 Tube choices: 6550s or KT88s?
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Hey, I recently scored a Holden 100watt VBl that has got 2 Sovtek 6550s in it, its my first tube head apart from my epi valve jr. It sounds pretty good, although its quite quiet until it gets to round 6-7 then it gets pretty loud and starts to break up quite nicely. I'm going to take it for a service/check-up soon and was considering getting it re-tubed and biased as a precaution before I take it out to gig as I understand power tubes can die rather abruptly rather than slowly like a preamp tube.
I've seen various Holden heads with 6550s or Kt88's in them. I want to maintain a good amount of overdrive grit with a tight bottom and mid focus. Will the KT88 give me more volume? I also understand they are described as a 'hi-fi' tube with less drive and more headroom, but considering I would be using only two, it should be still fairly easy to overdrive right? I know it is really a matter of testing both out but money is tight so I cant really experiment much. Also what types of brands would you recommend for these tube types? I cant afford GE's or anything too pricey... I was thinking maybe Electro-Harmonix or maybe Sovteks again
Thanks for any input! | 
