s? I think Bogner shivas come with Sovteks. Are these as good as the Winged Cs?

Thanks for any info on the matter.

 

[RSRD]

no tube opinions huh?

 

[garey77]

KT77's

 

[TeleBlaster]

I hated EL34's and was a 6L6/5881 guy forever, but my new favorite amp has 6550's.... all a matter of taste.

 

[Phrygian]

I'll take a crack at it...personal experience anyway.

I find EL34's the more focused out of the bunch. A bit more bark to them, and can be more pronounced in the midrange. Definitely the go-to for that British sound. It's a tighter sounding tube, but doesn't have as much low end as the other contenders. They can make a bright amp even brighter, which may or may not be good lol.

6L6's are fatter, larger sounding. They can be flubby though and sometimes dark, depending on the amp. Rounder sound, good low end but not as tight a low end. Still, I love 6L6's for what they do. They have a big character to them.

KT88's are all about headroom. Huge headroom, and tonally in the middle of EL34's and 6L6's I guess. I would venture as far as to say they have a neutral tone to them, very even. Nothing overly pronounced but they do perform exceptionally well. They are pretty focused, able to pump out good tight low end. They allow your amp to do its job, but they're not extremely magical in terms of tone. It's all about that headroom, and I really enjoy that.

That's my experience with them. Maybe I'm crazy... YMMV.

 

[Ventura]

I'll take a crack at it...personal experience anyway.

I find EL34's the more focused out of the bunch. A bit more bark to them, and can be more pronounced in the midrange. Definitely the go-to for that British sound. It's a tighter sounding tube, but doesn't have as much low end as the other contenders. They can make a bright amp even brighter, which may or may not be good lol.

6L6's are fatter, larger sounding. They can be flubby though and sometimes dark, depending on the amp. Rounder sound, good low end but not as tight a low end. Still, I love 6L6's for what they do. They have a big character to them.

KT88's are all about headroom. Huge headroom, and tonally in the middle of EL34's and 6L6's I guess. I would venture as far as to say they have a neutral tone to them, very even. Nothing overly pronounced but they do perform exceptionally well. They are pretty focused, able to pump out good tight low end. They allow your amp to do its job, but they're not extremely magical in terms of tone. It's all about that headroom, and I really enjoy that.

That's my experience with them. Maybe I'm crazy... YMMV.

I'd say this is an "exceptional crack" at explaining the 3 compared to one another. There's little to add to this IMHO, awesome description. If I may, I'll say 6L6 gives an American tone, EL34s give a British tone. And ya, KT88s are all about power and headroom, usually matched to a preamp or preamp circuit section that does the talking more so than the power section. They can sound brittle and edgy - and one tube you'll never want to experience "saturation" with is the KT88s. They sound horrendous, whereas EL34s sound awesome upon saturation.

Peace,
Mo

 

[RSRD]

Awesome post! You the man. Thats pretty much as I felt too though my experience with kt88s is limited.

I'll take a crack at it...personal experience anyway.

I find EL34's the more focused out of the bunch. A bit more bark to them, and can be more pronounced in the midrange. Definitely the go-to for that British sound. It's a tighter sounding tube, but doesn't have as much low end as the other contenders. They can make a bright amp even brighter, which may or may not be good lol.

6L6's are fatter, larger sounding. They can be flubby though and sometimes dark, depending on the amp. Rounder sound, good low end but not as tight a low end. Still, I love 6L6's for what they do. They have a big character to them.

KT88's are all about headroom. Huge headroom, and tonally in the middle of EL34's and 6L6's I guess. I would venture as far as to say they have a neutral tone to them, very even. Nothing overly pronounced but they do perform exceptionally well. They are pretty focused, able to pump out good tight low end. They allow your amp to do its job, but they're not extremely magical in terms of tone. It's all about that headroom, and I really enjoy that.

That's my experience with them. Maybe I'm crazy... YMMV.

 

[Phrygian]

I'd say this is an "exceptional crack" at explaining the 3 compared to one another. There's little to add to this IMHO, awesome description. If I may, I'll say 6L6 gives an American tone, EL34s give a British tone. And ya, KT88s are all about power and headroom, usually matched to a preamp or preamp circuit section that does the talking more so than the power section. They can sound brittle and edgy - and one tube you'll never want to experience "saturation" with is the KT88s. They sound horrendous, whereas EL34s sound awesome upon saturation.

Peace,
Mo

Thanks Mo!

Yeah, KT88's are definitely not meant for amps that rely on the power section for mojo and push. EL34's on the other hand handle those situations quite well.

