Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: Jonas on March 23, 2025, 02:55:44 pm

Title: KT88 RECOMMENDATION
Post by: Jonas on March 23, 2025, 02:55:44 pm

Hello, I think JJ is always a good place to start a "tube talk" when comparing. They are affordable, abundant, reliable? and sound fairly decent to my ears.

BUT, could anyone recommend another good, current production, great sounding real KT88? NOT looking for a 6550 in a KT88 bottle. Are the current production reissue Gold Lions or MULLARD (Russian) any good and worth the additional $$ or just hype? Looks to be a few Chinese options too PSVANE and SHUGAUNG

Title: Re: KT88 RECOMMENDATION
Post by: shooter on March 23, 2025, 03:06:34 pm

I've bought 5 KT88's the 1st was a Gold lion, never sounded good, cost a small fortune lots of blue-plate gassiness, finally shot it with my 30-30 at 80 yards, bagged my 1st lion  :icon_biggrin:


the next 4 were all EH, happy with all them, abused them, mis-used them pushing my SE amp endeavors, but i haven't bought a "new tube" in 7 + years.


all 5 I "burnt in" for 10 hours before I did anything amp with them.

Title: Re: KT88 RECOMMENDATION
Post by: Jonas on March 23, 2025, 04:32:09 pm

thanks shooter EH moving up the list....

Title: Re: KT88 RECOMMENDATION
Post by: Willabe on March 23, 2025, 05:32:49 pm

Ask the Hammond organ/Leslie guys. They use 6550 and some prefer the Kt88 in their Leslie amps. These guys are tone hounds and there's lots of them.

Title: Re: KT88 RECOMMENDATION
Post by: tubeswell on March 23, 2025, 06:15:59 pm

https://www.tubedepot.com/products/sovtek-kt88-power-vacuum-tube?srsltid=AfmBOoq17yt1Q7dzUX4gKgQ3HAdSkIS5lRJNRVr948CCuHqQS6vnCguK (https://www.tubedepot.com/products/sovtek-kt88-power-vacuum-tube?srsltid=AfmBOoq17yt1Q7dzUX4gKgQ3HAdSkIS5lRJNRVr948CCuHqQS6vnCguK)