What's the general opinion on hammond iron for guitar amps?

[riscado]

I'd like to know what the general opinion is (from the trainwreck/dumble crowd) regarding hammond "Classic" line transformers for guitar amps (including wrecks and dumbles obviously)?

I'm mainly asking about their 16XX OT series...

thanks

[Tubetwang]

I've used the 272JX PT on few occasions...

Worked fine.

I'm a sucker for unwanted old hi-fi amps...Eico, Heat, Dynaco etc. that i picked for a song locally.

Got a Heathkit AA-151 PT (4xEL84) waiting on the sideline for a future Liverpool. The OT are being put to good use in a TMB 18w and a Tweed Deluxe.

I'll use whatever i find really...Bogen, Garnet, Traynor.

I'm not proud and i'm a recycler at heart.

[riscado]

Well the PT's I think are very nice (the 300 series works for me perfectly, since I'm in europe, however their ratings always seem to be a little above what they're advertised, for example 300VAC's usually measure 320 instead...

But I'm actually asking about their classic hifi 16xx series OT's.

Any opinions would be great.

[Tubetwang]

If good enough for Kevin O'Connors, it's good enough for me...

But again, i'm not worthy.

[mdroberts1243]

But I'm actually asking about their classic hifi 16xx series OT's.

Any opinions would be great.

I would also be interested in any opinions.

They also brought out a new line of 'replacement' transformers this summer... I'm trying the Twin Power Transformer (290FX) in a Dumble build, but I'd like to know if anybody has tried their 1750 series of replacement OTs yet... http://www.hammondmfg.com/guitarLine.htm

[riscado]

their guitar replacement seems interesting and good business for them, however, I believe their regular hifi classic series make up for GREAT transformers... I'm curious to hear more opinions though.

[mooreamps]

I use Hammonds exclusively.
-g

[dragonbat13]

I dont know much about the new stuff but I do know that I bought an organ amp that was in mint shape. I talked to a guy who is into organs and he said they are a dime a dozen and I wouldn't be butchering a nice piece. I got some really cool caps and some tubes and iron and such. Look around at garage sales and flea markets. You usually end up paying around 20 dollars for everything except tubes. With tubes it depends but they better be good ones if I am going to pay over 50 dollars. The cool thing is that you can use some off the wall power tubes to build off of and know that the trannys match them. I am working on a 5e3 that will use two 7591 power tubes.

[LeftyStrat]

I think it also has to do with what you are shooting for. Some of the old Fender tweed amps had really under specd OT's, and a player looking for that OT saturation might find a Hammond too hifi.

With the Hammond Classic PT's, you do have to account for the fact they are designed for 115 VAC wall voltage. 125 VAC seems to be the average around the US these days, so you have to expect a higher secondary than what is specified.

Lastly, diving headfirst into the subjective realm, it seems certain power tubes to my ears work better with hifi iron in general. A quad of el84's into hifi iron (especially Dynaco A470's) sounds fantastic. On the other hand, 6v6 or 6L6 into hifi iron just doesn't do it for me, especially when pushed. It seems to bring out artifacts that were masked by older guitar OT's.

But a big caveat with this observation; it could be the type of amp and not the tubes themselves. Highend in a AC30 is desirable. But a couple of 6V6's pushed into distortion ala Deluxe Reverb sound kind of ratty with hifi iron.

I think if you are cloning an amp, the Hammond OT's in some cases are probably not the best choice. It you are designing an amp, then you can tweak to the OT you're using.

I can say (again, IMHO) that I don't like the Hammond Single Ended series for guitar amps, but I can't give any objective reasons why.

[Ears]

I can say (again, IMHO) that I don't like the Hammond Single Ended series for guitar amps, but I can't give any objective reasons why.

Are you referring to 125-E or 125-SE series? How about giving some subjective reasons <smile>javascript:emoticon(':)')
Smile

[sebastian]

For some kind of schematics or for a self made amp (not a clone,but a really self made and self engineered amp..) Hammond are good,very linear but not harsh.
The problem is that some models lacks musicality and the 3D sound of vintage OT's;the reason is that,often in the low wattage models,the iron is NOT driven a lot (for example the models similar to marshall OT's,as the 3400 ohm and 1900 ohm RA-A ,has similar specs of inductance and resistance in CC,but more interleaved windings that make the amp top sound more detailed and more bright.The iron in the 50 watt types is grain oriented,that make the amp sounds like more a 100 watt than a typical "1987 plexy" ).

Some types of Marshall output transformers otherwise,were made using formulas and skills from hifi teqnique,for example not all the people know that the 784-139 OT in marshall plexy's and JCM800 from mid '70 to '90,is a HIFI INTERLEAVED OT,with 5 section windings,but on a paper former !!
The more modern 784-348 of JMC900 and JCM2000 is interleaved in the same way,with the same M50 not grain oriented iron (that is standard from 50 watters model OT's,I think that maybe this newer OT has a intermediate laminate between M6 and M50 because sound more neutral and a bit "cold") but winded on a plastic former and insulated with mylar or nomex (as C2668 of JCM800 ) instead of paper former and paper isolations.....

[LeftyStrat]

I can say (again, IMHO) that I don't like the Hammond Single Ended series for guitar amps, but I can't give any objective reasons why.

Are you referring to 125-E or 125-SE series? How about giving some subjective reasons <smile>javascript:emoticon(':)')
Smile

I was talking about the 125-SE series. I think maybe because the transformers are too good. Perhaps my old ears have learned to like the coloration of undersized crappy iron like that used in typical "student model" guitar amps. But you really shouldn't take too much stock in my opinion, I've spent much more time tweaking LTP/PP amps than SE amps. The hifi stuff just sounds buzzy to me, however, I never got around to trying things like conjunctive filters.

At some point I want to play around with SE designs and maybe do a shootout between say Hammond, Heybour, and undersized bargain bin SE iron.

[FUCHSAUDIO]

They are wonderful. You can overrate them as well, since the ratings are for wide-bandwidth audio hi-fi use, not guitar. Most guitar amps can be rolled off below 50 hz or even higher. This means a 30 watt Hammond can be easily run at 50 watts as a guitar output. They work well, sound great, are reliable, and worth every penny.

[sliberty]

+1

They are wonderful. You can overrate them as well, since the ratings are for wide-bandwidth audio hi-fi use, not guitar. Most guitar amps can be rolled off below 50 hz or even higher. This means a 30 watt Hammond can be easily run at 50 watts as a guitar output. They work well, sound great, are reliable, and worth every penny.

[dragonbat13]

I am sorry about my recommendation about hammond garage sale deals.

I seem to hear ALOT about the OTs as far as tone is concerend and don't have an opinion about using those transformerrs in a build. I just meant that you can get some parts and a power tranny and then supply your own OT that fits the need.