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Topic: transformer quality |
Gibson Hartwell
From:
Missoula, Montana, USA
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Posted 2 May 2008 9:00 am |
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I have a couple of different amp projects I'm working on right involving new output transformers.
Both Hammond and Mercury Magnetics seem to have good reputations. Has anyone had experience using either of these brands, or both of them. Mercury seems to market their transformers specifically for guitar amps. How do these two companies products compare to one another? |
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Brad Sarno
From:
St. Louis, MO USA
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Posted 2 May 2008 10:39 am
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Gibson,
I can only tell you what I've heard from some amp guru's and designers. I've heard that the Mercury stuff is merely ok, not bad at all, but also not as special as the hype and marketing and pricing would imply. Hammond has proven to be tried and true rugged stuff for a long time. Heyboer is also supposed to be quite good and very fairly priced. Mojo sells those under their name. Check with Triode Electronics too. They seem to have good stuff.
Brad |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 3 May 2008 5:10 am
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Actual hands on;
I put 3 Mercury's in my '61 Champ 5F1.
220v PT, OT.
And a choke, which wasn't in my model,
but in the earlier 5E1.
The little sucker screams now and I am quite happy.
Maybe it would have with other brands vs the old iron,
I don't know, but my expirence with Mercury was quite positive.
I just built and amp with a BIG Weber SE Tran
and it handles everything I throw at it including 2 6L6s in parallel.
And my experience with Weber was also good
My amp building aquantances all speak well of Heyboer.
And Mojo's branded versions.
I have done several orders from Mojo and they are easy to deal with.
I am waiting on a Mojo OT for a '57 Harmony H194
that I am rebuilding for a friend here.
They had that part, and a few others like
oil filled capaciters, so one stop shopping.
Hammond is the old standby. Not bad.
But maybe too well known to be cool still.
Hammond has been replacing Fender parts for decades.
There are a couple that will custom wind
to your specs for a one time fee,
and then keep the specs on file for future orders.
I just got 3 Ceriatone irons and a chassis from Malaysia for
a '59 Bassman clone I am building.
They are very close to me, I can drive there if I want,
and have many kits and parts. So I thought I should
check them out.
I expect in the long run to try a Mercury in the Bassman also.
_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.
Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many! |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 3 May 2008 6:53 am
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I've had better experiences with Mercury than Hammond. The "hype" boils down to Mercury making models specifically designated for particuar amps as replacements, making it easy to determine your needs. The specs of the replacements, as far as I have found and other techs I know who have tested them, are correct and as listed in Mercury's product info. One other thing I've noticed with Mercury's replacements is that the old end bells from blown originals fit the Mercurys, keeping a vintage look (I'd never try to fool someone into thinking a replacement was original, but it is nice appearance-wise). If I was going to build an amp from scratch I'd either go with Mercury or one of Ted Weber's.
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 3 May 2008 9:21 am
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Mercury will rewind you old one to original spec
or sell you one with fresh iron, the Tone Clone,
but close to orignal at the time of production stock.
They also have a line Axiom that they says is a logical
step forward in design from the originals.
The one comment I have heard is that their power transformers may be a bit hotter than spec.
So higher B+.
Some 'purists' want EXACT like it was,
but AC wall voltage was 105-115 then
and is now 115-125,
so it WILL be hotter when it goes to the tubes.
_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.
Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many! |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 3 May 2008 3:50 pm
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| Of course, if you do want the best sound, then you simply MUST have the all-silver solid wire types. Just so happens I have a friend who will custom-make whatever you little heart desires. Chokes, output, and power transformers, all guaranteed to be the best money can buy. Prices for them (right now) start at about $3,500 each, and I'm not making any commission on them. |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 3 May 2008 6:42 pm
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And if you don't like the sound,
melt it down and sell jewlery.
We can always go to gold sputtered,
30% platinum, silver wire.
_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.
Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many! |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 3 May 2008 6:52 pm
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I'll use this unintentional post anyways
and add
http://www.magnequest.com/
They custom wind transformers for
one of my amp building friends.
_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.
Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many! |
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Stephen Gambrell
From:
Over there
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Posted 3 May 2008 8:26 pm
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Ah, the transformer
wound on both sides for usage
core of iron or air |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 4 May 2008 7:48 am
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| My tech put an Allen(?) in my 20 watt Princeton Reverb. It was an over-built model that I think they discontinued. |
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