TAD 6L6GC-STR's For My Mesa Tremoverb Head

[Charvel1975]

Been reading up on different 6L6GC power tubes for my Mesa Tremoverb head and seen a lot of guys highly recommending the TAD 6L6GC-STR's, anyone have luck with them or thoughts on them? Also looking to get new preamp tubes too, any suggestions? Seen a lot of people saying to put a Tungsol 12AX7 in V1 first.

 

[crwnedblasphemy]

I used the TAD 6L6 short bottle ones in my Mesa Single Rec....They were killer tubes. Way more balanced across the board. I really like them, but haven't tried their regular 6L6s to compare.

 

[Charvel1975]

Heard good things about the SED Winged C 6l6's in Mesa 2 channel dual rectos, saw this vid on youtube, even though it's a newer 3 channel dual rec sounds pretty good!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aN7rrzSifo0

 

[blackba]

I think the larger bottle tads would be great for the tremoverb. They are nice sounding tubes and have a good solid bass. I have them in a pa converted to a guitar amp and they work well. I have the small bottles and like them better for vintage amps.

 

[Classic]

I can't comment on use in a Mesa but I use the TAD 6L6GC-STRs in my Cornford and won't be using anything else now. They really are good.

 

[lettmusic]

I first saw FJA used the TAD in his modded Marshalls, so I tried a pair of 6L6 STR in my Randall RM50 combo. It totally made the amp way better than it was. More depth and breath to the tone, the sound is more wide open, lots of air. I love the improvement, may try it on my main amp, 5150 III when it comes time to retube.

 

[stephen sawall]

If you can find NOS 6CA7 ..... that is what I use & recommend.

 

[fek]

I liked 34's much better in my Tverb. The 6CA7 suggestion above might be a great fit as well if you want to add some of the 34 mid growl but keep the big bottom of the 6L6.

 

[Charvel1975]

I liked 34's much better in my Tverb. The 6CA7 suggestion above might be a great fit as well if you want to add some of the 34 mid growl but keep the big bottom of the 6L6.

I've heard that suggestion too of either running 6CA7's or KT77's and switching the Bias Select to EL34 on the Tverb's, haven't found any sound clips or Youtube videos of Tverb owners running either of those types of power tubes though and what brand(s)? As for the preamp section, what's some good recommendations?

V1A - Input/Clean (1st Gain Stage)
V1B - Reverb Return

V2A - 2nd Gain Stage
V2B - 3rd Gain Stage

V3A - 4th Gain Stage
V3B - Cathode Follower

V4A - FX Send
V4B - FX Return

V5A - Reverb Driver
V5B - Reverb Mixer

V6 - Phase Inverter

 

[guitarobert]

Haven't tried them in a Mesa, but used them in a Diezel. Compared to other 6L6's these have a very unique tone. Much more bite, definition, and a snarling distortion tone. The opposite end of the spectrum to me was the SED winged C's. Those are much smoother than the TADs. Depends what you are looking for, but I like the TADs and would go with them first.

 

[JCDenton6]

I know lots of metal dudes love the TAD's in their Mesa's since they bring out more bite, definition, and a snarling distortion tone like guitarobert described.
These are 1st on my list when I'm due for a retube!

 

[fishyfishfish]

I thought they were a huge improvement over the stock "boogie"
Tubes I had in my Dual and lone star. When biased up right in a
They can hang with some old GE side getters I have.

 

[highgainer]

Necro bump ! Sorry for bringing the dead thread to life !
Is it okay to get the TAD 6L6 tubes as a replacement for Mesa branded 6L6 ? I'm asking because I hate anything related to tubes biasing since I can't bias the tubes myself and there is no tech nearby where I live. Mesa tubes require no bias operation but I don't know if it's fine to put TAD 6L6 in there and be done.

 

[Snave]

Necro bump ! Sorry for bringing the dead thread to life !
Is it okay to get the TAD 6L6 tubes as a replacement for Mesa branded 6L6 ? I'm asking because I hate anything related to tubes biasing since I can't bias the tubes myself and there is no tech nearby where I live. Mesa tubes require no bias operation but I don't know if it's fine to put TAD 6L6 in there and be done.

They should be fine. If you buy a multimeter and simple bias probe you could easily check the bias of any tubes you install.

