Tube question A6650 - KT88

[wickedkingwickr]

Ok, I know there is a top on this elsewhere but it didnt answer my question.  I have an original Model T and am debating switching the A6550's with KT88's.  I play with a ton of fuzz, tuned to drop A and very loud.  I am looking for something with more bottom and headroom.  Am I correct in saying that KT88's would provide just that? 

Be gentle please!

Thanks.

[EdBass]

Original KT88's were just the British version of the American 6550's, or vise versa. I think the difference in current production tubes is negligible, vintage KT88's had a little more output and IMO were superior to 6550's.
But... it's always been mostly a personal preference, both tubes perform(ed) essentially the same.

[wickedkingwickr]

Thanks Ed.

[sunn-tanned]

From my experience one of the best tubes for the Model T is the old version GE Tung Sol 6550, they just seem to sound really sweet and give the dynamics you are looking for (I look for the same).

The next best tube I understand (I haven't tried) is the Winged C KT88. I beleive the KT88 also can handle higher plate voltages that the Model T produces. Another tube people are switching to is the KT90.

[EdBass]

I assume you mean "GE or Tung Sol 6550's". All of the old tubes have strong factions proclaiming them "best", but again I'm of the opinion that old tubes are/were better, but "best" is subjective. "Favorite' is probably more appropriate. 
Personally I think the best sounding tubes in that family are old GEC KT88's, but you need to take out a second mortgage to buy a matched quad if you can find one at all. I used to run EI KT90's, nice clean tubes but I had problems with consistency, and they got real hard to find a few years ago. I don't know who even offers them new anymore, I think maybe EH.
Anyway, overall I've had the best luck with JJ KT88's as far as current production. I'm running a quad of reissue Gold Lions in a Reeves Custom 225, one of them flamed with very low hours, but other than that they seem to be sounding very nice. Kind of pricey, I don't know that they are appreciably better sounding than the JJ's that came stock in the amp, and I've never had a quality issue with the JJ product.

[Soundmasterg]

For Sunns I prefer OS Tung-Sol 6550's if I can get them. I like the OS GE 6550A's for Ampegs better than in Sunns. However, I'm just fine with the JJ KT88's in Sunns. They work good and sound good and last a long time, and don't cost an arm and a leg like NOS tubes do. I've tried the reissue Gold Lions that a customer wanted me to put in his amp, and had some reliability issues with them, though they sounded alright. I think the JJ's sound better. I haven't tried the Winged C KT88's though I've heard good things about them, and have used their 6550C's in my SVT for over 10 years with no problems. There are lots of good 6550/KT88 types these days being made. The only issue I've ever had with any JJ stuff is when they were making their octal tubes with the smaller pins than spec. You had to retension the sockets for them or they would fall out/not make contact and lose bias and burn up, etc. Once they went back to spec pin size, no issues that I've found.

greg