Valve hunting tomorrow :) TAD 6V6 vs JJ?

[Pierre]

Wednesday I'm getting my VC15... and it seems it comes with TAD valves. Which is the commonest brand we can find hee.

I have one of their 12AX7 and I quite like it. I may get a second one. Or I may get their 6V6s. How do their 6V6s compare to JJs?

Also I'll try to grab a Sovtek X7LPS and try it out. I'll come back home with a JJECC83S, a TAD 12AX7 and a LPS Should be fun.

Any other advise with what valves you guys usually like? I can find some EHs, JJs or Sovtek. I'd like a rather noise free sound more than anything. Though I also could do with a high gain, hi fidelity one for PI purposes on both Laneys.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: Valve hunting tomorrow TAD 6V6 vs JJ?

I've bought JJ ECC83Ss and EL34s and have been very pleased with both. Smooth, well-balanced pleasing tone.

 

[StrangeSound]

Re: Valve hunting tomorrow TAD 6V6 vs JJ?

TADs are more expensive, I'd say save some money and go for the JJs..they're great and will do the job awesomeLY³ :headbang:

 

[wahwah]

Re: Valve hunting tomorrow TAD 6V6 vs JJ?

The best 6V6GT's ever made were the black plate RCA's from the 1950's. There are still quite a few of these on eBay, and they have no equal in modern production tubes, not even close. I have a pair of Fender Super Champs, and so I have bought up enough 6V6GT's to last a lifetime. They look like this...http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...rom=R40&satitle=170099854696&category0=&fvi=1

While you're there you should look at blackplate RCA 12AX7's from the same era. They have the long plates. (17mm) No current production tubes compare to these beauties. We guitar players should have these tubes in our amps rather than collectors having them in glass cases!

Cheers.............wahwah

 

[Pierre]

Re: Valve hunting tomorrow TAD 6V6 vs JJ?

Can only buy in shops, not online Those V6s sure look nice though hhehe...

I'll ask if they have RCA valves. It's a NOS only thing no..?

I must say I've been happy with JJs so far. I'll probably just get 2 more to make up a full set. And another TAD so I can revalve both preamps.

 

[wahwah]

Re: Valve hunting tomorrow TAD 6V6 vs JJ?

Yeah, sorry Pierre, you won't find the old RCA's in shops. But they sound even more beautiful than they look. They are difficult to find NOS, but they are quite often found "good used." These tubes were made to last, so if you find them with 90% life left in them, they will last 8 - 10 years under normal use.

If you've found tubes that you like, that's what matters! Happy tube hunting!


Cheers..............wahwah

 

[More-Gear-Than-Skill]

Re: Valve hunting tomorrow TAD 6V6 vs JJ?

Where are the 6v6's going to go? Not in the VC15?

 

[Pierre]

Re: Valve hunting tomorrow TAD 6V6 vs JJ?

Nah they'd be for my Laney AOR 3012 combo.

I didn't get valves in the end. I got better ^_^. Kinda like two EL34s in a box...

 

[drpietrzak]

Re: Valve hunting tomorrow TAD 6V6 vs JJ?

I like 6v6 from Tung Sol or JJ (New Production)

 

[porterburst]

Re: Valve hunting tomorrow TAD 6V6 vs JJ?

Can only buy in shops, not online Those V6s sure look nice though hhehe...

I'll ask if they have RCA valves. It's a NOS only thing no..?

I must say I've been happy with JJs so far. I'll probably just get 2 more to make up a full set. And another TAD so I can revalve both preamps.

The JJ 6V6's are not "true" 6V6's, more like 6L6's. If you like that 6L6 type tone, great, but they don't sound like real 6V6GT's.

 

[GilmourD]

Re: Valve hunting tomorrow TAD 6V6 vs JJ?

The JJ 6V6's are not "true" 6V6's, more like 6L6's. If you like that 6L6 type tone, great, but they don't sound like real 6V6GT's.

Could you elaborate on that?

Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk

 

[hermetico]

Re: Valve hunting tomorrow TAD 6V6 vs JJ?

