KT77s in a Recto....kick a$$!!!

mikey383 · Jul 22, 2009

I just put a set of JJs in my DR. I loved the E34Ls I had in there, but it seemed like they had too much of a mid accentuation. 6L6s didn't have enough for me. I like mids, so I opted for the E34Ls.

Being time for new tubes and all (they've been in there for almost 3 years, played heavily), I decided to take a chance on the KT77s, since all the reviews said they were like a 6L6/EL34 hybrid. I got them Monday morning, and I've been dying to put them in since, but the ol lady wouldn't leave the house long enough for me to pull the amp out. She left about an hour ago, so I busted out the amp, let her warm up, and played her for a few minutes with the E34Ls. Pulled those out, stuck in the KT77s, biased them to 32mA, and let her rip.

OMFG!!! It's like the sound that I used to hear standing beside the cab was what I was hearing out in front of it now. Made a few minor EQ tweeks, and I'm in love! Nice midrange, not too scooped like 6L6s, but the bite and upper midrange/highs of an EL34.

..and Mikey says...

jdurso · Jul 22, 2009

mikey383 said:
I just put a set of JJs in my DR. I loved the E34Ls I had in there, but it seemed like they had too much of a mid accentuation. 6L6s didn't have enough for me. I like mids, so I opted for the E34Ls.

Being time for new tubes and all (they've been in there for almost 3 years, played heavily), I decided to take a chance on the KT77s, since all the reviews said they were like a 6L6/EL34 hybrid. I got them Monday morning, and I've been dying to put them in since, but the ol lady wouldn't leave the house long enough for me to pull the amp out. She left about an hour ago, so I busted out the amp, let her warm up, and played her for a few minutes with the E34Ls. Pulled those out, stuck in the KT77s, biased them to 32mA, and let her rip.

OMFG!!! It's like the sound that I used to hear standing beside the cab was what I was hearing out in front of it now. Made a few minor EQ tweeks, and I'm in love! Nice midrange, not too scooped like 6L6s, but the bite and upper midrange/highs of an EL34.

..and Mikey says...

its a beautiful thing isn't it?

mikey383 · Jul 22, 2009

Very, very beautiful. Like -I want to make love to it- beautiful.

jdurso · Jul 22, 2009

mikey383 said:
Very, very beautiful. Like -I want to make love to it- beautiful.

I've been running JJ KT77s in my Roadster for the better part of the last year and a half and have really never looked back.

I would also suggest trying the JJ GZ34s inplace of the Mesa 5U4Gs... i find they're not as flubby but still retain a nice sag.

mikey383 · Jul 22, 2009

How do they compare to using diodes? I'm a diode kind of guy.

jdurso · Jul 22, 2009

mikey383 said:
How do they compare to using diodes? I'm a diode kind of guy.

I am as well but i like using channel 3 vintage with vacuum tubes... they have a little more sag to them and with the gz34s still a defined bottom end, not flubby. Overall its just a more solid sounding 5U4G IMO.