TAD EL84-STR opinions?

[TheCiscoKid784]

Anyone have any experience using these tubes. They claim to have a 6v6 sound to them; which I find hard to believe, but would be stoked if it were true.

[Gene]

I have. I have several matched pairs. Sounds fine. Can't say if they sound like 6V6 though since circuits, cab, and speaker have a lot to do with the tone also.

[RussB]

Who and where was is ever said the a chinese el-84 sounds like a 6V6...any 6V6?

[CopperTop]

I recently bought a pair of these, they sound good.

They seem nice and crunchy, but not fizzy. I replaced JJ's with the TAD's and I like the sound better.

JJ's were not bad by any means in my amp, but the TAD's sound fuller IMHO.

I don't have much experience w/ 6V6's, but I would buy the TAD's again.

Does anyone know what these tubes actually are? I am sure they are some re-branded tube..? I don't think TAD has their own tube production do they?

[Doug]

Originally Posted by CopperTop

I recently bought a pair of these, they sound good.

They seem nice and crunchy, but not fizzy. I replaced JJ's with the TAD's and I like the sound better.

JJ's were not bad by any means in my amp, but the TAD's sound fuller IMHO.

I don't have much experience w/ 6V6's, but I would buy the TAD's again.

Does anyone know what these tubes actually are? I am sure they are some re-branded tube..? I don't think TAD has their own tube production do they?

I'll echo the above. I have the TADs in my Marshall 1974x. The only 6V6 amp I have ever owned is my Z28, which is a completely different circuit.

[Gene]

I believe TADs are rebranded Chinese tubes.

[rockon1]

TAD EL84-STR


The STR designation tells us that this was a Special Tube Request by the Tube Amp Doctor. In all honesty it looks and sounds like a pretty radical take on the EL84. The dimensions of this tube deserve your attention. Most tubes made in the U.S., England and Germany were built to a standard size. I often compare the new breed of EL84’s to the 1964 G.E. Essential Tube Characteristics Handbook. The TAD EL84STR is about a quarter inch shorter than any EL84 on the market and falls below the minimum GE spec of 2.344 inches. You may have to modify or adjust spring and clip type retainers for the shorter bottle. These are beefy bottles as well, with a measured maximum width of .874 inches. The GE specification is a maximum value of.875 inches. The TAD EL84STR also has the largest plate structure of any EL84 you can buy. I won’t give any more specs. Just trust me on this one, it’s enormous! There is very little clearance between the plate and the bottle and they get hot! This tube has the deepest bass, the highest highs and strident mids. In short, they sound a lot like a premium 6V6. No smooth creamy distortion here but tons of rock and roll crunch. If your bored with your normal EL84 tone these are definitely tubes to consider. Not recommended for some VOX amps as well as some smaller Mesa Boogie amps due to size issues.

Information from thetubestore.com

[HipKitty]

I've re-tubed quite a few Ac30's and Peavey Classic's with the TAD's (at their owner's request...some having had complete dissatisfaction with the Sovtek EL84's).

They definitely do not sound like a 6V6 by any stretch of the imagination. They do sound fuller in comparison to the Sovteks and EH's...if that helps, but they still maintain that classic EL84 quality. The TAD's that I've installed also lacked the rattle that some of the EH's have had.

[Lespaulsignature 74]

I am using TAD EL84's with Yellow Jackets in my Flexi 50 and they do have more bottom than the un-named EL84's that came stock with the Yellow Jackets. The only 6V6 amp I own/use is a Gibson GA14 Titan and there is no comparrison here to the Yellow Jacket/Tad EL84's, a completely different beast.

[jamison162]

Originally Posted by rockon1

TAD EL84-STR


This tube has the deepest bass, the highest highs and strident mids. In short, they sound a lot like a premium 6V6. No smooth creamy distortion here but tons of rock and roll crunch. If your bored with your normal EL84 tone these are definitely tubes to consider.

Information from thetubestore.com

"Strident Mids" to me means harsh. Would anyone using these tubes describe the midrange tonality differently?

[chervokas]

Originally Posted by Gene

I believe TADs are rebranded Chinese tubes.

I think the TAD EL84s are Russian, no? Based on the 6p14p-EVs (the TADs have the wider diameter bottle like the 6p14p-EV) and like the Sovtek EL84M though I swear the TADs are more midrangy -- less frequency extended -- creamier and breakup earlier than the EL84Ms I've had, which had the deeper bass, more extended treble and bigger dynamics (and higher plate voltage handling) of the 6p14p-EV. In that regard they seemed a little more like typical EL84s than the other rebranded 6p14p-EVs I've had.

[JTJ]

I'll chime in and give props to the TAD.I have used them in Marshall 18 watters and Matchless amps and they always sound good to me. Full and plenty of balance across the spectrum. Wherever they are made, they are doing a good job. I have some NOS Brimars and they both sound very similar to each other.

[Blue Strat]

Originally Posted by chervokas

I think the TAD EL84s are Russian, no? .

Not the ones sold in the US. In Europe, TAD is like Groove Tubes. They sell almost everything made today by anyone with their brand on them.

Compare what's INSIDE the glass. That's how you identify tubes.

[chervokas]

Originally Posted by Blue Strat

Not the ones sold in the US. In Europe, TAD is like Groove Tubes. They sell almost everything made today by anyone with their brand on them.

Compare what's INSIDE the glass. That's how you identify tubes.

Thanks. That certainly explains why the TAD EL84-STR sounded different from a 6p14p-EV to me.

[Blue Strat]

Originally Posted by rockon1

TAD EL84-STR


The STR designation tells us that this was a Special Tube Request by the Tube Amp Doctor. In all honesty it looks and sounds like a pretty radical take on the EL84. The dimensions of this tube deserve your attention. Most tubes made in the U.S., England and Germany were built to a standard size. I often compare the new breed of EL84’s to the 1964 G.E. Essential Tube Characteristics Handbook. The TAD EL84STR is about a quarter inch shorter than any EL84 on the market and falls below the minimum GE spec of 2.344 inches. You may have to modify or adjust spring and clip type retainers for the shorter bottle. These are beefy bottles as well, with a measured maximum width of .874 inches. The GE specification is a maximum value of.875 inches. The TAD EL84STR also has the largest plate structure of any EL84 you can buy. I won’t give any more specs. Just trust me on this one, it’s enormous! There is very little clearance between the plate and the bottle and they get hot! This tube has the deepest bass, the highest highs and strident mids. In short, they sound a lot like a premium 6V6. No smooth creamy distortion here but tons of rock and roll crunch. If your bored with your normal EL84 tone these are definitely tubes to consider. Not recommended for some VOX amps as well as some smaller Mesa Boogie amps due to size issues.

Information from thetubestore.com

6V6s have strident mids? LOL, whatever that means.

So much for opinions stated as facts.