100W iron

[Fischerman]

What would you consider the 'best' iron for a 100W ODS (non-HRM if it matters)? This would be striving for the best lead tone so I'm assuming high-plates.

The reason I ask is because I found a tranny supplier that has several different 'types' of OTs. The 100W PT is a stout one that has both 5vac taps (typical tube rectifier filament supply) plus it also has a 15vac/1A tap...plus a 100vac bias tap. It's a 350-0-350 HT (don't know the current...supposedly stout though) so the B+ will be pretty high-ish. The OT that I was thinking might be good for an ODS is what they call their Hi Def OT...the guys building SLO clones (I'm building a SLO clone right now) are using these trannies and they get good reviews...but they are expensive (after shipping it's like $450 for a whole set with choke). But they also have a 'Fender-type' 100W OT that's significantly cheaper than their Hi Def OT.

Is a ~480v-500v B+ good for a 100W non-HRM? You think this Hi Def OT would be a good fit? They recommend 6L6 with these OTs.

[phsyconoodler]

Higher B+ does not automatically mean better overdrive.It does extend the clean range quite a bit.You will have to back off the current quite a bit on the 6L6's but it should be a great sounding amp.
Unloaded will be about 490v and loaded will be a bit less depending how stout the PT is.
I build My own V-Verb amps with 6L6's and about 485v on the plates and it sounds killer good.
Should be fine.Just don't let the PI voltage get too high.
Who is the supplier if you don't mind sharing?

[moj067]

That would probably be O-Netics since DeYoung won't sell they real deal to anyone else. I think there are members of this forum who have been down this road with these transformers.

[Fischerman]

Thanks. mojo is right...it's O-netics. They don't have a website though. They're closer to you than me though psychonoodler (edit: I just now realized your handle is spelted differently ) ...I think they're in Seattle.

[dogears]

Music Man trannies. 680V or so on plates. Screens off of the doubler at 1/2.

Grail tone baby.....

[blinddog]

I'm curious how do the Dynaco clone OT's sound? Brandon was suggesting them a while ago, I thought. Is there any Dynaco clone type that is better? I've seen Mercury carry them but I swear Triode has them much cheaper. I would prefer cheaper. If I remember right Mercury was like $300 for just the OT.

[glasman]

I'm curious how do the Dynaco clone OT's sound? Brandon was suggesting them a while ago, I thought. Is there any Dynaco clone type that is better? I've seen Mercury carry them but I swear Triode has them much cheaper. I would prefer cheaper. If I remember right Mercury was like $300 for just the OT.

Triode sells them (just got off the phone). But they do not carry a clone of the 441 or 451 which would be more applicable for a 100+ watt amp.

Heyboer will wind them for you (they have the interleave specs), but in a onesy application they are going to be PRICEY.

Gary

[UltraHookedOnPhonix]

How long does your power tubes last with such a voltage monster Scott?

[blinddog]

Thanks Gary, maybe I can talk my wife into stopping by Heyboer on our next vacation, Holland Mi is nice and about 25 miles south of Heyboer.

Is it worth getting Dynaco OT's though? I guess I am wondering if it makes a noticable difference, as HAD seemed to use fender and Musicman Iron, and other guys here use Marshall type OT in their HRM's at least.

Scott alluded to Music Man Iron and the the grail tone. Brandon had mentioned Dynaco to me in the past, but I think he also uses fender type iron.

Without giving away any trade secrets (cause guys like Brandon, Gary, Gil and Scott have always be so nice and informative to me, and others here as well) , is it worth pursuing some of the more expensive iron like Dynaco or would only Scott and the other dogs hear it? (no offense intended Scott, I'm not sure I have your type of frequency tuned ear, but I wake my dog up in the middle of the night because I heard something outside, and sure enough when I get to the window there is something minor going on outside).

Yes checked even Mercury has Musicman Iron much cheaper than their Dynaco clone, which I am now curious if it is a 441 or 451 as Gary suggested or more like what Triode carries.

[Fischerman]

How long does your power tubes last with such a voltage monster Scott?

Just a guess but with the screens at ~340v and the plates at 680v it's probably not nearly as bad as it might look at first.

[dogears]

I have not had a failure yet (fingers crossed)

Fwiw, many of the late 80s grail era Dumbles had the MM iron. As does both of Carltons. You can run either 6L6 (Sovtek 5581 or New Sensor Tung Sol STR) or EL34 tubes. The tan Dumble at Ultrasound had the MM iron too.

Brandon has built a bunch of these high voltage amps. Superb tones with a special wooliness in the low mids.

[talbany]

Some of the best sounding Non HRM's Ive built were with Marshall style 100w power from CE or magic parts with roughly 470-480 on the plates. For an output X Former Mercury Magnetics High powered tweed twin..(Mucho Iron) and load it with TAD 6L's been pretty good to me


Tony VVT

[Funkalicousgroove]

I have a few of bud's trannies -

First off, the B+ is way too High on that PT, and it's the size of my head- Not a good choice.

The retro F is the preferred choice for an ODS build, although IMHO plain jane Twin Iron sounds best to my ears in a skyline with standard overdrive-

[Fischerman]

Brandon has built a bunch of these high voltage amps. Superb tones with a special wooliness in the low mids.

First off, the B+ is way too High on that PT, and it's the size of my head- Not a good choice.

Funk could you elaborate a bit so I can understand this apparent conflict? dogears is saying Music Man trannies with redic high B+ (but reduced screens) achieve grail tone but you're saying Bud's PT yields a B+ that's too high at (I'm guessing) ~485-ish. Or maybe my numbers are wrong and Bud's PT will yield higher B+ than ~485-ish (Bud said 350-0-350 @ 400mA). Or maybe you two are talking about two different versions (i.e. BM vs. high-plate/Skyliner vs. HRM)?

I haven't even received my SLOclone tranny set yet but...as big as a man's head? Holy Terrell Owens batman! I guess I'm glad SLO's mount the trannies at opposite ends of the chassis (so he says now...before he's even built it ).

['67_Plexi]

Brandon has built a bunch of these high voltage amps. Superb tones with a special wooliness in the low mids.

First off, the B+ is way too High on that PT, and it's the size of my head- Not a good choice.

Funk could you elaborate a bit so I can understand this apparent conflict? dogears is saying Music Man trannies with redic high B+ (but reduced screens) achieve grail tone but you're saying Bud's PT yields a B+ that's too high at (I'm guessing) ~485-ish. Or maybe my numbers are wrong and Bud's PT will yield higher B+ than ~485-ish (Bud said 350-0-350 @ 400mA). Or maybe you two are talking about two different versions (i.e. BM vs. high-plate/Skyliner vs. HRM)?

I haven't even received my SLOclone tranny set yet but...as big as a man's head? Holy Terrell Owens batman! I guess I'm glad SLO's mount the trannies at opposite ends of the chassis (so he says now...before he's even built it ).

THe SLO Hi-Def trannies are awesome if you are building an amp that will be run REALLY hard. In a Dumble style of design, if you are playing with your masters on less than about 6, they are tonally a bad choice. Don't ask me how I know.....I just do. THat said if you are building an amp to run real loud all day and all night, nothing beats these in my opinion. THey run cooler than any other transformer set I've used. Fantastic build quality, just heed the warning about low volume use. These are serious 'on-the-road, beat the crap out of, work every night without failure, not for the faint hearted' transformers that weigh about as much as a mid size SUV. With an aluminium chassis hanging upside down, they may have a tendency to make it look more like a relief map of the Alps.