source for toroids for tube guitar amps (north america)

[mikepukmel]

Hi All.
Some of you guys from Europe have built really cool amps using toriod transformers, really small, nice units. I checked with the suppliers there, they only have 240vac primaries.

I found this source, in North America, New Jersey:

AS-4T320 - 400VA 320V Transformer - AnTek Products Corp

Specs pretty close for some builds, units look good in the photos.

Wondering if anyone has tried their transformers for a guitar amp build. I found a post from 2009, (http://music-electronics-forum.com/t15569/) but it didn't have a lot of activity.

Thanks
Mike

[jimboyogi]

I've used them in a few builds. Work great. I'm in Australia with 240VAC supply, so I put the two 115VAC primaries in series.

I've used the 1T250 for 2 * EL84 PP amps, and the 1T300 for 2 * 7591 PP.

Also, no 5V secondaries, so no good for tube rectifiers. I just use SS rectos.

[SoulFetish]

Plitron is a popular choice. They'e a Canadian company.
https://www.plitron.com

[mikepukmel]

Thanks! Next amp is going to have a doughnut transformer!

[Zozobra]

I've used an Antek PT before. Amp was nice and quiet. I wish I had gone with a higher secondary than I did. It's a huge bit of iron, especially for a toroid, but it only kicks out ~450VDC. I should have gone up to 500-550 to ring the neck on some KT88s.

[Pdavis68]

I've used 2 Anteks before and I love them. I'm building a Fender Concert next and I'd love to be able to use that exact PT, because it's cheaper than a traditional one and WAY more power than I'd need (but the 200VA & 300VA versions at roughly that voltage don't have the right taps for a Concert). But the chassis is the real issue, so I'm going to build it close to a traditional Concert layout and use the original style power transformer.

[eschertron]

I've looked at the AnTek website in the past. Looks interesting! I did pick up a toroid at a swap meet 2 years ago, Haven't put it into a build so it sits on the shelf. I think the lack of filament windings is the drawback for me.

[mikepukmel]

I've looked at the AnTek website in the past. Looks interesting! I did pick up a toroid at a swap meet 2 years ago, Haven't put it into a build so it sits on the shelf. I think the lack of filament windings is the drawback for me.

This one in the link has 6.3v winding for filaments! It only doesn't have a 5v for a tube rect. And the tap is 70v instead of 50 that most of the old Fenders have. I sent them a note but didn't get a reply yet, whether they intend to make a 50v tap version.

[mikepukmel]

I've used 2 Anteks before and I love them. I'm building a Fender Concert next and I'd love to be able to use that exact PT, because it's cheaper than a traditional one and WAY more power than I'd need (but the 200VA & 300VA versions at roughly that voltage don't have the right taps for a Concert). But the chassis is the real issue, so I'm going to build it close to a traditional Concert layout and use the original style power transformer.

Cool, good luck with your build! hope you have time to post some in progress photos. Yeah, wish they had that transformer with a 50v tap instead of the 70v tap.

[Pdavis68]

This one in the link has 6.3v winding for filaments! It only doesn't have a 5v for a tube rect. And the tap is 70v instead of 50 that most of the old Fenders have. I sent them a note but didn't get a reply yet, whether they intend to make a 50v tap version.

Yeah, I don't know that they have any with the 5V taps, but most have the 6.3V taps... I also noticed the 70V bias voltage. This would be fine for something like a Fender Concert which has diode rectification, and you can change the resistors in the bias circuit to compensate for the extra 20V bias voltage.

My problem is that I'm using an existing Bandmaster chassis that won't accommodate the toroid PT.