 

[GJgo]

I only use the TAD 6L6GC-STR or Preferred Series 6L6 GC (basically the same thing) in my vintage Marks because they are fairly similar to the Sylvania & can take the high plate voltage. And they sound killer. Personally I like JJ 6L6 better in my Rectos, but if you want to try the TAD / PS and you get them from The Tube Store, then their rating of #30 or 31 should be about right & get you in the 35-40 mA range which is where you want to be with a Recto.

 

[apophis]

Id love sovtek wtx+ 6L6 in my TOV. Also make sure you have a chinese 8th gen pre in v1

 

[stephen sawall]

Currently I am using Groove Tube 6L6GE rated 4 in my Tremoverb, Mark IV and Heartbreaker. I also have some JJ rated 7 I like in the Tremoverb. They allow for more range with the Treble and Presence pots.

RED
"Headroom" available: Very High
Clipping: Low

YELLOW
"Headroom" available: High
Clipping: Low

GREEN
"Headroom" available: Medium High
Clipping: Medium

GREY
"Headroom" available: Medium High
Clipping: Medium

BLUE
"Headroom" available: Medium Low
Clipping: Medium High

Best Regards,

Marcus Daniel | Customer Service
Mesa/Boogie | MESA ENGINEERING

4 -Red
4.5 -Yellow
5 -Green
5.5 -Gray
6 -Blue
6.5 -White
With Groove Tubes basically, a #1 will distort sooner, and a #10 later.

THIS IS COMPLETELY OPPOSITE WHEN IT COMES TO MESA FIXED BIAS AMPS. In fact, GT distortion rating of 4 has MORE headroom than a 6 rating, not less. Again, this is only relevant for fixed bias amps, and has to do with the percentage of max plate dissipation a tube is pulling at idle.

This applies when the tubes are installed into a FIXED bias amp such as a Boogie. This means that the Groove Tubes will draw close to the same current at idle as the corresponding color codes of MESA tubes. The red color code idles cooler and is further from clip (breakup) , and the white color code idles hotter and is closer to clip (breakup). Reds = headroom , White = quicker distortion. 8) This is what Marcus was saying.


The early and late breakup that Groove Tubes is talking about is the tubes installed into an ADJUSTABLE bias amp with the tubes biased to the same current draw. That is, if you took a #5 tube and a #10 tube and biased them do both draw 70% mpd, that the #5 would distort sooner and the #10 would have more headroom.

"7 is about as high as you can go and even with a 7 in the output section I would check the bias." -Myles Rose

I usually use the 4 rating or cooler bias because I prefer more punch and more dynamic range.
The 7 rating is more compressed feel and dynamics.
It's really just subjective taste and the way I play....with a lot of dynamics.

 

[splatter]

I got a quad of TAD el34's and they are the most stale sounding tubes I've ever had.Maybe its just the EL34's

 

[Dale B]

Marcus has it completely backward in regard to his understanding of how the GT ratings work in Mesas. A #1 has the least amount of headroom. 4 to 7 is the range that falls within area that most manufacturers use because it offers the best blend of distortion and headroom. 8 to 10 have the most headroom, with 10 being the cleanest.

Fixed bias means the amp’s bias has been set at a fixed point at idle. This can be set hard with a fixed resistor (IE: Mesa; The early Diezel VH4) or a variable resistor (Almost everything else that is Class A/B).

You can install a bias pot in a Mesa Recto and adjust the bias. It’s still a fixed bias amp. The power tubes won’t behave any differently.

Myles Rose talked about that a lot around 2003 on HCAF.

Currently I am using Groove Tube 6L6GE rated 4 in my Tremoverb, Mark IV and Heartbreaker. I also have some JJ rated 7 I like in the Tremoverb. They allow for more range with the Treble and Presence pots.

RED
"Headroom" available: Very High
Clipping: Low

YELLOW
"Headroom" available: High
Clipping: Low

GREEN
"Headroom" available: Medium High
Clipping: Medium

GREY
"Headroom" available: Medium High
Clipping: Medium

BLUE
"Headroom" available: Medium Low
Clipping: Medium High

Best Regards,

Marcus Daniel | Customer Service
Mesa/Boogie | MESA ENGINEERING

4 -Red
4.5 -Yellow
5 -Green
5.5 -Gray
6 -Blue
6.5 -White
With Groove Tubes basically, a #1 will distort sooner, and a #10 later.

