Favorite KT88's for 20th Shiva.

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djpatb

djpatb

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I bought a used 20th Shiva about a year ago. It arrived from the original owner with Sovtek KT88's that weren't matched. (Argh! When I realized this!)
I had a set of new JJ KT88's laying around, so I installed those and biased it up, and it has sounded great ever since.
Have you guys tried any other KT88's that you've liked in this amp? Or is there really much of a difference when it comes to KT88's?
Thanks for opinions.
 
You know those Sovtek KT88's were probably stock from Bogner. Mine were almost 8ma off when I checked the factory bias with my 20th with KT88's. But you know what, Bogner was cool enough to switch those KT88's for a set of SED EL34's and I did the mod.

But no, I haven't tried any more KT88's.
 
I had bogner mod one for el34 and really disliked it
 
just42dave":3cwgggg8 said:
I had bogner mod one for el34 and really disliked it
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What did you dislike about the EL34's than the KT88's? Just wondering man. The mod is only a clip of one resistor leg.
 
I'd think the EL34 conversion would make it sound like a regular EL34 Shiva, but with more gain, no?
 
I'm in in the same boat with my 20th. My tech said to get some Chinese KT88's. I was thinking 6550's as well. Would love to try some wing c's, but damn those are expensive. May just go back with Sovtek's. I like the way they sound, just need some fresh ones. I did the el34 mod on mine to try after seeing so many people rave about it, but ended you going back to the big bottles. For me it just seemed to loose the overall sound. I was more forgiving, but I liked it the way it was especially on the clean channel.

-JD
 
I bought my 20th Shiva with the EL34 mod already done. I think it sounds great, but am I missing something by not ever hearing it with the KT88s?
 
flimz":2h7p283x said:
I bought my 20th Shiva with the EL34 mod already done. I think it sounds great, but am I missing something by not ever hearing it with the KT88s?
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What do you mean? Are you missing something with the KT88's... Just the basic sound of that tube. Cleans are better with KT88's I will say that.
 
When comparing my standard EL34 Shiva and my 20th Shiva, the differences are exactly what you'd expect based on the power tubes.
The standard EL34 Shiva has big fat mids and sounds juicier...the 20th Shiva has bigger bass and crunchier highs, and mids feel slightly scooped in comparison, also a drier response.
 
djpatb":3ne5bt6t said:
When comparing my standard EL34 Shiva and my 20th Shiva, the differences are exactly what you'd expect based on the power tubes.
The standard EL34 Shiva has big fat mids and sounds juicier...the 20th Shiva has bigger bass and crunchier highs, and mids feel slightly scooped in comparison, also a drier response.
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Yep, I'd agree with this analysis. Scooped mids, bigger bass (which I think the 20th Shiva already has loads of bass even with EL34's), less mids, and a smoother but crystal like top end. More traditional with EL34's, more HI-DEF "as they say" with KT88's. It's really not even a mod, you open amp, quick clip of a bias resistor leg and bam.

I've actually been toying with the thought of switching my 20th back to KT88's too since it's been a studio mainstay and gig other cheaper amps. I do miss the depth of the OD and cleans.
 
Adambomb":16lhls78 said:
just42dave":16lhls78 said:
I had bogner mod one for el34 and really disliked it
Click to expand...

What did you dislike about the EL34's than the KT88's? Just wondering man. The mod is only a clip of one resistor leg.
Click to expand...
I know what the mod was but still did not sound right or have anything like the power it had with kt88, seemed to have lost a lot of uummmphh...
 
Adambomb":32hgvuka said:
flimz":32hgvuka said:
I bought my 20th Shiva with the EL34 mod already done. I think it sounds great, but am I missing something by not ever hearing it with the KT88s?
Click to expand...

What do you mean? Are you missing something with the KT88's... Just the basic sound of that tube. Cleans are better with KT88's I will say that.
Click to expand...

Well I once put EL34s in my Mark V and thought it was awesome. But when I went to sell that amp, I put the 6L6s back in and it sounded better to me. Just wondering if the Shiva has more mojo with the KT88s it was originally based around.
 
Also, I think KT88's need a little bit of break in time. I did the conversion to 34's on my Twin Jet awhile back and went back to KT88's. Much prefer the 88's in there for what it's worth...
 
I've had both and thought the KT88s suited the amp design better.
 
The KTs sounded much better to my ears. I still haven't liked a 20th shiva with EL34s. Go figure since that was how Reinhold designed the amp....

The EL34 regular shiva sounds amazing. The 20th shiva with KTs sounds amazing. The KTs give it more balance across the tre-mid-bass frequencies and a drier grit in the OD.

Stock KTs always sounded best to my ear too.
 
Well I'm going to officially make the switch back to KT88's from EL34's in my 20th Shiva. I liked the EL34s to a degree, but the cloudy congestion of the tone of EL34s I'm just not digging. I do like the tighter bass, but I remember when I first got the amp with Sovtek KT88's stock it sounded amazing on the clean ch and very articulate and studio quality like. The OD was better too I must admit.

I bought into the EL34 hype cause so many people were doing it, and I usually don't but into hype, but only wanted my $2700 20th Shiva w/verb to sound it's best. To each his own. I also think the EL34's sound flat and with KT88's it's like a 3D world of sweet warm goodness.

I just ordered a pair of Sovtek KT 88's from TubeDepot. I figure if Bogner sticks them in their amps then they must be reliable. I was burning through EL34's every 6 months too.
 
I really like the JJ KT88s. The Gold Lions are great too but priced ridiculously high due to the interest of the hifi crowd.
 
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