KT88s... which brand for my VHT Ultra Lead?

[Red_Label]

Heard a lot about the Gold Lions. Is the price justified? I'm leaning towards some EHX tubes for it, as I've always been pretty happy with those. In fact, I'm discontinuing use of =C= EL34s in my XTC because they burn-out so fast and I dig the tone of the EHX tubes that are in there right now (also been pretty happy with the EHX tubes that I've always run in the Traynor amps I've had).

What difference would I notice in the tone and/or response between Gold Lions vs. the EHX? What the longevity on Gold Lions like? The lesson that I've learned on the =C=s is that any perceived improvement in tone as a result of using them is not worth it (to me) considering the short lifespan of them.

 

[Phrygian]

I had JJ KT88's in mine and they brought life to the amp. I enjoyed them way more than the stock power tubes. I heard some people have had bad experience with JJ's. So far I haven't had an issue.

Sorry i can't comment on the actual brands you're asking about. Haven't tried either. I'm a JJ or winged C kind of guy for power tubes.

 

[Les Zombie]

I had Sovtek kt88 in my last ultra lead and they was pretty decent.

 

[Gsxrbusa]

I loved the =C= KT88's in my UL. But the Gold Lion's and Penta SC's also sounded pretty killer.

 

[daveg62]

I'm also looking at tubes for a SigX I have coming soon. dougstubes has Ruby KT88-STR's on sale. I was thinking of trying those. Any comments on the Ruby's?

 

[glpg80]

arent TAD KT88-STR's relabeled ruby's?

i know the STR means they are manufactured in china, but the quality is checked by the parent company and matching is not outsourced.

i liked what i hear in clarity and slight smoothness at higher volumes in the TAD 6L6GC's i have played, i think that type of tone in a KT88 bottle would sound great in a UL, IMHO.

 

[Red_Label]

Thanks for the input guys. Looking into all of these right now.

 

[lolzgreg]

I liked the Gold Lions in my Savage

 

[daveg62]

arent TAD KT88-STR's relabeled ruby's?

According to this they are re-marketed as Valve Art. I think I'm gonna try these, emailed him and they recommend them for my amp.
http://www.dougstubes.com/power-tubes/6 ... 8-str.html

 

[apophis]

This thread is relevant to me also....so far i'm leaning towards the winged C even if they are expensive...that or the penta labs

 

[Loudness250]

I like the chinese Shuguang over the Sovtek and the winged C. I had a Sig X, I used them in the Sig X and the Marshall 2203 and I like them the best. They are bad ass tubes. I think the Shuguang may be the TAD ones. All you have to do is compare a pic of a Shuguang KT88-98 with a pic of a TAD kt88.

 

[apophis]

Can some one tell me how to bias my ultra lead with a weber bias rite? and no i cant take it to a tech to do it, there are none near where i live...ive done the bias rite thing before in my bias modded 6505 and it worked great..
Should i just get some kt88 with average distortion and not worry about the bias? or would it not work properly that way...right now it has the factory sovtek tubes and they are marked with a 65 with marker, dont know what that means

 

[King Crimson]

 

[King Crimson]

i liked what i hear in clarity and slight smoothness at higher volumes in the TAD 6L6GC's i have played, i think that type of tone in a KT88 bottle would sound great in a UL, IMHO.

No comparison...two TOTALLY different animals.

 

[glpg80]

i liked what i hear in clarity and slight smoothness at higher volumes in the TAD 6L6GC's i have played, i think that type of tone in a KT88 bottle would sound great in a UL, IMHO.

No comparison...two TOTALLY different animals.

fine. ill shut the fuck up. cant even give a god damn opinion on this forum anymore.

 

[Loudness250]

Yeah, I've used the Shuguang with great success, It's no wonder Ruby and Penta use them. I just bought them as Shuguang's from a guy that sold tubes. That was a couple years ago and I don't run KT88's now in my Randall. Although I've thought about trying it...