Dumble & Mercury Magnetics

[Funkalicousgroove]

who cares what HAD used. If you find trannys that work for your pocket and your ear use them. Im using Hammond and webers for my build since theyre easy on the pocket and seem to get good tonal results.

What people seem to forget is that who built the tranny is pretty insignificant, it's more about the specs that affects the sound.


Edit: has anyone ever used Partridge AKA Hiwatt transformers in their D-clones? I've heard they're supposed to be some of the best trannys out there

They sound great in my 73 Harry Joyce wired DR-103, Pretty Cowboy voltages in there though- just a hair under 500 on the plates!

[JD0x0]

They sound great in my 73 Harry Joyce wired DR-103, Pretty Cowboy voltages in there though- just a hair under 500 on the plates!

'

well that wouldnt be too bad for my KT88 build, i heard their OT are where the tone is at though

[talbany]

500v on a quad of EL-34's in a Bluesmaster will KILL!! Plexi voltages..
I don't think now is a good time to ask which Output transformer you should use... LOL!!...Just trying to lighten it up a bit..



Tony

[jelle]

I did a HRM with RFT EL34s with plexi PT and Partridge OT. Killer amp.

So.....who makes an exact or even close sounding OT?

Freq response to 100kHz (!) among other things.

[erwin_ve]

Are we on some planet where folks aren't allowed to hear better things and must stick to Opinions from 2 or 3 years ago?

Sincerly: It's confusing. You're one of those few people who have been in there comparing etc.
Sometimes opinions change, sometimes it's hide and seek preventing all the knowledge go to the CT/TR connection. Am I right? For me it's hard to filter all that.

[Funkalicousgroove]

You are welcome to ask questions privately via PM or email, I have no real problem sharing with DIY Builders, Just not so into putting this info into public record where it can be accessed at a later date.

[scotto]

Only 2 data points, but changing my stock 50 watt Ceriatone OT to one of Funk's Heyboers made a huge difference! It really changed the amp in both tone and feel. Anyone with one of these amps would do well to make this change and it was way less $$ than MM.

[Steven_nl]

could I order one?
Steven

[bigton]

Ceriatone Overtone special 50w with Blackface Bassman MM OT and choke

Fender EJ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfncKu4NkQQ

Gibson LP Studio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS6grJmGFMM

[groovtubin]

It is very hard to determine if one transformer is better than another which is one reason I think MM can get away with their marketing hype and inflated pricing. My latest build has an MM Bassman tranny and 6L6 tubes and the amp sounds great. However I ran the send from that amp to another amp with an MC tranny (costing half as much) and EL-34 tubes and although their were differences, it too sounded just as good. I can say with much confidence that the transformers in THIS CASE were both capable of doing the job more than adequately and did not by themselves make or break the amp. Other factors like the tube type, couplers and PI made a larger difference than the tranny. I admit this isnt very scientific, but that is also why MM can keep us coming back because no one has really put the energy into proving or debunking the claims. So when in doubt you go with the ones that have branded themselves the best and MM has done a great job. We all THINK they are best, right? I would love to one day hook up 2-3 diffenet OTs and switch them instantly while listening.

Agree... Whit, love my N Sensor 100 watt OT, as well as the Mmag one, the N Sensor.. i THINK anyways, has more core saturation, which sounds COOL to my ears, the Mmag is pretty smooth..

my 2c, jim@Omegaamps

[aprilia1k]

clipped for brevity...

Whit, i can say w/confidence, that i DO like the MM plexi OT in my clone, BUT, i also had a MOP100 from N sensor, that actuially had JUST a good a sound, more organic, lile less bandwidth, but good. Im` sure Howard knows HOW to tweak to diff iron!

If you like MM's plexi OT, try a Marstran and I doubt you'll like it so much anymore.

You've compared these two? Man - you're hatin is too transparent..
You mentioned in a previous post that you frequently get flamed (paraphrased) on this forum, and after reading a few of your posts, I can really see why. You sound mostly like a builder that is pissed-off because the most popular (through HYPE or Deservedly - whatever already!) trannies are too expensive for you to put in your amps, so you have to hate and bash them. I really doubt that you have objectively listened to SO MANY amps with Mercury iron, and been able to determine that they sounded bad because of the tranny. You claiming you've done extensive comparisons? I doubt you've ever held a Mercury tranny... but regardless - you really just sound like a bitter, angry builder hatin' on some product cuz it's overpriced in your opinion (maybe I agree - it doesn't change the fact ya sound like a git bro). I'm a hobbyist who doesn't buy them for money reasons as well - but based on the number of quality builders that do use them, I know they can't be the sub-par products that you imply - and different mfg materials and techniques is OFTEN associated with IMPROVEMENT on existing materials and techniques, for durability and/or performance reasons... aahh.. whatever. Again - just not making a great impression with the over-the-top hate bro.

So you think they're overpriced. How much does YOUR labor cost? After building a dozen or so amps at home, the last few more than decent, I'm confident that building consistent, high quality transformers is the more precise and technically challenging to "get right" - which might explain why there are so few quality transformer makers, relative to the plethora of amp builders. Just saying, or trying to as others have already, if you don't want to use them for price or whatever, fine - but hating on them for being overpriced makes ya just seem pissed cuz they're too expensive for your budget, and saying they sound bad next to cheaper iron - makes YOU sound bad.

[aprilia1k]

Edited, cuz i just went too far in anger --- just too much hating gettin to me.

Some guys like some trannies - just like some guys like SOME amps.
Just sick of all the bashing -- specially when it's clearly SO objective!

Mercury is good enough for a lot of very well-respected builders, with well-respected (probably well-expensive too) amps. So - if it's not for you fine --- but enough of this "sounds like crap" crap. Hell - I can't afford 'em! Still - only an idiot would believe some of the rhetoric and crap being posted about how they sound WORSE than cheap or "reasonably priced" iron, etc... Slinging that slop just irks me it would seem. And, just because the materials might be different - perhaps these are improvements, for durability or whatever -- I've read enough reviews by respected, unbiased (relatively) techs and engineers to believe they don't suck... worth their price? - not for me at this time, but that doesn't mean they suck. Just cuz a guy uses and sells competing trannies is no reason to think he'd make exaggerated or ridiculous claims.. no, wait... nuf said

don't want to post it all over again after all...

[ChrisM]

[aprilia1k]

Chris - thanks

This is all too negative though - think I need to just remove all that.

I like the contributors here ALOT, really -- just makes me crazy, rants about overpriced trannies... then implying they are inferior as well.. it's all so subjective and relative, and bitter sounding... nuf said.

Cheers.

[aprilia1k]

rgds