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Post subject: Re: TAD 6L6WGC anyone try them ?
Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 8:07 pm
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Yeah, when the Princeton's time comes he will be getting the work. I have been watching the posts about the different reviews on 6V6's so I have some good info when the time comes to change the tubes in it. I may go with NOS 6V6's (GE, Sylvanias, or RCAs) if I can find some at a decent price and if not, then will go with one of the newer brands.

Right now all my amps are GTG tube and cap wise, but like I said if I come across some NOS 6V6's I will snatch them up for latter on. I have NOS JANs in my '68 Champ and have a complete set of NOS JANs for it, so just need to find those 6V6's.

Sorry for hijacking this post.

T2

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Post subject: Re: TAD 6L6WGC anyone try them ?
Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 1:06 pm
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If you like the TAD 6L6s you'll like their 6V6s as well :) I'm running TADs in both DRRI and SR, my NOS tubes have been on vacation for the past couple months. I have both sets bias hot and so far so good.

http://thetubestore.com/tad6v6.html


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Post subject: Re: TAD 6L6WGC anyone try them ?
Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 1:51 pm
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Cedar...good enough for you, then sounds like I may have found those 6V6's. Thanks for the scoop on them. Guess I should have figured as much as I like the 6L6's from TAD that thier 6V6 should have been great as well.

T2

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Post subject: Re: TAD 6L6WGC anyone try them ?
Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 8:03 pm
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I have two matched sets of TAD 6V6's ready to be tested. Gotten kinda lazy with the heat. Will try them out this weekend in Princeton Reverb with Raytheon 6V6GTY's presently sitting in sockets and report initial results.

Same amp that fried a couple pairs of new Tungsol RI's. So, its running the tubes hot. Well, at least too hot for those tubes.


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Post subject: Re: TAD 6L6WGC anyone try them ?
Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 11:53 pm
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T2Stratman wrote:
Cedar...good enough for you, then sounds like I may have found those 6V6's. Thanks for the scoop on them. Guess I should have figured as much as I like the 6L6's from TAD that thier 6V6 should have been great as well.

T2

They've replaced the RCAs I had in there and I've been very happy with 'em! I've tried a few other 6V6s, NOS and new, RCA and TADs work for me so far...

BMW2002Ti wrote:
I have two matched sets of TAD 6V6's ready to be tested. Gotten kinda lazy with the heat. Will try them out this weekend in Princeton Reverb with Raytheon 6V6GTY's presently sitting in sockets and report initial results.

Same amp that fried a couple pairs of new Tungsol RI's. So, its running the tubes hot. Well, at least too hot for those tubes.

That would be a great test for the TADs, looking forward to what you have to say. I already had one 6L6 TAD short out in my SR, but that could've been the amp itself... it hasn't happened since having the amp looked at by my tech and installing a new set of TADs.


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Post subject: Re: TAD 6L6WGC anyone try them ?
Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 12:25 pm
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Ok, tried out the TAD STR-6V6GT in one of my Princetons. Outta the box, they are built more hefty than the TSRI 6V6GT. Both internal structure and the glass. Initially, lot of purple glow, as the tube burns off contaminates. Common with many Chinese made power and rectifier tubes.

The pins are large in diameter. Esp compared to the NOS Magnavox magnovals that were in the amp.

Biasing was 26 and 28mA. Nothing red. Initial tone is very good. Better than the JJ 6V6S IMHO. Maybe, a tad muddier than the TSRI (which sound more like 6V6GTA's). More close to the gray glass NOS 6V6GT. Pretty clean to "5." Then, the start of overdrive. But, will need to let tubes break-in and burn off all the contaminates, before really cranking it. Plus, the temp is hotter than Hades right now & I feel kinda lazy to let the thing idle too long. Plus, sig other has other ideas for today.

Maybe, tonight--- put the amp through its paces.


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Post subject: Re: TAD 6L6WGC anyone try them ?
Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 1:35 pm
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T2Stratman wrote:
Yeah, when the Princeton's time comes he will be getting the work.


If you see these on an amp tech's bench they're a vital clue as to his familiarity with vacuum tubes and the vintage gear that uses them......

Image

I'm not sure anyone even makes these anymore.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: TAD 6L6WGC anyone try them ?
Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 2:46 pm
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Good old tube pins straighteners. Haven't seen a casted one in years. I have some "RCA" plastic case types, that I don't even remember where pr when I got them.

http://images.cloud.worthpoint.com/wpim ... 4c2d0f.jpg

But, there are some of the kind you showed on EBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/STAR-9-PIN-ELECTRON ... 2eb6d57481


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Post subject: Re: TAD 6L6WGC anyone try them ?
Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 11:17 am
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
Good old tube pins straighteners. Haven't seen a casted one in years. I have some "RCA" plastic case types, that I don't even remember where pr when I got them.

http://images.cloud.worthpoint.com/wpim ... 4c2d0f.jpg

But, there are some of the kind you showed on EBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/STAR-9-PIN-ELECTRON ... 2eb6d57481


BMW...thanks for saying what they were, I wasn't quite sure! After you said they were straighteners the proverbial light went off and I felt like I'd pulled a Homer!

