NAD! JCM 800 KK Sig!

[Racerxrated]

Well, if you've played a 2 channel 800 then imagine a boost pedal in front of it. Or maybe that's how you played it..but that's really what the KK is. It's more like a 2205/10 with a boost in front, except the KK has it built in. I would also say that it's not quite as warm as a late 80s channel switcher but not as dark as the Jubilee. I say late 80s because I wouldn't touch any 2205/10 until 87 or after. Those are the good ones. The KK doesn't quite have the bite of a single channel 800 but it's not that far off. The Jubilee tone will always be one of my favorites but this has more of a classic 80s metal/HR tone going on than the Jubilee does. Hope that helps..

 

[blackba]

Well, if you've played a 2 channel 800 then imagine a boost pedal in front of it. Or maybe that's how you played it..but that's really what the KK is. It's more like a 2205/10 with a boost in front, except the KK has it built in. I would also say that it's not quite as warm as a late 80s channel switcher but not as dark as the Jubilee. I say late 80s because I wouldn't touch any 2205/10 until 87 or after. Those are the good ones. The KK doesn't quite have the bite of a single channel 800 but it's not that far off. The Jubilee tone will always be one of my favorites but this has more of a classic 80s metal/HR tone going on than the Jubilee does. Hope that helps..

That is helpful thanks. I think the JCM800 2 channel I played was a 1986. I did use a boost (Maxon OD-808). Cool amp, brighter and more bite than the jubilee. I could sure see owning both. I found the key to the jubilee if you can't crank it is to run the output master high and the lead master and clean volume (mine is modded with an extra volume for the clean) low. Fluff was doing that and I tried his setting and have stuck with them. I do miss running my jubilee with the band though, sounded great on 6 on the output master and 4 or 5 on the lead master....

 

[metalmaniac93]

I was born in St Paul..now living in Wi about 70 miles east..if ya can deal with this brutal cold it's a good place to be!

Yeah my best friend and my uncle lives there. I am looking to move up there one day though. We will see. Yeah it is brutal cold up there, but I can deal with it!!

 

[rupe]

very under-appreciated amp,....I have one,...don't bother with the 6550's,.....save your money and get some better pre-amp, & power tubes, GOLD LIONS (KT 88's)... beg, borrow or steal a bias meter, (I bias all my amps shamefully hot) ..slam the front of it with a clean boost,..(I have an old BOSS, rack mount, chorus, besides the rack mount tuner it's the only thing in the signal path),....it loves GREENBACKS,.. the big glass is an excellent platform for as brutal as ya wanna get.

merry christmas

Well too late lol..already ordered some 6550s. I like the 88s though..I already have some good amperex and chinese pres to use. I also do my own biasing..what do you bias yours at? I'm at 38 right now..

What's the difference between a 6550 and a KT-88? I thought they were the same tube?

 

[Racerxrated]

I don't think there's a ton of difference between them but I do remember an old 6550 2204 I had years ago that had really great mids...these 88s have more of a flat cleaner response than the 6550s. At least that's what I'm banking on when I get these 6550s. I could be totally wrong though..I can always throw them in the Rivera I have..

 

[Schaf]

very under-appreciated amp,....I have one,...don't bother with the 6550's,.....save your money and get some better pre-amp, & power tubes, GOLD LIONS (KT 88's)... beg, borrow or steal a bias meter, (I bias all my amps shamefully hot) ..slam the front of it with a clean boost,..(I have an old BOSS, rack mount, chorus, besides the rack mount tuner it's the only thing in the signal path),....it loves GREENBACKS,.. the big glass is an excellent platform for as brutal as ya wanna get.

merry christmas

Well too late lol..already ordered some 6550s. I like the 88s though..I already have some good amperex and chinese pres to use. I also do my own biasing..what do you bias yours at? I'm at 38 right now..

What's the difference between a 6550 and a KT-88? I thought they were the same tube?

Yeah I don't think there's a lot of difference. I've even owned both EL-34 JCM 800 and a 6550 one at the same time. And even with the different tube in them, they don't sound that much different. As a matter of fact you can dial them in to sound pretty much identical. So, I can't imagine putting in KT-88's as apposed to 6550's making much difference at all.

 

[sg guy]

to my feeble old ears there's a huge difference,.. 6550's are mid focused,.. kt88's have tight, big, balls, and are much more dynamic, being that marshall's and any marshall type, platformed amp are mid voiced,.... i would want to add some base-balls!!,.. as far as not telling the difference between 88's and 6550's goes,...i can tell the difference between different brands of any type of tube. or so i thought,.. but then again i have times when i plug in and i sound like ass!!,...and i would swear someone...(usually i blame the hound dog) had been messing with my rig!!! only to find everything just like i left it,...must be old age creeping up on me.

 

[Schaf]

to my feeble old ears there's a huge difference,.. 6550's are mid focused,.. kt88's have tight, big, balls, and are much more dynamic, being that marshall's and any marshall type, platformed amp are mid voiced,.... i would want to add some base-balls!!,.. as far as not telling the difference between 88's and 6550's goes,...i can tell the difference between different brands of any type of tube. or so i thought,.. but then again i have times when i plug in and i sound like ass!!,...and i would swear someone...(usually i blame the hound dog) had been messing with my rig!!! only to find everything just like i left it,...must be old age creeping up on me.

Not trying to be an asshole here, but a huge difference would be very misleading. The differences are subtle. I can here the difference between a JJ EL34 and a SED winged C. They are subtle. Say the difference between a 6550 and EL 34 in and 800 is pretty subtle. Yeah the bottom is a little rounder and the top a little more brittle. Still pretty subtle. The KT88's are in the same family as the 6550. I can't imagine them being more different from a 6550 than an EL34.

Or maybe my perception of huge is way off?

 

[Racerxrated]

Well I'll be able to tell you first hand a little later on..I just got the 6550s today. I will be playing the amp as it sits now with the 88s, then I'll put the 6550s in there and report back. I also have to say that I put a boost in front and dialed the 'beast' down a bit..really adds another cool dimension..really an underrated amp.

 

[Racerxrated]

Ok here are my thoughts after playing it with both types of tubes. The KT88s to me are pretty even tone-wise. Nice tube, no complaints. The 6550s are a bit warmer in the mids, which I like a little bit better. Is it a huge difference? No not at all..but to me it is noticeable. And I don't have any backup 88s so buying these 6550s works fine for me. And both tubes are at the same price point anyway so what the hell...