Tube Amp Doctor (TAD) Tubes?

[ksks]

What's the story on TAD tubes? Are they another Groove Tubes style outfit? What is the county of manufacture on their tubes?

Specifically interested in their EL84-STR, and 5AR4.

Any full line dealers in the USA?

User reviews?

Please advise.

 

[marshman]

I don't know much of the story, but here's what I DO know:

Yes, TAD is a tube relabeller, meaning they buy tubes, test/match/grade them to their specifications, then put their label on them. I've never tried any, so I cannot comment on their quality/tone. I'd read internet scuttlebutt that claimed that TAD actually contracts specific tubes to be built to their standards, mostly in China, but it's internet info, and therefore at least subject to the proverbial grain o' salt.

I would think they'd be required to tell you from wence the tubes were sourced, but if memory serves, they're a German firm, so there might be different rules for them.

 

[lioncommandking]

I think TAD tubes are based in Europe(Sweden?),but their tubes are manufactured in China. I use TAD 6l6GC-STRs in my CVR and 6l6WGB-STRs in my Fender Super. I am satisfied with both. Thetubestore.com in Canada are large promoters of this tube, but most US tube sites carry them. There are only a few reviews at Harmony Central. I think basically they deliver the goods with the exception that the 6l6GC's have sometimes been bad on delivery. But when they work they work well. I sent a pair back before I got a good pair from Thetubestore.com.

 

[OaklandA]

They do re-label but they have pretty high standards for their tubes....more so than Groove Tubes. They also sell Russian tubes.

I've tried their EL84's with success...good sounding tubes.

 

[Jelle]

TAD is German and I think the owner was an employee of Ruby before he started TAD. I have no personal experience with their tubes, but the kits (and cabs!) are great, as is their service.

 

[telbert twang]

their tubes are pretty good . I suspect that the regular ones may just be relabel though, but the premium ones are really good ones

 

[happy2]

TAD tubes came in my Victoriette. Two 6 l 6's. To be nhonest I don't care for them. I replaced them with JJ's which are consistent with the JJ sound. I just got some tung sol 5881's to try out. I hope they are better than the TADs and JJ's. Anyone have experience with a Victoria Victoriette?

 

[dcaulton]

TADs have a pretty good reputation among the players and amp techs I know. Please take this with a grain of salt as 2 isn't a fair sample size, but I bought a pair of their KT66s for my Heatkit hifi amp and one of them went bad after about 6 months. It shorted out across a couple of elements inside the tube.

If I were you, I'd consider some NOS tubes. Mullard EL84s seem to be universally loved, but they'e crazy expensive at maybe 200 a pair. Looking at kcanostubes.com (no affiliation) I see several other makes going for $100/pair or less. I'm not certain if the same amp can handle either 6L6s or EL84 (ie, if you can hot swap different tube types like in the Regal), but all this goes for 6L6s and 5881s too. If it were my money I'd find the best pair of NOS power tubes I can find under $100, and one nice preamp tube for V1 - a NOS 5751 or 12AY7. That combination may not be the exact sound you're looking for but you'll now 2 options for the preamp or power tubes - giving you 4 options to try.

Congrats on the Victoriette.