T2

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Post subject: Re: TAD 6L6WGC anyone try them ?
Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 2:46 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
Plate voltages in the ultra-linears will approach or exceed 500VDC and quite bluntly, I don't think the TAD's "pack the gear" to function in that environment. Got an ultra-linear? Try the Sov-Tek's or (finances permitting) NOS RCA's, Sylvania's, or Westinghouse.

Arjay


Arjay, I've also got a 135 watt UL Twin and was thinking about putting these TAD 6L6WGCs in. TAD's data sheet says the tube's max DC plate voltage is 550V. You had mentioned that these Twins approach or exceed 500V, would it be risky to use these tubes?

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Post subject: Re: TAD 6L6WGC anyone try them ?
Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 7:03 am
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With a 550VDC plate rating the TAD's should be ideally suited and deliver problem-free performance.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: TAD 6L6WGC anyone try them ?
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 1:58 am
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cedarblues wrote:
If you like the TAD 6L6s you'll like their 6V6s as well :) I'm running TADs in both DRRI and SR, my NOS tubes have been on vacation for the past couple months. I have both sets bias hot and so far so good.

http://thetubestore.com/tad6v6.html


Gia sou @cedarblues: So do I .... in a 1967 Princeton Reverb


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Post subject: Re: TAD 6L6WGC anyone try them ?
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 10:13 am
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I've had a pair of TAD STR-6V6GT in my Princeton Reverb for a couple of weeks now. To be honest, they are nice tubes. Seem to be tough. Hopefully, long lasting. But, to say that they sound like NOS gray glass RCA 6V6GT or Raytheon 6V6GTY is not quite correct. They have their own tone. Esp when pushed. I feel that they have a bit more compressed tone at volume. And the bass-mid portion is not as smooth as a good NOS.

Not bad. Just different. At least these pair. Hell, if every fine woman had the same style breasts, life would get kinda boring. To me, the TAD's tone is somewhere in between the lushness of a good RCA gray glass, black plate and the singing quality of a nice clear glass Sylvania. And that ain't bad.

For picking up and amplifying small details, they aren't as good as some GTY's (esp the Raytheon and Brimar) or those fabulous French made Mazda or Visseaux. But, they are better than most of their newly manufactured Russian or East Euro competition. And NO RED PLATING, so far! Woo-Hoo! :lol:

I'm almost certain that tweaking certain caps and resistors could help the TAD getting even closer to the old standards. But, its unique tone is very good, all by itself.

Another tidbit. I swapped the pair between two PR's. One has a Weber 10-inch with alnico magnets. And the other has ceramic. The TAD sound better (IMO) driving the alnico. A more promounced difference than swapping NOS tube between the same two amps. Esp if you are looking for "vintage" tone [and this is the Vintage Amp section. So....]

It'll be interesting to see how the tubes sound after full break-in. But, have to admit, the Chinese did make this tube quite well. Much heftier and better built, than the Tungsol RI 6V6GT. Same is the case with their new generation of KT-88, 6550, and SET tubes.


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Post subject: Re: TAD 6L6WGC anyone try them ?
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 10:54 am
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Amerigo wrote:

Gia sou @cedarblues: So do I .... in a 1967 Princeton Reverb


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Gia sou Amerigo! Which TAD are those? I have the 6V6GT-STR and they look like this

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Post subject: Re: TAD 6L6WGC anyone try them ?
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 11:20 am
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I meant to ask you for an update BMW... thanks for letting us know how they're holding up so far.

In my DRRI, using a 15" Eminence Big Ben, the TADs were the closest to my RCAs. I tried Tung-Sols (2 different sets), GT (EH), JJ, Jan Phillips... only the TADs sounded as good and very similar in tone to the RCAs I have.

This description on TAD's site says it all:

"This all new TAD 6V6GT-STR combines the exceptionally sweet voiced NOS 6V6GT like the RCA or GE 6V6GTY with up to date demand to withstand the higher operating voltages due to raised AC supply.
At same time this TAD 6V6GT-STR forward a surprisingly tight bass which you would not expect except with the very best choice of real NOS 6V6GT treasures."

Non of the other tubes I tried matched the RCA's sweet highs and tight lows, but the TADs come very close.

The same goes for the TAD 6L6 in my SR, very solid tubes and sound wonderful!

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