TAD EL84's How have they worked for ya?

[Dave_C]

Originally Posted by myles111

Cathode biased amps, where single ended class A or not, run the output tubes at 100% no matter what the volume setting is on the amp.

I am saying that after 100 hours you will probably notice a difference. On Brad Paisley's amps they are changed after every 10 shows .... 30 or so hours, and he hears a difference.

I have also had folks run them for years ... sound comes out of the amp and if that is the criteria then I suppose it's fine for those players.

I played my Maz 18 for two years every day plus loud gigs every weekend before I realized something didn't sound right. I popped in new EL84s and was astounded at how I had just experienced the frog in the boiling pot of water effect. Sound will indeed come out, but the tone gets away from you insidiously.

[FFTT]

As soon as pocket change allows, I'm getting a Weber Browner to help control
line voltage, which in turn should help my tubes last longer.

https://amptechtools.powweb.com/browner.htm

[78tsubaki]

TAD EL84s worked for about a month in my amp. Really sounded nice, then they went brittle and a little fizzy so I am back with JJs. Your mileage may vary. I crank my Reinhardt 18 up!

[klaetos]

Originally Posted by tfunster

Please let us know about the Mullards!!!

I will keep you posted. Hopefully they should be in the mail today or tommorrow. Doug's Tubes has them in stock, but when I ordered they weren't on the website yet.

[JMP2203]

i think TAD EL84 STR are very good tubes, probably my favorite new production EL84, at least in my amps. sure i prefer Mullards but they cost way more money.

[klaetos]

I received my new tubes from Doug's yesterday. Put in the new issue Mullards. Pretty good so far. At this point I like them better then JJ's but not sure yet if I like them better then the TAD STR. We were playing pretty much strait out rock most of last night so I want to see how they sound with some cleaner, more articulate to light OD sound.

...to be continued...

[klaetos]

Took out the Mullards and put in the TAD STR finally last week. After having a chance to play with both I think I like the TAD's better. Mullards IMO are better then the JJ's but not better then the TAD.

I don't know how to explain it, I just know what I hear.

[Dave_C]

Just posted this followup to an earlier thread on Z-Talk.

This is an update to my earlier thread, "New TAD EL84 Is Great". Well, as I should have learned from earlier similar experiences, I should have waited till the gig before reporting. I got the TADs out to the gig last Saturday and ended up going home disappointed. I just played this place last month with exactly the same gear, except using GT-EL84S #6 tubes in the Maz 18 (which I've been using in the amp since getting it in mid 2002).

In my living room, the TADs sounded amazing, better than the GT-tested JJs. They were warmer and didn't have any trace of harshness which the JJs can sometimes get if not careful with EQ. Well, this gig was proof once again that what works alone in the living room or bedroom may not work all that well in a band context in a club. The TADs were kinda' muddy and mushy and didn't have the articulation and clarity of the JJs. I even got to hear both tubes out in the house as the club owner sat in again in the 3rd set, just like last time. The difference was commented on by both the club owner and my girlfriend. The tone just wasn't as good as with the GT-EL84S #6. The TADs were indistinct and "blurry". They just didn't have the articulation of the GT-EL84S #6. It was pretty plain to hear.

So, I'm wondering now if it's a hardness thing or a design thing. I had a similar experience with GT-EL84S #3 vs. #6. The #3s sounded great in the living room, but too muddy in a band context. So, how would the TADs compare if hardness rated via the GT process and then compared to JJ......#6 to #6......apples to apples? Well, it's all rhetorical for now. So, for me, it's back to the trusty old tried-and-true GT-EL84S #6.

[saucyjack]

I retubed my Maz jr with the TADs...wore out set of NOS Tesla finally.Practiced twice and gigged last nite with the TADs

Is it me are the TADs thin sounding?
They seem to have a nice upper mid bite and sparkle but seems like I'm missing tight low end and punch....Bass tone knob on the Z has little effect.

[Blue Strat]

Originally Posted by klaetos

Took out the Mullards and put in the TAD STR finally last week. After having a chance to play with both I think I like the TAD's better. Mullards IMO are better then the JJ's but not better then the TAD.

I don't know how to explain it, I just know what I hear.

For clarity, it's worth mentioning that the "Mullards" referred to here are Russian made, new production, "Mullard Reissues" as sold by New Sensor (the same company that produces Sovtek, Electro Harmonix, Tung Sol Reissues and others).

REAL Mullards were made in Great Britain from the '50s until the '70s and are unmistakably of higher quality than new production tubes.

[Slideman]

aarondavis,

I think the quality is good, but the break-up on the TAD were very quick -- very compressed and dark. I also have a Top Hat CR like you, but I tend to prefer the EH rather than the JJ's. The JJ's I found to "glassy" on the top end and with a Strat/Tele was a bit much. I though the EH were right between the TAD and the JJ with the same reliability and sound really good with the CR. Just my two cents.

[klaetos]

Originally Posted by Blue Strat

For clarity, it's worth mentioning that the "Mullards" referred to here are Russian made, new production, "Mullard Reissues" as sold by New Sensor (the same company that produces Sovtek, Electro Harmonix, Tung Sol Reissues and others).

REAL Mullards were made in Great Britain from the '50s until the '70s and are unmistakably of higher quality than new production tubes.

Yes, these are the new production. I don't think I could afford the real deal.

Originally Posted by Slideman

I think the quality is good, but the break-up on the TAD were very quick -- very compressed and dark. I also have a Top Hat CR like you, but I tend to prefer the EH rather than the JJ's. The JJ's I found to "glassy" on the top end and with a Strat/Tele was a bit much. I though the EH were right between the TAD and the JJ with the same reliability and sound really good with the CR. Just my two cents.

Now that you mention it, this might also be one of the reason I like the TAD better. I play mostly at lower volumes and I can get a nice little light hair going when I dig in with HB's. When I swap back to the new prod. Mullard I will have to re-compare the early break up.

[JasonG]

I've tried 2 different sets of TAD EL84 STRs recently in my Maz 18jr. and they only lasted a few hours. I have no problem with Sovtek, EH or JJs in the same amp and with the TADs I have had no problem in other amps but the Z is a true class A. Stick with JJs. They are the best and what the good Dr. chose for his amp.

[DanR]

I've never used the TADs, but I'm posting anyhow. I bought a pair of both JJ EL84s and EIs a couple of years ago to put in my TopHat Club Royale. I bought 12AX7s of both brands also. I did a little taste test one day and found I preferred the tone of the EI EL84s and the JJ 12AX7s, although the difference to my ear was quite subtle. The EIs didn't last very long until they bit the dust, though. The JJs had a much better longevity.

That said, I currently am using NOS Tesla (not JJ) EL84s and, so far, so good.

[Spudman]

TADs came in my H&K and they didn't last very long at all. I was not happy. While they worked they sounded brilliant in the amp but the longevity factor will keep me from buying them in the future.