Classic Tone Transformers ?

[gtrplayr1976]

Anyone have any issues with Classic Tone Transformers ? I want to build a JTM45 ,and am starting to collect parts.

Thanks !

[JoeM]

Generally good reports on these. I have a Classic Tone DR OT as an upgrade in my Princeton and it sounds great. Reasonably priced too.

[gtrplayr1976]

Yeah, the price is why I asked. Much cheaper than others I've looked at. Thanks for the input !

[big_teee]

I have the Classic tone transformers in my JCM800 2204 Clone.
This amp Uses Diode Rectifiers.
It is a 345-0-345, which would be fine, but my AC runs 125-127 Volts.
This causes the HT to be 525 in standby, and right at 500v loaded.
You May want to pick the dual Secondary PT, or maybe with a Tube Rectifier it will not be an issue!
The OT and choke sound Great, and it seems to all be heavily Made.
T
** I'm in the process of building another one, I will use the 325-0-325 PT this time.

[gtrplayr1976]

Thanks big_teee ! I plan on using a tube rectifier, but I will check on the dual secondary PT.

[mikeboone]

Funny you should mention this... I am a believer!

I built a 1987 kit I bought from Triode Electronics (great to deal with) that use Classic Tone iron. I absolutely love this amp.

Just this week, I put a 50W Classic Tone OT in my Orange Rocker 30. I took a great sounding practice amp and turned it into a little behemoth.

Just this week I ordered Classic Tone PT, OT, and choke to start building something... I have no idea what, but something cool will eventually emerge between those transformers.

Word to the wise, you had better buy as much Classic Tone iron as you want before the price goes up. These are gaining in popularity and they wont be this reasonably priced forever.

[gtrplayr1976]

Really glad to hear this ! So you can put a larger OT in a smaller wattage amp ? Thanks ! I think I'm sold !

[mikeboone]

I was fairly certain that since the impedance was correct for the tube set, it wouldn't cause any immediate damage so I sub'd it in with some clip leads to see how it sounded. Its fantastic. So, just to be sure I asked here in this forum and in the Orange forum and the opinions I got were that its fine.

Now, its bolted in and permanently installed.

The Rocker 30 is a cathode biased pair of EL34's so I put the Classic Tone 50W in there. Its not quite as loud as the Plexi clone, but its capable of volumes that are way past what is needed to play any club.

[gtrplayr1976]

Is it possible to do that in reverse ? Say use a smaller OT to reduce a 100 watt ?
Just placed my order for the JTM45 set.

[Jazz P Bass]

Not too sure what the question is?
Mike Boone used a 50 watt transformer on a 30 watt output amp.
He gained no wattage.
The output tubes are the current consumers.
So you are asking what would happen if you used a 50 watt transformer on a 100 watt output section?
If that is correct, the answer is smoke!_

[gtrplayr1976]

LOL. I'm guessin' it would smoke in a bad way.

[Jazz P Bass]

Yup.

[mikeboone]

Yes, I am getting more audible output but no more wattage from the tubes. That's pretty interesting all by itself. I don't quite understand it. I may not even fully get the explanation if one is given, but I'd like to know.

Is it just better efficiency from having more iron?

[eschertron]

Yes, I am getting more audible output but no more wattage from the tubes. That's pretty interesting all by itself. I don't quite understand it. I may not even fully get the explanation if one is given, but I'd like to know.

Is it just better efficiency from having more iron?

I'm curious to hear what the consensus is too. From what I've read, bigger trannys can give you a little better bass response, maybe enough to make the amp sound bigger and deeper, as in more audible output?

[mikeboone]

I definitely got more low end punch (but not at all flabby) and noticeably more volume. Point in case... When I got the amp in the first thing I did, like any self respecting player, is crank it to see what it'll do. My wife, a nurse, said "is that as loud as it goes? How much did you pay for that? You got screwed."

When your wife asks a question like that, you have to act! So now she said "it makes my eyes blink when you play like that Marshall thingy does".

I don't quite understand the relationship between calculated power dissipation from the tubes and perceived SPL into free space. The 50W iron is making more SPL than the 30 iron, but the power dissipation is theoretically the same.