TAD Tubes

Hollowbody · 09-07-2009, 01:41 PM

Anyone heard these or dealt with the company?

TAD Online Store

I'm just curious and looking for options.

Hollowbody · 09-07-2009, 01:51 PM

Or this one?

TechTube Valves - Blackburn MicroTech Solutions

For power amp I've been a Groove tube guy for years and recently have come to like JJ Tesla.

For pre, 5751, 12aX7 etc I have a few NOS blackplate RCA's and a Quad of Telefunken.

But I am going to need some good sounding EL84, 6v6 and 7025 and maybe even some 5e3 and 5y3 rectifier tubes.

HOT TUBES 70 · 09-07-2009, 06:00 PM

just bought my first set a few months ago and i love them , they sound great in my 6100
6L6GC-STR BLACK PLATES !!

MartyStrat54 · 09-07-2009, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hollowbody

Or this one?

TechTube Valves - Blackburn MicroTech Solutions

For power amp I've been a Groove tube guy for years and recently have come to like JJ Tesla.

For pre, 5751, 12aX7 etc I have a few NOS blackplate RCA's and a Quad of Telefunken.

But I am going to need some good sounding EL84, 6v6 and 7025 and maybe even some 5e3 and 5y3 rectifier tubes.

TAD is a company that buys its tubes from mainly the Chinese. After buying them, TAD puts them through a more rigorous test sequence. TAD has a good reputation, however, they are still Chinese tubes. Some forum members swear by them and some swear at them.

Now if you go to this link:

Preamp Tubes? - Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How?

You will find info on Tech Tube. I would look somewhere around page 20 or 21 to start. All I know is we have done a lot of talking about them. Right now they are only making a derivative of a 12AX7.

Some online tube stores like ARS are still selling Ei EL84's. I felt that the Ei was the best new production tube. If you can score some of these, go for it. If they want to much money, score some NOS off of EBAY. I just sold a bunch of Sylvania 6BQ5/EL84's on EBAY and some were had for a bargain.

I wouldn't trust a current production rectifier. Not in my amp! I would get a NOS rectifier. Then I would know that it wouldn't crap out on me.

7025's are pretty cheap on EBAY. Starting at around $15 to $45 dollars, depending on the brand and whether it is NOS or ANOS. A good bargain would be a GE short Black Plate 7025. They have been going for around $15 a tube. Hell of a deal!

6V6's are really going cheap, especially matched pairs. I don't have a 6V6 amp, but I've seen the tubes go for as little as $28 for a pair.

Good tubes can be had on EBAY. Just got to use a little common sense and set a maximum price. I buy and sell tubes and if you need some, send me a PM. However, I do not have any 6V6's right now.

If you want to learn about preamp tubes, go to the above link. It is really long, but you can skim through it and find the important posts.

Hollowbody · 09-07-2009, 08:38 PM

Many thanks for the info MartyStrat54, I don't know how I missed that giant thread.

I may go like Hottubes70 and give it them a try.

jcmjmp · 09-07-2009, 08:44 PM

I think I'll pass on them. Sounds like they would be no better than Mesa selected tubes. Reviews on this forum seem to be mixed. I'll stick with =C=, JJ or Tung Sol

HOT TUBES 70 · 09-07-2009, 08:53 PM

all i know about tubes is that ," they will sound good or they won't " , the TADS for
me are great sounding tubes . this would lead me to believe that matching a tubes
characteristics is very important to the overall performance of the tube . it would be interesting to know what else they do to the tubes ?

HOT TUBES 70 · 09-07-2009, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcmjmp

I think I'll pass on them. Sounds like they would be no better than Mesa selected tubes. Reviews on this forum seem to be mixed. I'll stick with =C=, JJ or Tung Sol

untill STEELHORSE had told me about them sounding great in the 6100's , i had tryed several different brands with some mixed thoughts , then i tryed a
quad of the black plates etc . and now i know what this amp can sound like.

if i had not experienced this myself , i would not had believed that a common
production marshall could sound so vastly different and all for the better IMO !! just by changing the output tubes .

now , this could all be said for the tubes you have mentioned , i have
read many reviews about those tubes as well , with many players speaking very well of both the jj's and the =c= 's , i still feel that the TADS are
some of the best current production tubes around today .

now , with that said , that all knowing tube guru MARTYSTRAT has had
some great posts about the NOS tubes , he's got me wanting to hear some
of the realm of tubes , there is something to be said about that old shit , they
don't make stuff like they used too !!

Hollowbody · 09-07-2009, 10:16 PM

I agree, I'll also be trying some NOS, just gotta save some $$$. That's the main reason I am looking for alternatives.

chewy · 09-08-2009, 03:37 PM

TechTube is the original Mullard factory but since the name "Mullard" is owned by another company they couldn't use the name. I've no experience of them myself.

Had no problem at all with TAD - the guy behind it has been very helpful and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them. My 2204 has all TAD valves in it.

gtrman · 09-09-2009, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HOT TUBES 70

all i know about tubes is that ," they will sound good or they won't " , the TADS for
me are great sounding tubes . this would lead me to believe that matching a tubes
characteristics is very important to the overall performance of the tube . it would be interesting to know what else they do to the tubes ?

Good to know. I am retubing my 6100 and 6101 soon and my new tech recommends them...

