Best Iron for an Express

[jcat5503]

Hello everyone. Im new to the site. I am really digging it a lot!!

Tons of great stuff.

Im really thinking about bulding me up an express clone. I know one of the first orders of business is getting the transformers together. I want to use the best available set that i can. I really want the best bass response i can get.

What's the ones to use?

Thanks!!!

[paulster]

Pacific or Heyboer vintage-spec.

Unless you want to spring for a NOS Stancor A-3801.

But I will say that you don't usually build an Express for its bass response. It's the cutting mids that get you through a mix that is generally the appeal, so make sure this is actually the amp you want before committing to it.

[Cliff Schecht]

All of the available Express transformers have more than adequate bass response. Heck the Stancor A3801 has "terrible" bass response when you look at the specifications but on guitar, your lowest harmonic is about 83 Hz which is well above the high-pass cutoff of any of these transformers.

[jcat5503]

Where's the best place to get the pacific transformer set?

[don]

got mine from Allynmey ...great trannies at a good price .....check the emporiums, I do believe he's out of stock right now though .....

[paulster]

Allynmey or RJ Guitars (both members here) for the Pacific iron.

[Jackie Treehorn]

It seems to me if you're going for a different type of bass, using a different transformer might not be a bad idea. If you're going for a more damped, tighter bass, you'd probably want a higher wattage transformer with better low frequency extension than the Stancor based transformers.

[jcat5503]

Had anyone used a set made by mercury? I know they make killer products.

[RJ Guitars]

I have Pacific iron but I can't match Allyn's price on them... if he has them in stock get them from him.

I'm selling transformers at cost these days but I'll need to renegotiate my costs at Pacific before I buy another batch. Heyboer on the other hand has treated us quite nicely.

rj

[jcat5503]

Which ones are the favored ones? Or is there a combination of heyboer/pacific?

How much for the set?

[RJ Guitars]

There isn't much need to mix the Heyboers and Pacifics unless maybe you need the Euro-voltages. I know that Pacific offers them in Euro-voltages, but I don't know if anyone is carrying any stock on them. Heyboer makes a multi-tap that has worked out well for the overseas builders.

According to the official "Trainwreck" web site, Heyboers were never used in any of the originals but some of the guys here really did a lot of homework years back in identifying the right stuff for Wreck builds. We have an excellent collection of trannies for the Wreck available from Heyboer and for years most of the clones were made with their tranny set.

For a more "pure" wreck, the Pacific trannies are probably the right ones - IMHO.

The output trannies from either company seem to be derivatives of the Stancor A-3801. The power transformers have nearly identical specifications.

rj

[paulster]

The simple answer is that if Glen's clips of Orphan Annie are your tonal reference then you really want Pacifics, since that's what is in his original!

The Heyboers are excellent too. And a NOS Stancor A-3801 would give you what Ken used in the earlier Expresses.

[UR12]

I guess opinions are like a'holes. Everybody's got one, but I like the versatility of the Heyboer power tranny and the Pacific OT combination. I realize we are talking about an Express but I like the fact that the Heyboers comes with the 5v tap and can be used in any of the different models where as the Pacific doesn't have the 5v winding and to be honest I think it runs a little warmer than the Heyboer.

Just my 2 cents. (Adjust that for the current economy and it's worthless)

[M Fowler]

Dana, the Pacific PT runs warmer?

I will see on my amps about running warmer.

I can't tell you myself which is better I have used both Heyboer and Pacific. Either one is appropriate for a TW. Unless you can find a 3801 then send that to me so I can test, thanks.

[UR12]

Dana, the Pacific PT runs warmer?

I will see on my amps about running warmer.

I can't tell you myself which is better I have used both Heyboer and Pacific. Either one is appropriate for a TW. Unless you can find a 3801 then send that to me so I can test, thanks.

For what it's worth, On my two channel amp I build I run 4 preamp tubes and 4 EL84s. I have built one with a Heyboer power tranny and one with the Pacific. The Pacific is noticably warm, Not hot mind you and not warm enough for me to worry about, but the Heyboer isn't. Has anyone else experienced this?