TAD Blackplate™ – A Love Letter to True Tube Tone
Passion — it’s an accusation we gladly accept. We love the rich, creamy sound of a good tube amp. After years of development, we’re prouder than ever to introduce our new Blackplate™ Series. Tubes as they should be: premium components, outstanding tone and long life. Meet our TAD Blackplate™ vacuum tubes.
A Tribute to the Past
The original black plate design first appeared in the vacuum tubes of major US manufacturers — and to this day, it’s considered the holy grail by many tone purists. We’ve taken this classic look and created a state-of-the-art tube that lives up to its legendary predecessors in every way.
Technical Features of Blackplate™ Tubes
Our TAD Blackplate™ tubes combine modern materials and manufacturing processes with excellent value for money. The black anodes’ outstanding heat dissipation ensures stable operation — your amp runs more consistently, with less heat build-up overall. We offer our Blackplate™ series in the following variants:
- TAD Blackplate™ 6L6GC-STR – Classic 6L6 Tone
The classic guitar amp tube delivers warm, defined lows and clear highs, from crystal-clean sounds to the highest gain ranges. The Blackplate™ anode design optimises heat dissipation, guaranteeing consistent tone! - TAD Blackplate™ 6L6WGC-STR – Sweet-Sounding Tubes for Single-Ended Amps
Delicate highs and defined mids make this compact tube (just 80 mm tall) a true favourite for warm, clean sounds. With higher gain settings, it delivers a singing midrange with plenty of character. - TAD Blackplate™ EL84S-STR – Classic Marshall Power Stage Sound
Detailed, complex tone reproduction at lower operating temperatures for optimal lifespan: the EL84S is the perfect choice for fans of that classic Vox sound too. - TAD Blackplate™ 6550A-STR – Outstanding Performance Not Just for Ampeg Amps!
Balanced, natural reproduction across the entire frequency range makes this tube ideal for powerful, lively amplification. Its specs even surpass those of classic 6550A models. - TAD Blackplate™ KT88-STR – High-End Tone for Bass Too
Exceptionally detailed and dynamic with massive headroom. Inspired by the early British KT88s, the KT88-STR stands out for its warm, full-bodied sound and silky highs that never get in the way of the mix. We highly recommend the KT88-STR premium tubes for bass amps too — their power reserves are impressive!
Premium Selected – Top Quality, Guaranteed!
Every single Blackplate™ tube is offered as "Premium Selected" and "Premium Matched," either individually or as tube sets.
Our rigorous testing process includes checking idle current and transconductance, running noise and microphonic tests, and eliminating short circuits and leakage currents. Each tube also passes shock and tapping tests to ensure it works exactly as it should.
Tube Amp Doctor – We Love Tone
Since 1993, we’ve been part of the music industry, offering our customers a huge range of top-quality equipment with over 2,500,000 parts in stock. That includes not just TAD tubes but premium tubes from other trusted brands, plus spare parts for your amp and more! Our passion for music and genuine warm tube tone makes us the perfect partner for all your tube-related questions. Developing our TAD Blackplate™ series has been a dream come true — and we’re proud to be your Tube Amp Doctor!