Cliff,
You asked for it, here's another one.
http://cgi.ebay.com/160502541788
Hey guys, lets not bid this one to the sky.
I may hold the record for the price paid for one of these,
but I'm not going to join the fray on this one.
rd
Ebay A3801 thread
Moderators: pompeiisneaks, Colossal
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Cliff Schecht
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Re: Ebay A3801 thread
That's what the two I have look like. Definitely don't need a third.. Hopefully someone here can pick it up for cheap and put it to good use!
Cliff Schecht - Circuit P.I.
Re: Ebay A3801 thread
I'd like to get one, but generally when I start watching something on e{vil}bay, it goes out the roof.
I guess I'll stick to getting Edcor to make me some 15W 8Kp-p UL transformers with (1) 40% taps and (2) 25% taps.
5 week wait started today.
I guess I'll stick to getting Edcor to make me some 15W 8Kp-p UL transformers with (1) 40% taps and (2) 25% taps.
5 week wait started today.
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paisley_tele
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Re: Ebay A3801 thread
What are the will this ot do 4. 8 and 16 ohms
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Cliff Schecht
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Re: Ebay A3801 thread
This style of 3801 is like all of the other old Stancor stuff I have. This means that along with the standard 4, 8, 16 Ohm taps you also have 250 and 500 Ohm taps as well. I haven't found a use for them yet (are they for PA stuff?) but I never clip the leads short on these old transformers unless I know they have a final resting place (i.e. 3801 going into an Express).paisley_tele wrote:What are the will this ot do 4. 8 and 16 ohms
Cliff Schecht - Circuit P.I.
Re: Ebay A3801 thread
What????paisley_tele wrote:What are the will this ot do 4. 8 and 16 ohms
Re: Ebay A3801 thread
Cliff Schecht wrote:The 250 and 500 ohms taps are for 25V and 70V distribution systems, such as paging and background music installations.paisley_tele wrote:This style of 3801 is like all of the other old Stancor stuff I have. This means that along with the standard 4, 8, 16 Ohm taps you also have 250 and 500 Ohm taps as well. I haven't found a use for them yet (are they for PA stuff?)
It's mostly 70V systems these days for permanent installed sound.
Each speaker has it's own stepdown transformer that sets the local power level.
These taps have no use in a guitar amp but remember, these transformers were originally designed to be general purpose.
Most of the PA amps of the 50s-60s have terminal strips for output connectors with all the taps available.
Re: Ebay A3801 thread
It's obvious you're not bidding (to win) on this item. So...why announce it's availability and raise the price for those that actually PUT IN THE EFFORT to search for this particular part?rdjones wrote:http://cgi.ebay.com/230551361090
"Reserve not met"
Another older riveted metal tag version.
I guess I come from an older school of online auctioning that obliges discretion. No wonder this stuff costs a fortune.
Got a line on some mustard caps too??
Re: Ebay A3801 thread
I'm with you, dynadude. This is quite silly, as anyone who is doing their due dilligence in 'the search', already know about these and other pieces when they come up...especially on ebay. I kinda get the feeling that some guys who have already paid crazy amounts for these want to keep the prices escalated. Makes them feel better I guess.dynaman wrote:It's obvious you're not bidding (to win) on this item. So...why announce it's availability and raise the price for those that actually PUT IN THE EFFORT to search for this particular part?rdjones wrote:http://cgi.ebay.com/230551361090
"Reserve not met"
Another older riveted metal tag version.
I guess I come from an older school of online auctioning that obliges discretion. No wonder this stuff costs a fortune.
Got a line on some mustard caps too??
illegitimate son of a rock and roll star
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Cliff Schecht
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Re: Ebay A3801 thread
That's a pretty cheesy claim to make IMO. Most of the high quality vintage Stancor iron sells for well over what the retail value would be because people are willing to pay up. Look at just about ANY encapsulated transformer, pairs usually don't sell for under $300-$400 because hi-fi guys know that these are the best. TANSTAAFL 
.
