|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
71.142.217.246
In Reply to: RE: Mullard KT88's from Sensor posted by Michael Samra on May 31, 2014 at 16:51:25
My supply of SED 6550's is getting low and I'm looking for a replacement tube of the 6550/KT88 variety. An ideal replacement, I think, would be a tube with a similar linearity. Maybe a bit warmer thru the mid range but not hotter in the upper mids and highs. Any candidates come to mind?
Follow Ups:
Believe it or not, the 6550WE Sovtek is likely exactly what you are asking for. That has been the tube that has filled the SED void, at least around here.
Jim, what would be closest new production to a GE 6550 in a mid 70's to early 80's Marshall head?
The SED 6550C would have been - now I have no idea. But unlike TubeAcolyte I do not recommend JJ - they have such a track record of poor reliability that I can't recommend most JJ stuff.
And honestly - I really don't like to make guitar amp tube recommendations. Every player hears things differently, and there is very little concensus about what is good or not good. Too many variables! So I generally stay away from making recommendations with just a few exceptions.
Thanks Jim, I really appreciate your honesty. By chance have you ever compared the New Sensor Svetlana 6550's to the SED's in your Citation II etc?
Well, I'm not Jim, but I have some experience with 6550's and guitar heads of all makes. I find the GE 6550A is really an exceptional tube. It has few to no equals. It's ultra-robust and never sounds offensive in any way (to my ear). Also, it all depends on the sound you're attempting to create with the head. If it's the GE 6550A you want, you'll have to bite the bullet on it :( That said, for the price of a quad ($500), you may as well buy 2-3 varied quads of new production types to see which sounds best for you.
New Sensor makes great tubes, but I cannot recommend Sovtek power tubes. I have found they burn up too quickly. They get eaten up by my 100-120W heads. Heck, I have a modded Fender 6550/KT88 Bassman went through two sets of Sovtek KT88s before I simply had to move onto another tube. The Bassman now has JJ 6550s; those perform and sound great. I find JJ has done well in encapsulating the "midrangey 6550 sound". Also, while I have never tried these, but the reissue Tung Sol 6550 is apparently pretty nice. I would explore that route, as well.
If you have room to spare between sockets, maybe look into KT88 types. The KT88SC (TubeStore sells it as the Preferred Series) is a wonderful tube. I used them in an Ampeg V5, an amp somewhat like a JCM800. I was replacing its original (very tired) set of GE 6550A's, actually. The KT88SC tubes in the amp sounded amazing. No tubbiness in the low-end (like the JJ), no sluggishness in the sound, wider soundstage, and an overall midrange presentation that was comparable to what the GE's were doing with the head.
Hope that helps!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
May your tubes be lively and long-lasting. Holy be thy heater.
Thank you TubeAcolyte, You've been a great help. With a Marshall 6550's are usually biased like if they were a 25watt tube, at least that was always my understanding, so the Sovtek stuff maybe will hold up better. Maybe the KT88SC would be the ticket even running just two instead of four if spacing limitations creep up.
I find New Sensor's Svetlana 6550 to meet that description, though I suspect it is not as refined as the Winged C are/were. Still, a good sounding tube. I'm hoping this new Mullard KT88 will also do it, but it remains to be seen.
Post a Followup:
FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: