Anyone Roll TAD tubes ?

[SteveH]

http://www.tubeampdoctor.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=&products_id=823

Im shopping for some EL84's for my ST35 and came across these. Anyone try them before ?

Regards,
Steve

[Shannon Parks]

They kind of look like a standard Russian EL84. I bought maybe 40 6pi14pi tubes from Europe a few years ago and they all bias up the same, and I'm happy with their performance. I haven't paid attention to Ebay prices though...

[mesherm]

I was intrigued so I bought a quad of the TAD EL84s for my DIY35. Just got them today. I will have to give TAD extra points for presentation. The boxes and the tubes were marked with very professional-looking labels with a number stating each tubes' plate current and transconductance. Each tube had a lot or serial number on it also. The quad I got had all identical PC and TC numbers on them. The tubes looked very well made and had thick, heavy glass envelopes. So far so good.
I swapped them in my DIY35 for the set of EI Elite EL84s and made ready to adjust the currents. Unadjusted, one side was almost perfect at 35.4 and 35.7 ma, the other side was also very close at 34.3 and 35.8 ma. Not bad at all but I tweaked them all to 35+-0.1 ma.
After about an hour's listening I must say that they sound every bit as good as the EI's they replaced. The bass sounds a bit tighter and the highs a tad brighter so I am pleased enough to leave them in for extended listening.
Just for reference info, I am running a Telefunken 12AX7 and an RCA 12BH7A black plate in the other tube positions.

[TerrySmith]

I noticed that TAD sells a 6KG6 / EL509 that has an octal base and a normal pinout, and no plate cap. Also it looks like a monster!

Anyone tried any yet?

[SteveH]

Thanks guys for your input...I think I just might give 'em a shot. For the 12ax7 tube, I think I might go with some of the new chineese offerings that groove tubes has. A friend of mine got them for his guitar amp and they sounded REAL nice. The 12AU7 offerings seem limited though...