The 3801 is by no means a rare bird, Stancor made the same specification transformer for over 30 years and they were used all over the place. Ideally all of the 3801 iron would be identical but I'd bet that there is a difference in construction between the metal-tag version that's up on fleabay right now and the grey-belled, PVC insulated wire version that KF used. Heck the two I have are different from both of those types (yellow label with cloth covered wire). If the prices do get driven up too bad, I would have no problem using another companies iron. I'm at point in building where cloning others amps blindly part-for-part provides me with zero satisfaction. If I can take somebody elses idea, put my own twist on it and still have what I was originally after, well that's something to be proud of IMO.
FWIW both of my 3801's were free. I have no interest in driving the cost up and hope that people aren't paying over $150-$200 for these transformers. I'll bet a company like Mag Comp could take one of these units, non-destructively analyze the design and build a nice reproduction. I've had them make me custom magnetics before (well, Marvel their parent company built it) and the absolute best part was that they provided FREE SAMPLES of both the PT and OT that they custom manufactured.
.The 3801 is by no means a rare bird, Stancor made the same specification transformer for over 30 years and they were used all over the place. Ideally all of the 3801 iron would be identical but I'd bet that there is a difference in construction between the metal-tag version that's up on fleabay right now and the grey-belled, PVC insulated wire version that KF used. Heck the two I have are different from both of those types (yellow label with cloth covered wire). If the prices do get driven up too bad, I would have no problem using another companies iron. I'm at point in building where cloning others amps blindly part-for-part provides me with zero satisfaction. If I can take somebody elses idea, put my own twist on it and still have what I was originally after, well that's something to be proud of IMO.
FWIW both of my 3801's were free. I have no interest in driving the cost up and hope that people aren't paying over $150-$200 for these transformers. I'll bet a company like Mag Comp could take one of these units, non-destructively analyze the design and build a nice reproduction. I've had them make me custom magnetics before (well, Marvel their parent company built it) and the absolute best part was that they provided FREE SAMPLES of both the PT and OT that they custom manufactured.
Cliff Schecht - Circuit P.I.
Re: Ebay A3801 thread
Man, they get good money for those.
So is it the Hi Fi crowd that uses them mainly?
What do you mean by encapsulated, is it filled with epoxy or does that mean it has end bells?
So is it the Hi Fi crowd that uses them mainly?
What do you mean by encapsulated, is it filled with epoxy or does that mean it has end bells?
Tom
Don't let that smoke out!
Don't let that smoke out!
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Cliff Schecht
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Re: Ebay A3801 thread
I'm talking about the transformers in big metal housings that are filled with epoxy, paraffin wax or that bakelite looking glue. I've got quite a few useless encapsulated transformers myself, mostly interstage and mic-grid units. They mostly mount either by socket or by soldering right to the pins. They're also always really really expensive.
I noticed that one of the 3801's I posted sold for only $100. Pretty fair price IMO..
I noticed that one of the 3801's I posted sold for only $100. Pretty fair price IMO..
Cliff Schecht - Circuit P.I.
Re: Ebay A3801 thread
I always figure the ebay seller has friends that bid to raise the price and it's gotten to be a bad place to buy stuff.
Re: Ebay A3801 thread
Supposedly, Brian Wallace already had Heyboer clone the 3801. I don't know if he still sells them, but one page on his site offers Express OTs for $75. PT costs $120.
Personally, I couldn't care less what folks use in their builds. I was never interested in making perfect clones, I've zero interest in tracking down the perfect 3801 and I almost never even bother to bid on them. Anyboby who's seen my stuff knows that I don't give a hoot about making historically accurate amps.
I'm just irked by the fact that folks who have no intention of bidding can't control the urge to announce to everyone when a nice piece is offered. The ONLY possible result is that prices will be driven up. Hence, I find the following statements found in this thread to be completely absurd:
1) -----"http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0658704703
On it's way to Nashville ...This auction went for WAY higher than I thought it would given that the auction description did not contain the words "Trainwreck" (or "vintage", "rare", etc.)
rd"
No s***, Sherlock.
