102 BUILD WITH 60S TWIN TRANSFORMERS?

[echoplex]

Hi
If your building a robben ford 102 and could do it with 60s fender twin iron would you? would the power transformer be as important tone wise
as the output or would you just use a 60s twin output and have a newer high end transformer thanks for any advice

[vibratoking]

I would use 60s twin iron if I had some laying around. I would not pay extra for it and I would not ruin a real 60s twin in order to do so. This topic has been covered many times on this forum. Many feel seasoned iron is better. That's debatable and you will have to use your ears to decide for yourself. Same goes for you question about power vs output.

[David Root]

I built a 102 with a '74 Twin OT and a new M-C Twin PT. Does it sound better than one with a new iron OT? I don't know, I've not done one with a new OT. Clean is good, OD I'm working on, not great to start.

Like they used to say in WWII, "Smoke 'em if you got 'em". On second thoughts that's not a very good way to look at amplifiers, but you know what I mean.

[AtomCap]

Last year I built up a 102 and used iron from a 68' Dual showman, few work arounds to deal with, short leads for 1, big pain in the butt for lead dress, had to change out a few resistors , other than that it sounded amazing, about 2 months ago I swapped out the OT for a magnetic components with a 4/8/16 taps and I must admit there is very little difference in sound, the classic tone iron is pretty spot on. Would I do it again? Sure- If you can live with a single tap output tranny go for it, if you have the iron laying around its a waste not to use it! Building up a semi part accurate 102 is a good thing. nos resistors, some caps, and real fender iron, good pots! The results will be more than pleasing if executed properly

good luck!

BE CAREFUL WITH THE OLD IRON, those funked up lacquered leads have a tendency to break quite easily..

[echoplex]

Hi guys thanks for the help just trying to gear up for this and really want to do this as accurate as possible

[hitchcaster]

so is 102 a 71' or 81 twin OT? if 71' were the endbells painted black?
and power is 68' or 78' twin?
thanks just curious!

[ToneMerc]

so is 102 a 71' or 81 twin OT? if 71' were the endbells painted black?
and power is 68' or 78' twin?
thanks just curious!

Power is from Red knob Twin I beileve.

TM

[hitchcaster]

so is 102 a 71' or 81 twin OT? if 71' were the endbells painted black?
and power is 68' or 78' twin?
thanks just curious!

Power is from Red knob Twin I beileve.

TM

oh, thanks! so I think that would make the PT an 1988 or 1998 transformer. I forget what years the evil red knobs were. interesting

[talbany]

so is 102 a 71' or 81 twin OT? if 71' were the endbells painted black?
and power is 68' or 78' twin?
thanks just curious!

Power is from Red knob Twin I beileve.

TM

oh, thanks! so I think that would make the PT an 1988 or 1998 transformer. I forget what years the evil red knobs were. interesting

If you look in the files section you will find the actual part # for 102's power transformer (layout)..It was used in the Red Knob twin and other amps..I believe you can even still get the replacement for it.Also in the same thread is an actual pic of 102 showing the OPT..There can be a noticeable difference in tone and or feel with a power transformer with both primary taps and FWB rectification along with some seasoning..Research

https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.php?t=12873

Hope this helps!!

Tony

[hitchcaster]

Power is from Red knob Twin I beileve.

TM

oh, thanks! so I think that would make the PT an 1988 or 1998 transformer. I forget what years the evil red knobs were. interesting

If you look in the files section you will find the actual part # for 102's power transformer (layout)..It was used in the Red Knob twin and other amps..I believe you can even still get the replacement for it.Also in the same thread is an actual pic of 102 showing the OPT..There can be a noticeable difference in tone and or feel with a power transformer with both primary taps and FWB rectification along with some seasoning..Research

https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.php?t=12873

Hope this helps!!

Tony

thanks, yes my question is based from already doing this research and having the part numbers. the red twins were made from 87' to 94'. so that would make the PT a 88' trannie..... but he got the amp in 82' so how does that one work? blown or switched when modded/upgraded? and yes I've seen the pic of the OT.... and the part #'s make it a 71' or 81'..... i can't tell just know the year ends in 1.... anybody know what's up? thanks!