Page 1 of 1
Rocker30 tube swap (KT77-6CA7-EL34)
Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2017 5:38 am
by Dave666
Hi,
I was wondering if I can just plug a pair of KT77's in my Rocker30?
Now I have a pair of EL34's but I don't like them so much.
So I've read that the KT77 is a EL34 with more bottom-end and a higher output (will it make my amp louder?).
Also, which brand should I go for?
Cheers
Re: Rocker30 tube swap (KT77-6CA7-EL34)
Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2017 4:05 pm
by Les Paul Lover
KT77 are meant to have a bigger bottom end and not quite as middy as EL34.
All 3 valves well get you very similar power level, if not exactly the same - they at designed to be interchangeable.
I dunno if that helps, but the original valves in R30 used to be JJ 6CA7.
What is it that you d9nt like about your current EL34? How long have you been running them for? What did you have before?
Since the R30 is cathode biased, you could always buy a couple if pairs and see which you like best?
Re: Rocker30 tube swap (KT77-6CA7-EL34)
Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 11:26 am
by Dave666
Before the EL34's I had those 6CA7's in it, they were the original tubes.
The EL34's sound a little to bright for me, especially if I play my combo not hooked to an extension cab (4x12 or 2x12). I miss a little bottom end...
So before switching to 6CA7's again I wondered if KT77 will be a better match for my tastes.
Re: Rocker30 tube swap (KT77-6CA7-EL34)
Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 12:05 pm
by Jondog
You should try them, if you dont like them keep them as spares. I personally didnt like them as much as 6CA7 or EL34 in the Rocker. They didnt seem to be as expressive, kind of flat sounding I felt. I love the 6CA7 the most but I think EL34's cut better in a mix.
Re: Rocker30 tube swap (KT77-6CA7-EL34)
Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 1:42 pm
by pedecamp
Dave666 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 14, 2017 5:38 am
Hi,
I was wondering if I can just plug a pair of KT77's in my Rocker30?
Now I have a pair of EL34's but I don't like them so much.
So I've read that the KT77 is a EL34 with more bottom-end and a higher output (will it make my amp louder?).
Also, which brand should I go for?
Cheers
My experience with KT77 was with an overly bright Marshall DSL they worked like a charm. They give you a bigger bottom end, lowers compression for a more open sound, they also will have a little less gain than an EL34. I'm only aware of a couple companies JJ and Gold Lion that have KT77, I went with JJ since they are more available and affordable.
Re: Rocker30 tube swap (KT77-6CA7-EL34)
Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 11:33 am
by Dave666
I ordered some JJ KT77's and a pair of JJ 6CA7's
I'll swap them around for a couple of months and I will see what I like the most.
Thanks for the advice
Re: Rocker30 tube swap (KT77-6CA7-EL34)
Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 4:36 pm
by Jondog
Let us know what you think
Re: Rocker30 tube swap (KT77-6CA7-EL34)
Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2017 9:46 pm
by Les Paul Lover
Dave666 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 20, 2017 11:33 am
I ordered some JJ KT77's and a pair of JJ 6CA7's
I'll swap them around for a couple of months and I will see what I like the most.
Thanks for the advice
Please yes, let us know what you think!
I have a R30 too, so interested in your thoughts there!
Re: Rocker30 tube swap (KT77-6CA7-EL34)
Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2017 11:26 am
by bfitz
Les Paul Lover wrote: ↑Thu Sep 21, 2017 9:46 pm
Dave666 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 20, 2017 11:33 am
I ordered some JJ KT77's and a pair of JJ 6CA7's
I'll swap them around for a couple of months and I will see what I like the most.
Thanks for the advice
Please yes, let us know what you think!
I have a R30 too, so interested in your thoughts there!
Ditto!
Re: Rocker30 tube swap (KT77-6CA7-EL34)
Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2017 12:51 pm
by Dave666
Hi, so we are a couple of months later and I had some time to A/B a few sets of tubes.
I compared the following (EH stands for electro harmonics):
JJ E34L / old EH 6CA7 / JJ 6CA7 / EL34 EH / JJ KT77
I played the rocker30 through the speaker in the combo, a Celestion Creamback65.
First of all the old pair of EH 6CA7's sounded dull... so that's not an reference
The ones I disliked the most were those that were in the amp the JJ E34L (sounded like someone put a blanket on the speaker)
Then the JJ KT77's, I liked them for rythm-style playing, but for lead there was something missing...
I kept changing between the Electro Harmonics EL34's and the JJ 6CA7's
I don't know which one I like more. The El34's have a sparkle on the high strings that I really enjoy and the 6CA7's have a wider spectrum, I think.
The bottom end with the 6CA7's is nice! If I would play 80's heavy metal I would take the EL34's and for southern rock I would take the 6CA7's!
Re: Rocker30 tube swap (KT77-6CA7-EL34)
Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2017 10:17 pm
by Les Paul Lover
Dave666 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 17, 2017 12:51 pm
Hi, so we are a couple of months later and I had some time to A/B a few sets of tubes.
I compared the following (EH stands for electro harmonics):
JJ E34L / old EH 6CA7 / JJ 6CA7 / EL34 EH / JJ KT77
I played the rocker30 through the speaker in the combo, a Celestion Creamback65.
First of all the old pair of EH 6CA7's sounded dull... so that's not an reference
The ones I disliked the most were those that were in the amp the JJ E34L (sounded like someone put a blanket on the speaker)
Then the JJ KT77's, I liked them for rythm-style playing, but for lead there was something missing...
I kept changing between the Electro Harmonics EL34's and the JJ 6CA7's
I don't know which one I like more. The El34's have a sparkle on the high strings that I really enjoy and the 6CA7's have a wider spectrum, I think.
The bottom end with the 6CA7's is nice! If I would play 80's heavy metal I would take the EL34's and for southern rock I would take the 6CA7's!
Very interesting.
Funny that the JJ 6CA7 is one 9f your top 2 choices - thats what the amp used to ship with to start with in the early production years.
I'm ashamed to say that i still havent checked what power valve's are in mine yet......
All I know is my R30 sounds great!!!!
Re: Rocker30 tube swap (KT77-6CA7-EL34)
Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2017 2:50 pm
by a.hun
I still really like the JJ 6CA7s my R.30 came with. Happy enough to stay with them...
Andy.