Matt

 

[Phrygian]

Awesome post! You the man. Thats pretty much as I felt too though my experience with kt88s is limited.

Thanks man!

I've been rocking KT88's a lot in the last 5 years. Started with my VHT Ultra Lead. Now I have them in my Herbert (4 KT88's and 2 6L6's) and even in one of my JCM 800's (the 1987 model - four input). I really enjoy what they bring to the table. They're a lovely tube. No farting out in the low end, good neautrality in the mids, and nice highs without being harsh. One of my biggest things with amps is having a good clean channel, no breakup. Understandably, some amps are just meant to break up in the cleans, and I get that. But if I have the opportunity to have the cleanest of cleans, I'll make it happen. The KT88's allow that. I like pristine clean!

 

[RJF]

I've been preaching KT88's for a couple years now....

Best tube out there for metal heads IMHO. Did wonders going from EL34's to KT88's in my Herbert. Also made a huge difference in my 2ch F dual rectifier.

They just work so well in amps that rely on the preamp to make the sound the amp is made to produce, clean, tight, balanced power.

 

[university81]

just to throw another one in the mix how's about 6CA7s ? although technically just big bottle EL34s

I changed the EL34s in my JVM to 6CA7s, the description is "quite similar to 6L6 tone but with a little more rolled off high end, and chunky EL34 mids"

KT88s are super clean, had some in a VHT , they just won't breakup unless you push them super loud, if that's what you're after they're a good choice

otherwise +1 on Mo's description

 

[RSRD]

I'd say this is an "exceptional crack" at explaining the 3 compared to one another. There's little to add to this IMHO, awesome description. If I may, I'll say 6L6 gives an American tone, EL34s give a British tone. And ya, KT88s are all about power and headroom, usually matched to a preamp or preamp circuit section that does the talking more so than the power section. They can sound brittle and edgy - and one tube you'll never want to experience "saturation" with is the KT88s. They sound horrendous, whereas EL34s sound awesome upon saturation.

Peace,
Mo

Mo, yo da man too as always of course! Im wondering HOW much of a difference there is in KTs from ELs in the 20th shiva but Im guessing, in the end, not too much.

But this thread is why I love this place more and more. All this great info and it pumps me up to rock out.

 

[RSRD]

just to throw another one in the mix how's about 6CA7s ? although technically just big bottle EL34s

I changed the EL34s in my JVM to 6CA7s, the description is "quite similar to 6L6 tone but with a little more rolled off high end, and chunky EL34 mids"

KT88s are super clean, had some in a VHT , they just won't breakup unless you push them super loud, if that's what you're after they're a good choice

otherwise +1 on Mo's description

Good suggestion. Im still wrapping my head around 88s Vs EL34s in my Sheeves. Once I do this I'll delve into the 6Cs a and 6550s a little deeper.

 

[leib10]

6550s are pretty cool. Really nice mids, tight lows, better highs than KT88s. Although I'm really digging KT88s in my Rev 2 Uberschall right now. Very tight, aggressive, and ballsy.

 

[Ventura]

I'd say this is an "exceptional crack" at explaining the 3 compared to one another. There's little to add to this IMHO, awesome description. If I may, I'll say 6L6 gives an American tone, EL34s give a British tone. And ya, KT88s are all about power and headroom, usually matched to a preamp or preamp circuit section that does the talking more so than the power section. They can sound brittle and edgy - and one tube you'll never want to experience "saturation" with is the KT88s. They sound horrendous, whereas EL34s sound awesome upon saturation.

Peace,
Mo

Mo, yo da man too as always of course! Im wondering HOW much of a difference there is in KTs from ELs in the 20th shiva but Im guessing, in the end, not too much.

But this thread is why I love this place more and more. All this great info and it pumps me up to rock out.

Never have had the chance to rock out the 2 types of glass in the 1 head (Sheevs) but I would imagine it would be pretty different. I mean it. KT88s are all about breadth and reach and f*ckin' VOLUME man!! EL34s are voiced, at least from my limited experience. I can tell when an amp is loaded with EL34s or 6L6s, this distinction is fairly rudimentary - sometimes even 6550s... But KT88s? They're a different animal. You'll find a lot of the poweramps out there - the potent ones (ie: Fryette 2/90/2) - use them for their powersection. In speaking with S. Fryette, he'd said his choice of glass for the 2/90/2 was simple - it offered massive headroom and massive power, and didn't change the character of the preamp or rack unit going into it as much as some other tubes could and would. Almost like a bottle that offers the transparency of a SS circuit.

Who knows. I just know they're off the hook in wattage production

Peace Y'All,
Mojo