THIS IS COMPLETELY OPPOSITE WHEN IT COMES TO MESA FIXED BIAS AMPS. In fact, GT distortion rating of 4 has MORE headroom than a 6 rating, not less. Again, this is only relevant for fixed bias amps, and has to do with the percentage of max plate dissipation a tube is pulling at idle.

This applies when the tubes are installed into a FIXED bias amp such as a Boogie. This means that the Groove Tubes will draw close to the same current at idle as the corresponding color codes of MESA tubes. The red color code idles cooler and is further from clip (breakup) , and the white color code idles hotter and is closer to clip (breakup). Reds = headroom , White = quicker distortion. 8) This is what Marcus was saying.


The early and late breakup that Groove Tubes is talking about is the tubes installed into an ADJUSTABLE bias amp with the tubes biased to the same current draw. That is, if you took a #5 tube and a #10 tube and biased them do both draw 70% mpd, that the #5 would distort sooner and the #10 would have more headroom.

"7 is about as high as you can go and even with a 7 in the output section I would check the bias." -Myles Rose

I usually use the 4 rating or cooler bias because I prefer more punch and more dynamic range.
The 7 rating is more compressed feel and dynamics.
It's really just subjective taste and the way I play....with a lot of dynamics.

 

[stephen sawall]

Marcus has it completely backward in regard to his understanding of how the GT ratings work in Mesas. A #1 has the least amount of headroom. 4 to 7 is the range that falls within area that most manufacturers use because it offers the best blend of distortion and headroom. 8 to 10 have the most headroom, with 10 being the cleanest.

Fixed bias means the amp’s bias has been set at a fixed point at idle. This can be set hard with a fixed resistor (IE: Mesa; The early Diezel VH4) or a variable resistor (Almost everything else that is Class A/B).

You can install a bias pot in a Mesa Recto and adjust the bias. It’s still a fixed bias amp. The power tubes won’t behave any differently.

Myles Rose talked about that a lot around 2003 on HCAF.

Currently I am using Groove Tube 6L6GE rated 4 in my Tremoverb, Mark IV and Heartbreaker. I also have some JJ rated 7 I like in the Tremoverb. They allow for more range with the Treble and Presence pots.

RED
"Headroom" available: Very High
Clipping: Low

YELLOW
"Headroom" available: High
Clipping: Low

GREEN
"Headroom" available: Medium High
Clipping: Medium

GREY
"Headroom" available: Medium High
Clipping: Medium

BLUE
"Headroom" available: Medium Low
Clipping: Medium High

Best Regards,

Marcus Daniel | Customer Service
Mesa/Boogie | MESA ENGINEERING

4 -Red
4.5 -Yellow
5 -Green
5.5 -Gray
6 -Blue
6.5 -White
With Groove Tubes basically, a #1 will distort sooner, and a #10 later.

THIS IS COMPLETELY OPPOSITE WHEN IT COMES TO MESA FIXED BIAS AMPS. In fact, GT distortion rating of 4 has MORE headroom than a 6 rating, not less. Again, this is only relevant for fixed bias amps, and has to do with the percentage of max plate dissipation a tube is pulling at idle.

This applies when the tubes are installed into a FIXED bias amp such as a Boogie. This means that the Groove Tubes will draw close to the same current at idle as the corresponding color codes of MESA tubes. The red color code idles cooler and is further from clip (breakup) , and the white color code idles hotter and is closer to clip (breakup). Reds = headroom , White = quicker distortion. 8) This is what Marcus was saying.


The early and late breakup that Groove Tubes is talking about is the tubes installed into an ADJUSTABLE bias amp with the tubes biased to the same current draw. That is, if you took a #5 tube and a #10 tube and biased them do both draw 70% mpd, that the #5 would distort sooner and the #10 would have more headroom.

"7 is about as high as you can go and even with a 7 in the output section I would check the bias." -Myles Rose

I usually use the 4 rating or cooler bias because I prefer more punch and more dynamic range.
The 7 rating is more compressed feel and dynamics.
It's really just subjective taste and the way I play....with a lot of dynamics.

In the quote I posted from Marcus he didn't mention Groove Tube in any way.

When using middle range Groove Tube in a Mesa amp or any fixed bias amp a #4 is going to have the most headroom. A #7 has the least headroom.

Mesa, Groove Tube and Rose can all confirm this if you ask them.