2) ----"For the sake of the keeping prices reasonable going forward, I agree that it's not a good idea to bid things up so far. Ebay had really pushed the whole "vintage" thing way beyond realistic levels, and not just
musical instruments.
rd"
3) ----"Cliff, You asked for it, here's another one.
http://cgi.ebay.com/160502541788
Hey guys, lets not bid this one to the sky. I may hold the record for the price paid for one of these, but I'm not going to join the fray on this one.
rd"
That's the most bizarre statement I've ever read. Kind of like dangling a steak over the fence and asking the neighbor's dog to not jump high enough to get it. Worse yet, you've no intention of eating the steak yourself.
Surely, if these posters didn't already have their OTs, they sure as heck wouldn't be publicly advertising auctions.
Cliff wrote: "FWIW both of my 3801's were free. I have no interest in driving the cost up and hope that people aren't paying over $150-$200 for these transformers."
"...pairs usually don't sell for under $300-$400 because hi-fi guys know that these are the best."
Um, "hoping" will do nothing for bidders. Exactly how does drawing attention to an auction keep prices reasonable??
Yes, hifi guys do pay large sums for pairs. And now they can simply skim this thread and bid directly against TAG members. How convenient.
Cliff, for the record, I think you're a great contributor here with a lot of knowledge. I've always enjoyed reading your posts and am VERY thankful that you share freely. I'm not into flaming stuff up. I'm just respectfully disagreeing and I harbor no ill feelings at all. Just trying to show how others may view this thread.
On a lighter note, will ya take $35 for one of those 3801s?
Personally, I couldn't care less what folks use in their builds. I was never interested in making perfect clones, I've zero interest in tracking down the perfect 3801 and I almost never even bother to bid on them. Anyboby who's seen my stuff knows that I don't give a hoot about making historically accurate amps.
I'm just irked by the fact that folks who have no intention of bidding can't control the urge to announce to everyone when a nice piece is offered. The ONLY possible result is that prices will be driven up. Hence, I find the following statements found in this thread to be completely absurd:
1) -----"http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0658704703
On it's way to Nashville ...This auction went for WAY higher than I thought it would given that the auction description did not contain the words "Trainwreck" (or "vintage", "rare", etc.)
rd"
No s***, Sherlock.
2) ----"For the sake of the keeping prices reasonable going forward, I agree that it's not a good idea to bid things up so far. Ebay had really pushed the whole "vintage" thing way beyond realistic levels, and not just
musical instruments.
rd"
3) ----"Cliff, You asked for it, here's another one.
http://cgi.ebay.com/160502541788
Hey guys, lets not bid this one to the sky. I may hold the record for the price paid for one of these, but I'm not going to join the fray on this one.
rd"
That's the most bizarre statement I've ever read. Kind of like dangling a steak over the fence and asking the neighbor's dog to not jump high enough to get it. Worse yet, you've no intention of eating the steak yourself.
Surely, if these posters didn't already have their OTs, they sure as heck wouldn't be publicly advertising auctions.
Cliff wrote: "FWIW both of my 3801's were free. I have no interest in driving the cost up and hope that people aren't paying over $150-$200 for these transformers."
"...pairs usually don't sell for under $300-$400 because hi-fi guys know that these are the best."
Um, "hoping" will do nothing for bidders. Exactly how does drawing attention to an auction keep prices reasonable??
Yes, hifi guys do pay large sums for pairs. And now they can simply skim this thread and bid directly against TAG members. How convenient.
Cliff, for the record, I think you're a great contributor here with a lot of knowledge. I've always enjoyed reading your posts and am VERY thankful that you share freely. I'm not into flaming stuff up. I'm just respectfully disagreeing and I harbor no ill feelings at all. Just trying to show how others may view this thread.
On a lighter note, will ya take $35 for one of those 3801s?