TAD(Tube Amp Doctor)6L6s Are Really Great

[STRATDELUXER97]

I was on a mini vacation last week and I just now got a chance to listen to these small bottled TAD 6L6 TAD 6L6WGC-STR tubes that I Installed in my 66 BF Fender Pro Reverb amp...

http://www.mojomusicalsupply.com/cgi-bin/mojotone/4150010.html

I Pulled out a great sounding set of RCA 6L6s and I'll box these up and save them while I try out these new TAD tubes..Both sets of tubes were set to 35 millivolts current for my tests..

Notice the size of the TAD 6L6(Below) is pretty close in size.The RCA is a bit taller but the overall width around of the 2 tubes are pretty close..

The TADs have a bit more presence,but they seem to have about as much low end compared to the RCAs..Some guys are saying they don't have as much lowend,but this wasn't the find in my amp,plus I have beefed up my .001 PI cap to .01 for more overall lowend in my amp..The TADs stay pretty tight and clean in my amp on my modded "Normal" channel up until about 4 on the volume control and they clean right up on the guitar volume control...I used my American Deluxe strat with Texas Hots in all positions as my test axe...Basically my Normal channel is just a different tone stack setup using .02/.02/250 pf mica and an adjustable slope resistor pot and reverb...My Vibrato channel is all stock and just has alot of upgraded caps and has been maintained by me over the years..Just a wonderful amp! :dance:

The TADs possess this cool crispness and complexity over notes that I Liked,especially when the amp starts to break up for blues styled soloing...

If someone were to switch out the RCAs for these TAD tubes and not tell me,I could only say that the only difference I'd hear would be in that the TADs are a bit brighter and give up their headroom a bit quicker..The headroom loss I noticed with the TADs isn't really significant by comparison though...These TAD tubes are great and the amp has great tone with these tubes also.

The TADs also gave my amp more overall volume,but I'll say it's the presence I hear with the TADs that makes the amp appear louder to me..I felt the mids and overall performance of these new tubes were very close and convincing to the RCAs and the TADs are priced great by comparison.

The RCAs are great tubes,a bit warmer in their tone,and retain headroom longer,but good luck getting the RCAs today for the price of the TADs! :smack:

Notice how close in size and shape the tubes are...Very cool...

I'd like to try the larger bottled TAD 6L6s next and see how they compare to these other 2 tubes?

These are great tubes guys and special thanks to Scott F,Jeremy etc..and anyone that I may miss here...Great bang for the buck!

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: TAD(Tube Amp Doctor)6L6s Are Really Great

I still have to try those. Right now, my GT GC's are brand new, so I have no reason to buy any right now......but next time I will.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: TAD(Tube Amp Doctor)6L6s Are Really Great

Biggest thanks goes to Lew's brother Bruce at Mission Amps who turned me on to these when I built my Tweed Pro.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: TAD(Tube Amp Doctor)6L6s Are Really Great

Biggest thanks goes to Lew's brother Bruce at Mission Amps who turned me on to these when I built my Tweed Pro.

Oh ok buddy....Thanks also to Lew and his brother Bruce at Mission Amps! Great tubes,great prices! :dance:

 

[kevlar3000]

Re: TAD(Tube Amp Doctor)6L6s Are Really Great

I love em!! I find that my two sets are a bit darker ( In a good way) than the two sets of RCA 6l6GC I have. Creamier on the top and definately a fuller bottom with quicker breakup. I have a/b them in a couple different amps and both amps have the same characteristics with the respective tubes. Far and away the best sounding new 6l6 I have heard and I like them as much as the blackplates I have. The Trower Day of the Eagle I posted the other day was done with the TADs. They don't win the clean headroom contest, but honestly I prefer the earlier grind.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: TAD(Tube Amp Doctor)6L6s Are Really Great

I don´t know if you guys can order directly, but Andy and Stefan from the TAD Home Base in Worms are unbelievably knowledgable guys, they´ve always been a great help to me.

BTW, TAD actually used to be Ruby Tubes Euro-Distributor.... Until they went after Paul Ruby Amplification.... At that point in time, TAD started doing it all themselves... :headbang:

Was nice to be able to boycott a manufacturer but keep the great team with the new product for a change

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: TAD(Tube Amp Doctor)6L6s Are Really Great

I love em!! I find that my two sets are a bit darker ( In a good way) than the two sets of RCA 6l6GC I have. Creamier on the top and definately a fuller bottom with quicker breakup. I have a/b them in a couple different amps and both amps have the same characteristics with the respective tubes. Far and away the best sounding new 6l6 I have heard and I like them as much as the blackplates I have. The Trower Day of the Eagle I posted the other day was done with the TADs. They don't win the clean headroom contest, but honestly I prefer the earlier grind.

I didn't find my TADs darker or creamier with my amp compared to the RCAs,but the tone reminded me of the RCAs,but with earlier breakup and a bit of extra complexity and crispness the RCAs lacked at the same tone settings...I'm very impressed at how great these tubes are for the money though...Thanks to all for posting..Try these tubes,they're really great!

 

[BASSMAN64]

Re: TAD(Tube Amp Doctor)6L6s Are Really Great

Nice tubes johnny