Has anyone tried TAD brand valves?

[TwilightOdyssey]

Title sez it all. Have you tried TAD valves? If so, what is your assessment?

[Elliot]

They are generally the top grade of the Shuansang(?) factory Chinese valves - I had some of their EL84s and wasn't particularly impressed - they were at the just above average level.

[Hell Hound]

I still have some in my Studiotone, not bad, not good either. I replaced all preamp tubes with NOS Philips and Harma. I think I'll change the EL84 in the near future too...

[38thBeatle]

I would say that they are reasonable-not spectacular. The sets I have had have performed reliably enough.

[viking]

I use the TAD6L6WGC's and the TAD 6L6GC's.The 6L6WGC's(small bottle) are really good for the Fendery-clean tones;liquid,crystal and 3d..At first,i didn't like the 6L6GC's,they are very different but,now,i'm using them the most as they are better for my "high-gain" sounds...Anyway,they are very reliable ,no microphonics,low noise floor etc..I hope it helps...

[TwilightOdyssey]

Thanks for the replies, guys.

Sounds like nothing to write home about.

[kellar]

I live here in Germany where TAD's are really popular. They are designed here and manufactured in China. I used them for quite a while but couldn't really get them to work for me. They do have a new EL-84 power tube called the EL-84STR which I really liked but still found JJ's to be far superior. The cleans are ok but there seemed to be loads of headroom before you start to get a useful overdrive setting. They are decent tubes, but nothing to write home to mom about. I prefer JJ'S.

Although, I have seen a ton of Fender players out here that prefer TAD's.

[Ratrod]

I recently ordered a reverb unit and a footswitch from them.

Quick delivery and good prices. They sent me a catalogue too. They have tons of stuff for amps. They also have the whole Tung-Sol reissue line for very attractive prices.

I can't comment on the TAD valves but the Tung-Sols are awesome.

[kellar]

Yeah, Tube Amp Doctor is great shop. Very good service. They also have numerous amp mod and build kits. The Fender kits are suppose to be excellent. If you need anything for your amp, they have it. They also carry a good variety of NOS tubes and other brand name tubes.

[hunter]

Just received a quad EL84CZ, and when I wanted to correct one of the pins, it broke off. Now the whole quad is useless for me and I haven't even heard what they are like :CRY:


EDIT: Just had them on the phone - they're gonna send a free replacement with identical measure values!

[kellar]

The CZ is a good tube. I used them a couple of times. Seem to break up a bit sooner than the STR. The STR is the new and improved version. I personally liked the CZ better.

[TwilightOdyssey]

My next purchase will be Tung-Sol EL34-Bs, not the TADs. Thanks for the input, everyone!

[viking]

I can't comment on the TAD valves but the Tung-Sols are awesome.

Tubes are really weird.I purchased a set of 5 12AX7's TUNGSOL to replace my GT12AX7M's .Everybody told me that the Tungsol were fantastics...but,for my amp and my ears,it's not good at all  :? !There is like a metallic-kind of edge to their sound in my amp.And,even if i use only one,in V5 for ex.,it will badly affect the sound...Weird. :(

[kellar]

Yeah, I didn't like the Tung Sol preamp tubes either.

[PhilKing]

I found the Tung-Sol 12AX7's to be very high gain.  In a Marshall Siver Jubilee they would drive the amp to squeal when the boost was switched in.  Replacing them with EH 12AX7 and a JJ ECC803S cured the problem.  I just got a set of Mullards for my new amp, though I do like the Groove Tube 12AX7M's.

I have a set of the TAD 6L6 STR's waiting to go in an amp that Nik at Ceriatone is making me (the Overtone Special).  They are supposed to be the best tubes for Dumbles and Dumble colnes.