Triode transformer?

[Randall]

Anyone have experience or an opinion on the Triode Super TF 110 w/paper bobbin for a 5E3 OT? It's their design 'improvement' made by Magnetic Components out of Chicago.

I am finishing up two of Triode's 5E3 kits, both built identically for friends. Finished the first one, and although everything measures OK, it doesn't sound as good as two I build earlier with Mercury OT's in them. It's not as loud or have the same attitude as before. I'm pulling close to 14 watts diss. on both versions, JJs all around, with about 365v on the plates, +/- a couple of Vs.

I will finish the second twin soon, and see if the same thing occurs. If so, I wonder if it's the Triode OT? Looking at Mag Comp's clone OT at $32 vs. Mercury at $100, that's more than 3x as much. If I need to eat the two I have now, I really don't want to pay those prices if I don't need to.

[Phil_S]

Hmmm....there is more to winding a transformer than meets the eye, interleaving in particular which makes it more complicated. MM claims to have deconstructed originals to make what they offer. Also, do you know the type of iron in each? It all makes a difference. If you want the tone, you may need to pay.

You can always dump the two MC OT's on eBay. Someone will take them off your hands if you are willing to take a bit of a haircut on them.

[martin manning]

Good opportunity to get some data here. See if the second one sounds like the first. If it does, then maybe do an OT swap on one of them and compare. For $32 you could A/B the Triode with MC's Fender 50246 clone.

[Randall]

You can always dump the two MC OT's on eBay. Someone will take them off your hands if you are willing to take a bit of a haircut on them.

Even with the leads trimmed short?

[JazzGuitarGimp]

You can always dump the two MC OT's on eBay. Someone will take them off your hands if you are willing to take a bit of a haircut on them.

Even with the leads trimmed short?

If you don 't trim the leads, Mercury will take them back for a full refund minus shipping. I think the evaluation period is 30 days, IIRC.

[Smokebreak]

This one? http://triodeelectronics.com/tf65wscta48opaper.html
I built the exact same kit about a year ago. I never realized until now that it's recommended for BF and SF....not that it should matter. Also it's 6.6K. I think usually 5E3 is 8K, but apparently this shouldn't matter too much either, though some have claimed to hear a difference. Triode actually sells another one for "tweed deluxe" 8K : http://triodeelectronics.com/40-18090.html
FWIW I dig mine but I don't have any MM to compare

[Randall]

If you don 't trim the leads, Mercury will take them back for a full refund minus shipping. I think the evaluation period is 30 days, IIRC.

This is know. But we are talking about Mag Comps, with the leads cut. Anyway, I think the don't cut the lead thing is not practical. Are you really going to leave all those long leads flapping about in a build? Seems to me the extra problems that could cause would not be the way to go.

[Randall]

This one? http://triodeelectronics.com/tf65wscta48opaper.html

Yep, that's it.

[JazzGuitarGimp]

If you don 't trim the leads, Mercury will take them back for a full refund minus shipping. I think the evaluation period is 30 days, IIRC.

This is know. But we are talking about Mag Comps, with the leads cut. Anyway, I think the don't cut the lead thing is not practical. Are you really going to leave all those long leads flapping about in a build? Seems to me the extra problems that could cause would not be the way to go.

I wouldn't button it up like that. In fact, I might just be inclined to let the OT sit on the bench, next to amp chassis. It would only be for a short evaluation period.

[cbass]

If you don 't trim the leads, Mercury will take them back for a full refund minus shipping. I think the evaluation period is 30 days, IIRC.

This is know. But we are talking about Mag Comps, with the leads cut. Anyway, I think the don't cut the lead thing is not practical. Are you really going to leave all those long leads flapping about in a build? Seems to me the extra problems that could cause would not be the way to go.

I wouldn't button it up like that. In fact, I might just be inclined to let the OT sit on the bench, next to amp chassis. It would only be for a short evaluation period.

Yea you don't have to trim the leads to listen to it.
Can't wait to hear about how they compare

[rock_mumbles]

I contacted ClassicTone regarding their Tweed Deluxe OT's I was told they had the same interleaving as the original 50's transformer that they had ... they are both 8k OT's

I would guess that the Triode OT with UL taps is based on some sort of 6.6k 6V6 hifi OT ...

[M Fowler]

This one? http://triodeelectronics.com/tf65wscta48opaper.html
I built the exact same kit about a year ago. I never realized until now that it's recommended for BF and SF....not that it should matter. Also it's 6.6K. I think usually 5E3 is 8K, but apparently this shouldn't matter too much either, though some have claimed to hear a difference. Triode actually sells another one for "tweed deluxe" 8K : http://triodeelectronics.com/40-18090.html
FWIW I dig mine but I don't have any MM to compare

I bought that paper bobbin MC OT many months ago and I'm going to use that stand up version for a low power 6V6 Express.

[dcribbs1412]

I bought that paper bobbin MC OT many months ago and I'm going to use that stand up version for a low power 6V6 Express.

Cool Mark
I look forward to this build
I too have this OT sitting here waiting...6V6 Express sounds cool

Darin

[Randall]

Which paper bobbin MC OT are we talking about? The standard or the Triode designed one?

[rp]

I thought the original 5E3 OT #108 was not interleaved. Anyone confirm this? Sometimes OT upgrades are very good (Champs) sometimes bad, tried a Hifi Hammond and Audio Note on a 5E3. I'm rather certain if you upgrade you'll loose the wild Hendrix/Marshall stack in a 15W little combo vibe, but maybe you want that. I believe the 5G9 used something better than the 108 OT, the later deluxe OT w/o endbells? That's a great amp too.

I really like the Mission clone 5E3 OT, which is likely MC or Heyboer sourced. A speaker like a G1230 Anni will give you more brightness and clarity w/o affecting the original vibe.