Ebay A3801 thread

[Cliff Schecht]

I guess that's the argument that can be made. Are we driving up the prices or helping others find the iron that they want for their build? Vintage iron in general tends to sell for either way too little or way too much, it's very hard to even find a middle ground.

Ebay is like Google and is public domain, it's not some little secret that I just let out of the bag. Heck, these forums are public domain after you sign up. I'd rather one of our guys gets the iron than somebody who isn't going to put it in an Express. I hate to be the believer in mojo but something about the construction of these transformers (including the extra secondary windings) is unique and I think plays a big part in how the Express sounds. My really does sound a lot like Glen's clips, perhaps in part due to this.. (looking at this clip because I play single coil Tele's and Strat's mostly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL75YzhA ... re=related ).


I highly doubt that posting a piece of iron in this thread is going to double the price because a few more people may know about it. The guys that are actively searching out this iron probably already expect to pay a pretty penny for it. If you are patient, you will find the deal you are looking for. If you need that special piece of iron NOW, be prepared to pay accordingly.

[Cliff Schecht]

I've used the A-3310 in my first few SE designs and through each noticed that these transformers always sounded phenomenal. For $10, this would be a steal!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Output-Transformer- ... 9077447718

[TheGimp]

Too bad he doesn't use USPS flat rate shipping. It would fit in a medium size box and save another $5.

[paulster]

This place is supposed to be about sharing information, with a particular focus on Trainwreck and Dumble builds.

These days we've got people refusing to share Dumble information because they're afraid that someone's going to use it in a commercial amp and harm their own little business merrily cloning HAD's work, and now we've got people worried that transformer prices are going to go up because people are helpfully pointing other builders that may wish to use an original rather than one of the new offerings at them.

It's about time people got over their own selfish interests and remembered that this forum is actually about which is putting information out there that people can benefit from.

[Colossal]

These days we've got people refusing to share Dumble information because they're afraid that someone's going to use it in a commercial amp and harm their own little business merrily cloning HAD's work, and now we've got people worried that transformer prices are going to go up because people are helpfully pointing other builders that may wish to use an original rather than one of the new offerings at them.

It's about time people got over their own selfish interests and remembered that this forum is actually about which is putting information out there that people can benefit from.

+1 Very well put Paul. Mark Fowler opined once that if everyone on this board were a commercial builder, collectively we'd probably not likely keep up with the world's thirst for amps. But the lure of celebrity as a revered builder is enough to drive some to keep secrets. At the end of the day there are a helluva lot more Marshalls out there in the world than Dumbles. No offense meant to the Dumble camp.

[Cliff Schecht]

If you guys feel that we will negatively benefit from this then perhaps we should delete this thread or just not post new xfrms in it anymore. My intention wasn't to drive up prices, that wouldn't benefit anybody, it was just to try to benefit others wanting to find a 3801 but don't have the time to seek them out endlessly. I had no selfish intentions as this doesn't help or hurt me any. I really lucked out with my unmolested units, they are what brought me to this forum too, and I just wanted others to share in the joy .

[Cliff Schecht]

Or perhaps a better alternative to this thread would to be looking into having a reproduction of the grey-bell version that KF used in the Express. Or if we just want any 3801 reproduced, I would have no issues with sending my spare to Mag Comp, Heyboer or another trustworthy company to be copied but really mine is the wrong vintage for somebody wanting a proper Express clone.

TBH, I have seen very few of the grey-belled versions around. Anybody have one of these newer ones like what KF used?

[Colossal]

I would have figured that someone had already reversed one of these transformers given their popularity and that they would be available from the majors (Mercury, Heyboer, Edcor, etc).

[paulster]

Brian Wallace's transformer is from an A3801 teardown.

And when Brian specs a transformer based on a teardown you know it's going to be good because of his attention to detail.

His RS OT, for instance, is the benchmark JTM45 OT.

[Cliff Schecht]

Who is Brian Wallace? Heyboer?

[paulster]

Marstran.

His A3801 clone Express OT is actually made by Heyboer, but it won't be the same as the (formerly-)Toneslut one that Heyboer also make.

[rhinson]

all of the heyboer and pacific trannies are stancor clones. i don't think they needed to tear one down. they probably had the winding data on file long before the big vintage guitar amp craze---same with the dynaco stuff. rh

[M Fowler]

rhinson good to see around the garage.

Thanks for the transformer information.

[dynaman]

"Ebay is like Google and is public domain, it's not some little secret that I just let out of the bag."

Exactly. The folks that possess the slightest bit of ambition to find something will take 15 minutes to do an Ebay search. It's actually quite simple.

"If you are patient, you will find the deal you are looking for."

How so? By finding a poorly listed auction or classified ad and hope that it escapes everyone's attention and doesn't get publicly announced? Of course, there are other ways of obtaining this tranny relatively inexpensively if one doesn't mind the extra, ahem, "baggage" or lack of Stancor sticker.


"...now we've got people worried that transformer prices are going to go up...It's about time people got over their own selfish interests and remembered that this forum is actually about which is putting information out there that people can benefit from."

Paulster.....really? Did you just try to take the morally higher ground? Sir, I have never hesitated to share the small bit of technical info I possess unless I thought I'd be interfering with someone's private business transactions. Furthermore, I've never been one to hide gut shots or evade inquiries because of paranoia.

Your statement sounds very noble, but you don't understand. I DO benefit by rising prices. The only "selfish interests" I could possibly have are that prices don't drop. I don't use these trannys for personal builds, save for two amps I sold a few years ago. I'm a low-brow scavenger that just likes to solder. To me, they're just hunks of iron. I'd just as soon sell them outright before I'd use them.

Cliff mentioned deleting this thread, and my answer (should) be an emphatic "NO!!!" I'd much rather sell any future acquisitions with the benefit of TAG's exposure! But I can also see what's happening to the folks that actually invest a negligible amount of personal time by searching for these items. Hidden under the guise of "sharing information", their efforts are being underminded by individuals that defend folks who are too lazy to type "Stancor" into a search engine. Sorry Paulster, your self-righteousness is completely lost on me.

Ironically, the seller of the 3801 currently listed in this forum's classifieds has only offered his wares to be sold in an AUCTION FORMAT.....and that's not coincidental. He's willing to fork over a hefty Ebay fee in full anticipation of TAG members duking it out on the auction block. There are five days remaining and it's up to $100.

Mind you, I'm snickering as I type this. In reality, this is petty, trivial stuff. No need to delete this thread, as I'm done whining and playing devil's advocate. Just trying to show the bidder's point of view.

Meh, or mebbe I'm just completely wrong. Regardless, I'm secretly rooting for higher prices.