Can only buy in shops, not online Those V6s sure look nice though hhehe...

I'll ask if they have RCA valves. It's a NOS only thing no..?

I must say I've been happy with JJs so far. I'll probably just get 2 more to make up a full set. And another TAD so I can revalve both preamps.

IMHO, best sounding NEW PRODUCTION 6V6GTs are the Tung Sol reissue. This you can source directly from http://www.tubeampdoctor.com (TAD!!!). Get a matched pair.
Be aware that, if you swap your tubes, you need to BIAS your amp.

About preamp tubes. TAD is just testing, picking the best tubes, relabeling them with their name and, selling the rest under their original name.
Even that JJ ECC83S didn't liked me before, lately they seem one of the best tubes, all around but, this, every time that you buy a tested tube (TAD 12AX7-Cz, Watford Valves Harma 12AX7-STR, ...).

For British sound, the New Production one that I usually like more is the Mullard Reissue, for V1, at least.
For overall applications, the JJ ECC83S often works in most of amps, most of positions.
For PI, my preferred one is the Sovtek 12AX7-LPS but, it lasts really few in my combos so, I am throwing there some well triode-balanced tube and, when possible a NOS JAN/Philips 5751.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Valve hunting tomorrow TAD 6V6 vs JJ?

I just wanted to let you guys know this thread died over six years ago. I've had two kids since then.

 

[zzmoore]

Re: Valve hunting tomorrow TAD 6V6 vs JJ?

Could you elaborate on that?

Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk

Because that is what they basically are...a small L6. If you get the JJ...compare them to your TAD...they do not even look like a V6.
If you want to try another brand of V6...I would go with Tung-Sol...or see if you can get a set of NOS that you can afford.
best

 

[GilmourD]

Re: Valve hunting tomorrow TAD 6V6 vs JJ?

Because that is what they basically are...a small L6. If you get the JJ...compare them to your TAD...they do not even look like a V6.
If you want to try another brand of V6...I would go with Tung-Sol...or see if you can get a set of NOS that you can afford.
best

Interesting... That actually intrigues me to tonewise. So, they're a bit glassier with less mids, right?

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk

 

[hermetico]

Re: Valve hunting tomorrow TAD 6V6 vs JJ?

I just wanted to let you guys know this thread died over six years ago. I've had two kids since then.

Congratulations!
:laughing:

 

[zzmoore]

Re: Valve hunting tomorrow TAD 6V6 vs JJ?

Interesting... That actually intrigues me to tonewise. So, they're a bit glassier with less mids, right?

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk

I would say that is the general sound.
Definitely worth buying a pair and see what you hear/feel.
best

 

[GilmourD]

Re: Valve hunting tomorrow TAD 6V6 vs JJ?

I would say that is the general sound.
Definitely worth buying a pair and see what you hear/feel.
best

Unfortunately, I don't have any amps right now that are designed around 6V6s.

Interesting semi-OT question... How does a regular 6V6 (non-JJ) compare in tone to a 6CA7 if everything else is equal. I realize that's asking to compare apples and oranges, but I was just thinking... 6CA7 is kind of a cross between an EL34 and a 6L6, with the solid lows of a 6L6 and the mids and treble of an EL34. Now if a 6V6 is 6L6ish but with more mids... You see where I'm going here?

 

[zzmoore]

Re: Valve hunting tomorrow TAD 6V6 vs JJ?

Well...this could go on for a ways...and I am the wrong guy for that discussion.
Tubes, especially Power Tubes are not a giant factor in an amps sound...IMHO. Not saying they have no effect, they do, but I am not one to worry too much about what tubes are in the power section of any particular amp.
Amway...I am pretty sure the "early" Van Halen records were 6CA7...and not EL34. I have a limited experience with them...but to my ears they are much more 34 than L6...but with a bigger/better low end than a 34...like you say, maybe the low end punch of a L6.
I would say the V6 is quite different from the A7.
But that is really a non-comparison.
Like I say...I am really not much of a tube guy. Some of the other members will be much better versed than I am.
good luck