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Post by bubbastain on Feb 19, 2010 23:50:32 GMT -5
New owner of a Splawn Competition. I was looking into getting back with a Marshall type tone (I also have a 6505+). Saw a Splawn for sale and went to give it a try. WoW! Super sweet. I love it. It currently has JJ KT77s. I've read that to run KT88s i just have to change a screen resistor or something. Is this true? If so, this should be a quick and easy task for an amp tech or someone with electronic/soldering skills right? Thanks
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Post by Ayton(e) on Feb 20, 2010 12:11:40 GMT -5
Pics? We like to see them in the wild.
I think you're correct on the 88s.
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Post by bubbastain on Feb 21, 2010 12:30:21 GMT -5
Previous owner thought it had KT88s. I decided to check the bias on the amp yesterday and was shocked. 50ma! I did some checking and several Splawn owners said they bias a little on the cold side(60-65%). So I checked my plate voltage (515) and did my super duper math (thanks Eurotubes) and set it at 31ma. When I did the same equation using 35 watts for a KT**88, it seemed like it was biased for a KT88 tube. Maybe the previous owner(or one before him) just took the KT88s out and put the KT77s in without a bias adjustment. Does this sound at all likely? Well, How would I know which screen resistor or what ever needs to be changed is in my amp. Maybe its already set up for KT88s. I just want to experiment with tube options. I put a pair of EL34s in yesterday and liked the KT77s much more. Thanks for any help. Attachments:
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Post by bubbastain on Mar 9, 2010 0:27:54 GMT -5
Okay, I'm running KT88's now. Got a pair that are on the cold side. Couldn't get it any lower than 69Ma. Did the 47k resistor piggy back thing myself. Set the bias to 48Ma. I can also run a hot set of KT77s without changing resistors. I recorded two tracks(kt77s vs kt88s) and could not hear hardly any difference. In the room there is a difference. I think i prefer the 77s by a very small margin.
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Post by bubbastain on Mar 9, 2010 0:56:43 GMT -5
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Post by Jammermatt on Mar 9, 2010 1:29:35 GMT -5
What kinda speaks, Bubba?
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Post by Jammermatt on Mar 9, 2010 1:30:13 GMT -5
Oh, and BTW, that sounded pretty freaking HEAVY.
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Post by bubbastain on Mar 9, 2010 1:40:18 GMT -5
Thanks. I think it sounds pretty heavy too and these are just raw tracks with Garageband and 1 microphone. Imagine what some eq and someone that knows what they are doing could do with this sound. I recorded the Marshall vintage speaker. I guess it's not really a Celestion Vintage 30, but a similar speaker made for Marshall by Celestion. That's what I read. I have a couple of other riffs on that gear mp3 site. I love this amp! BTW, I'm in Tacoma.
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chops
Member
2 Roots waiting to Rock
Posts: 229
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Post by chops on Mar 9, 2010 1:49:58 GMT -5
KA-CHUNK. Very nice tone brother.
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Post by TJ on Mar 9, 2010 8:45:53 GMT -5
The Splawn's sound so killer. Nice chunking dude!
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Post by shreder75 on Mar 9, 2010 9:40:46 GMT -5
that's one sweet lookin' amp!
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Post by splatter on Mar 9, 2010 12:40:17 GMT -5
so what is the wattage rateing of kt88's ?
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Post by bubbastain on Mar 9, 2010 12:59:57 GMT -5
I was told the 88s were 35 watts each. I have it biased at 48Ma based on my 516 plate voltage. I'm actually looking to swap out the white head case for a black one. I want a black 800 style case with black grill and blk piping. I'm also going to install blk chicken head knobs. Here's another clip with a drum beat. Still raw and no bass. www.netmusicians.org/files/84-Splawn%203.mp3 |
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Post by Ayton(e) on Mar 9, 2010 14:52:28 GMT -5
Nice comparison track. Wish we had more of this sort of thing to help navigate the tube world instead of relying on adjectives. The 88s sound to me to have more going on in terms of 'bandwidth' – more lows, more highs – and sound more aggressive, but also seem noisier. Towards the end of the track when you leave spaces between chug riffs I hear more buzz from the 88s. 77s seem warmer and quieter. I can't tell how much all of this could be down to the 88s just being the louder tube, if that's the case? Maybe at the exact same volume they'd sound even more similar? |
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Post by bubbastain on Mar 9, 2010 17:33:39 GMT -5
To me, on the recording I didn't hear a whole lot of difference. A little more going on like you said. In person the 88's do sound bigger(and louder). I didn't touch any of the knobs between tests and the 88's were definitely louder and because of that a little noisier. I believe I had the volume at 9 o'clock, Pres @1:30, bass and mid @noon, treb @3 o'clock and gain @ noon. I actually think I'm going back to the 77s. I think that's the perfect tube for me. When I hear samples of amps, I like to hear them dry so I can get a better idea of the starting point. Then maybe a drum and bass track. I also prefer to hear a single track. Did I mention I love this amp?
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