KT88 Nitro....okay to use el34's?

[dewd]

I have a 2010 KT88 Nitro and I love it but I'd like to hear it with EL34's for sharts and giggles. Is it okay/safe to put in a set of EL34's and bias it up or will the EL34's not bias correctly?

[shreder75]

those two aren't direct replacements for one another....you'd need to replace the bias resistor to make that change...

[bubbastain]

If the stock bias resistor is a 47k, like the one those with EL34 Nitros add to be able to run 88s, Then if you have a pretty warm pair of 34s you should be able to get them up in the proper bias range. That's what I do with my Competition and KT77 and KT88 tubes. Cold 88s and warm 77s.

[dewd]

So I wont damage anything but they will just run cold?

I have a set of Winged C EL34's from the tube store rated 34 or something.

[bubbastain]

Well my "warm" pair of JJ KT77s have the number 46 written on them. Not sure if 77s and 34s are rated the same way. But Yeah, I imagine they would just be biased pretty cold. If I put 88s in my amp with the resistor for 34s, then I would not be able to get the bias low enough and they would run really hot. Too hot. I'm no expert, but it seems like it wouldn't hurt anything. Might not sound that great if you cant get the bias near the right spot.

[dewd]

Cool, thanks for the reply. I'll give it a try and see how they bias up.

I used to have a EL34 Nitro in 08 and I liked it but it didn't blow me away like the KT88 2010 does. I've read there were some other changes done to the Nitro so maybe I'll like the EL34's now with the updated 2010 model. I've always liked EL34's more than KT88's so we'll see.

[bubbastain]

My 08 Nitro had Winged C EL34s and I can't imagine it sounding any better.