Don't know, haven't bought from them. Website looks nice. Questions like: how many tubes do they buy at a time; how comprehensive is their testing; what's the return policy; do they offer matching services for tubes already sold? From Greece, shipping may be too high compared to a EU-based seller. After all, you're much closer to the JJ factory than we are.
TAD has their own production line, where the sellers I'm talking about merely buy large lots of tubes and test and match them.
On another note, TAD is not forthcoming on their factory location but I find it hard to believe they can afford to make tubes in Western Europe. Elrog does, but they command a much higher price than TAD on a per-tube basis. I've also heard TAD tubes have an excellent tone for guitar amps, but at the cost of a short lifespan.
On another note, TAD is not forthcoming on their factory location but I find it hard to believe they can afford to make tubes in Western Europe. Elrog does, but they command a much higher price than TAD on a per-tube basis. I've also heard TAD tubes have an excellent tone for guitar amps, but at the cost of a short lifespan.
Agree, but they also sell most other current tubes brands and enough NOS. Of course they are a bigger business overall with own line of guitar amps, parts, kits, etc.
I purchased from most of the vendors mentioned here, except TAD. I haven't had any problem with wonky looking tubes.
How good are TAD tubes?
How good are TAD tubes?
I'll never deal with them again.
Purchased a bunch of allegedly BNIB JAN tubes for one of my preamps. All tested far below minimum cutoff values. These were top-Dollar tubes.
Was challenged re my testing apparatus. Well, the (calibrated) Hickok 539B, AVO MKIII and Marconi MU-101 all concurred; these tubes are turds.
Oh, they exchanged them, but insisted that I pay to ship back the duds. Works good for them; they ship garbage, and if they get caught, it costs them nothing. Nice scam, scumbags!
I suppose, like everything else in audio, I'm going to be sucked down the testing/matching rabbit hole SMH
or find a vendor you trust to do that part. unless the idea of a stash of semi-working museum pieces is appealing to you 😉
For JJ's, why not try https://www.eurotubes.com/store/pc/home.asp
No personal experience with them FWIW.
jeff
No personal experience with them FWIW.
jeff
They have good reputation more for sonics than for ruggedness from what I gather. At least in guitar amps. I have an EL34 quad from them to sometime use in a hi-fi amp and form my own opinion.
Go get another one which is bent into exactly the opposite direction.
It is a well known fact in audio circles that evil angles cancel in pp.
It is a well known fact in audio circles that evil angles cancel in pp.
The pins look thicker on the TAD.
6p14p-ER is what I use. Don't know the brand but if looks translate into sound, a much better sounding tube than the JJ, even a straight one! The glass treatment, the pin treatment around the glass, and the inner workings materials look to be in a completely different level.
6p14p-ER is what I use. Don't know the brand but if looks translate into sound, a much better sounding tube than the JJ, even a straight one! The glass treatment, the pin treatment around the glass, and the inner workings materials look to be in a completely different level.
Don't feel bad, I went straight to the TAD store looking for that glorious EL84