Moding an output transformer on a C30/50???

[Jared Purdy]

The seemingly endless quest to achieve the seemingly endlessly evasive sound that we so desire from our amps, leads a lot of players to try many mods. From simple speaker or tube replacements, to more complicated "surgery", where capacitor values are changed in one place or another on the fragile printed circuit boards, to replacing the output transformers, which can be much more costly, are just some of possibilities, it seems.

Being a newbie, and fascinated with this process, and possibility, I recently stumbled across a youtube video demonstratnig the before and after sounds of an Mercury Magnetics output transformer mod to a brand new, out of the box Epiphone Valve Juniour. When compared to the untouched, also out of the box, unmodded Valve Junior, the sound difference was palpable. It was fuller, more well rounded, all of tones had more clairty. Adjectives excape my vocabulalry. Its like trying to describe a wine! The sound difference was huge, so much that if you were to buy a vlave junior and had heard this mod, I'm sure you wouldn't be able to continue playing the amp without it.

So my question is, has anyone tried this mod on the C3050, or another amp and found similar "improvements"??

[Steve Conner]

You do know what they do to audio on its way through Youtube, right? And the quality of Joe Youtube's camcorder mic to start with? And the quality of your computer speakers, come to think of it?

Keeping with the wine analogy, judging amps, pickups etc. from Youtube clips is like trying to judge wines after a horse has p*****d in them. IMHO JM2C

The quest is only endless if you're unhappy. Maybe there is no quest and you have everything you need right now. (Of course Mercury Magnetics don't like that idea much!)

Having said that, there are sound scientific reasons why little single-ended amps like the Valve Jr. react well to swapping in an oversized OT. The extra iron really does give a bigger, louder, beefier tone. But it doesn't need to be a MM, a Hammond will do.

[MWJB]

+1 on what Steve says.

Plus, which Youtube video are you referring to, link please. I can only find one video, but there is no comparison with the stock amp?

The Ep VJ mod kit consists of rather more than just an OT. The kits cost more than twice what the original amp costs...plus labour. Check out the 2 part installation guide.

Yes OTs sound subtly different (occasionally more than subtly different), but there are usually many, much cheaper avenues for improving tone in thefirst instance.

Initially, I would try and determine what you think that the amp is lacking, learn about tube circuits, ask for advice, and implement the desired improvement...of course MM will tell you that you need a MM transformer, I'd expect them to...it's how they make their living.

[tedmich]

So my question is, has anyone tried this mod on the C3050, or another amp and found similar "improvements"??

Jared you are aware of the hundreds of pages of C30/50 mods at blueguitar.org right?
The Blue Guitar

[Jared Purdy]

quality of sound clips...

Hi Ted, Yes, I am aware of the blue guitar mods. BUT! they don't talk about changing the OT (I think??). Having said that when listening to these youtube clips, it is apparent that the mod produced (at least some of ) the results that they were after. Was it worth it? I guess it depends on what your expectations are. If I wanted that amp, and I heard that mod, yes, I'd want the mod too.

[Enzo]

Changing a transformer is just a straight one to one part swap. No special mod is involved. SO there won;t be much write-up on it.

COmpanies like MM make replacement transformers, that is what they do. People slap those expensive transformers into just about every model amp ever made. And while you may hear a difference, and may prefer the difference, by far the largest change you can make in the amp is the speaker.

COnsider the speaker swap is like changing Davey Lee Roth for Sammy Hagar in Van Halen. Changing the transformer is more like swapping out Alex.



(Was that too harsh?)

[Jared Purdy]

No, no, not too harsh at all!! (I don't really care for either one of them anyway!)

[Enzo]

I meant was that too harsh demeaning Alex.

[txstrat]

I meant was that too harsh demeaning Alex.

Not too harsh, it was just one of your metaphors that make me smile. But they always get to the heart of the matter. I like to read them very much.

[Glass Snuff]

Having said that, there are sound scientific reasons why little single-ended amps like the Valve Jr. react well to swapping in an oversized OT. The extra iron really does give a bigger, louder, beefier tone. But it doesn't need to be a MM, a Hammond will do.

Just looking at the C30 transformer, I'd say it was carefully chosen for its ability to saturate. I'd think twice before swapping it out. There's magic in there somewhere, and the fact it's not listed on Blue Guitar is perhaps telling...

[J M Fahey]

Peavey stuff *is* good.
Personally don't fully agree with the sound they're after, but it's a question of taste, not a consideration on component quality which I find excellent.
So,

I am aware of the blue guitar mods. BUT! they don't talk about changing the OT.

, maybe sends a message; and doubly so coming from an inveterate modding bunch of guys.