Any opinions or experiences with ClassicTone iron?

[leadfootdriver]

'Gettin' ready for the next build. I'm considering CT iron.

Please discuss.

ClassicTone Transformers By Magnetic Components, Inc.

[JoeM]

I dont have a lot of experience with these, but I do have one of their OTs - for a Deluxe Reverb - in a Princeton, and one of their chokes in a 5F6A clone. I do feel they're an excellent transformer, and certainly a lot cheaper than MM. (You dont have to pay for all the hype I guess)

[big_teee]

I bought a 3 piece set for my JCM800 2204 build.
The HT Voltage is 345-0-345.
With higher US 120 Volts. Mine in my area is 123-125V AC.
My B+ is +495 DC Loaded.
If I Had it to do again, I would go with 320-0-320, or 325-0-325.
There are 2 places to buy them and Amp Parts Direct has cheaper shipping than Triode Store.
Good Luck,
Terry

[NorCalTuna]

I have the DR set in like 5 amps they're awesome value and performance, made here in the ol usa which is sweet cuz that means my uncle jimmy can keep his job down at the coil potting factory or something. I don't speak mojo so much so I'll put it this way: expect the power transformer to be under-rated, and the OT as well. The set in my DR is at least 5 years old and has been really played lots and under some pretty gnarly conditions (6l6s for a while when I couldn't afford a new set of tubes... lol) and i'm not even sure the b+ really dipped much at idle (didn't try at some given output, so here I go talking mojo jive) when I biased the thing up for the big bottles. This is not a saggy style set of trannies, which are available on any street corner. This is a quote right off the site:

"As a USA military transformer manufacturer since 1943, we adhere to the stringent military quality system MIL-I-45208 in the production of all of our product including your amplifier transformers!"

hmm ok hey don't let the secret out. I've been thinking about taking them and having the end bells powder coated and my awesome brand- Mammoth Magnetics (tm) and my little cartoon logo and, hell, maybe even some poor shill's signature on them and mark them up to, say, 2/3 the price of my "mercurial" competition. Winning!

also, straight from mci is the cheapest I think?

ClassicTone Transformers By Magnetic Components, Inc.

[leadfootdriver]

Sounds good. I'll have to give them a try.

[Wombaticus]

Sounds good. I'll have to give them a try.

I've used the Magnetic Components iron occasionally. I have noticed that their power transformers tend to run rather hotter than a similarly rated Hammond or Heyboer - but not so much so that there was any particular cause for alarm. I haven't had any problems with the units in question.

[leadfootdriver]

I've used the Magnetic Components iron occasionally. I have noticed that their power transformers tend to run rather hotter than a similarly rated Hammond or Heyboer - but not so much so that there was any particular cause for alarm. I haven't had any problems with the units in question.

Cool! I'm all in then.

[Ronsonic]

I just finished a build using their AC15 set. Huge, cool running and sounds superb. Might be different for different models.

[NorCalTuna]

I wasn't going to post this, as i'm not entirely 100% sure of my measurement methods, but with GT GT 6l6GC reissues in one build on the ct/mci DR trannies, I got around 46w out of it on a 1khz sine into a heavily resistive load. That amp survived a few weeks of weekending 3-4 hour winery gigs before I delivered it, so I think that iron is pretty tops. Also, fwiw, torress sold them at his shop as his house iron and used them in many of his builds, iirc.

So, not to hijack, but here was the testing rig: sig gen, iPhone 3gs -> amp -> 15db H bridge attenuation -> speaker + fluke rms. meter-> v^2/r ->attenuation power math to pull up the 15db. When I measured the R of the att/speaker system and pushed on the woofer cone, the resistance was essentially constant, hence that seems "heavily" resistive. I checked the process with my physics prof- who teaches EE and AE as well- and he felt that, besides the obvious "gain" in power it had running into the resistive load, rather than the speaker, my technique should have been sufficient for a quick and dirty figure. Comments, please (or should I start another thread?)! I find it plausible as a DR is easily already 25+ watts with healthy 6v6s or the almost 5881 like jj 6v6, and this amp didn't have a reverb tube, so it had an extra 20 or so ma., and it had 6L6s... Also, it was not the old car-audio cap dump blip, it was running for a few moments at least- everything was stable but most likely heating up pretty quick. Definitely not continuous service by any means! Abusive testing stories?

[trem]

I have used many of their OT for "vintage" Fender and Marshall amps.
What can I say at this point.? At most, my experience is only 3 years old, but the 10-15 I have installed are still operating without any problems. The people I installed them for are satisfied with the price and quality. In two cases, the owner sold off the much more expensive MM iron they had purchased, paid for the MC tranny, and had money to spare.
They seem to make a reliable product.
Best

[rf7]

I've used a Fender Twin style OT for a Mesa Boogie SOB and it fit the exact footprint and worked great. Best deal out there, I think.