KT88
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KT88 vacuum tubes, or valves, are used in the power sections of tube amplifiers. The KT88 is a tetrode tube fitting a standard eight-pin (or octal) socket, and is a larger variant of the KT66 and in the same general family as the more familiar 6L6 and EL34. It is, essentially, the British version of the American 6550 tube. Being one of the largest tubes in its class, it can handle signficantly higher plate voltages than similar tubes, up to 800 V. Current production of the KT88 is limited to China, Slovakia and Russia and of varying quality, while NOS examples in good condition are extremely rare and quite expensive. Given its limited availability, the KT88 is rarely used in current production amplifiers, whether for guitar or hi-fi reproduction. Historically it has been far more popular with hi-fi manufacturers than guitar amplifier builders given its high-power, low-distortion characteristics.