HOT TUBES 70 · 09-09-2009, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtrman

Good to know. I am retubing my 6100 and 6101 soon and my new tech recommends them...

do it !!! there is not one thing i don't like about the black plates..

MartyStrat54 · 09-09-2009, 05:37 PM

Black Plates rule. If it was made as a black plate...get it.

HOT TUBES 70 · 09-09-2009, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MartyStrat54

Black Plates rule. If it was made as a black plate...get it.

i know !!! i don't know shit from good chocolate when it come to tubes !!!!

but , in this amp they sound good to me !!!

whats this black plate hocus pocus shit all about anyway ???

MartyStrat54 · 09-09-2009, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HOT TUBES 70

i know !!! i don't know shit from good chocolate when it come to tubes !!!!

but , in this amp they sound good to me !!!

whats this black plate hocus pocus shit all about anyway ???

I don't know whether this applies to new tubes, but for NOS tubes the black plates were known for lower bass and tight, thicker mid's. This was attributed to the black mixture of coating on the nickle plates. Did you know that because the heat of a tube is in a vacuum, it dissipates differently than you think? Yes a tube is hot, but it is the coating on the plates that is "reflecting" the heat to the outside of a tube. Things work differently in a true vacuum. That's why they do so many experiments in outer space and us earthlings have benefited from it. So...the black plates dissipated heat out of the tube better and the black coating gave them the unique sound of tighter bass. I'd say they are a winner!

Jesstaa · 09-10-2009, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MartyStrat54

I wouldn't trust a current production rectifier. Not in my amp! I would get a NOS rectifier. Then I would know that it wouldn't crap out on me.

I don't trust current production anything, but I just deal with it xD

Btw, Marty, you know anything about identifying rectifiers? I have an old rectifier which I believe is from the 40's sitting in an old radio xD

MartyStrat54 · 09-10-2009, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jesstaa

I don't trust current production anything, but I just deal with it xD

Btw, Marty, you know anything about identifying rectifiers? I have an old rectifier which I believe is from the 40's sitting in an old radio xD

Try cleaning it very carefully. The more marks and numbers you leave on the better. Take some shots of it and post them on the Power Tube thread. Is it a four pin or an eight pin? Does it have a "smoke" top? Is the tube shaped like a coke bottle? In other words, skinny, wider and then real skinny on the top. If you can shoot me some pic's I should be able to tell you what it is.

To make sure I get your reply, post on the Power Tube thread.

09-07-2009, 01:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
Hollowbody Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Tulsa / Northern Texas. Posts: 322	TAD Tubes Anyone heard these or dealt with the company? TAD Online Store I'm just curious and looking for options.

09-07-2009, 01:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
Hollowbody Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Tulsa / Northern Texas. Posts: 322	Re: TAD Tubes Or this one? TechTube Valves - Blackburn MicroTech Solutions For power amp I've been a Groove tube guy for years and recently have come to like JJ Tesla. For pre, 5751, 12aX7 etc I have a few NOS blackplate RCA's and a Quad of Telefunken. But I am going to need some good sounding EL84, 6v6 and 7025 and maybe even some 5e3 and 5y3 rectifier tubes.

09-07-2009, 06:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
HOT TUBES 70 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: SASKATOON Posts: 2,343	Re: TAD Tubes just bought my first set a few months ago and i love them , they sound great in my 6100 6L6GC-STR BLACK PLATES !! __________________ MARSHALL 6100LM MARSHALL 1960A W/-G12H 30's CUSTOM BUILT 2X12 W/-V30's "MARSHALL" - only the best will do !

09-07-2009, 08:38 PM	#5 (permalink)
Hollowbody Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Tulsa / Northern Texas. Posts: 322	Re: TAD Tubes Many thanks for the info MartyStrat54, I don't know how I missed that giant thread. I may go like Hottubes70 and give it them a try.

09-07-2009, 08:44 PM	#6 (permalink)
jcmjmp Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 2,714	Re: TAD Tubes I think I'll pass on them. Sounds like they would be no better than Mesa selected tubes. Reviews on this forum seem to be mixed. I'll stick with =C=, JJ or Tung Sol

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09-07-2009, 08:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
HOT TUBES 70 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: SASKATOON Posts: 2,343	Re: TAD Tubes all i know about tubes is that ," they will sound good or they won't " , the TADS for me are great sounding tubes . this would lead me to believe that matching a tubes characteristics is very important to the overall performance of the tube . it would be interesting to know what else they do to the tubes ? __________________ MARSHALL 6100LM MARSHALL 1960A W/-G12H 30's CUSTOM BUILT 2X12 W/-V30's "MARSHALL" - only the best will do !

09-07-2009, 10:16 PM	#9 (permalink)
Hollowbody Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Tulsa / Northern Texas. Posts: 322	Re: TAD Tubes I agree, I'll also be trying some NOS, just gotta save some $$$. That's the main reason I am looking for alternatives.

09-08-2009, 03:37 PM	#10 (permalink)
chewy Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Shoe Town, UK Posts: 39	Re: TAD Tubes TechTube is the original Mullard factory but since the name "Mullard" is owned by another company they couldn't use the name. I've no experience of them myself. Had no problem at all with TAD - the guy behind it has been very helpful and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them. My 2204 has all TAD valves in it.

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