Magnetic Components Transformers any good?

[Mars Hall]

Which goes to my general, uninformed impression about Mercury Magnetics. It's like the snark about Bose: better sound through advertising. Ads out the wazoo and a premium price and lots of folks will assume it must be the best. Besides the marketing image, the only thing I've seen Mercury excel at has been having clone transformers for more models of amp than others. (Unless Heyboer makes as many or more and just doesn't care about marketing them so heavily.) I just haven't run across anything to indicate that their iron is always better, or that when they beat the competition in performance that it's by a lot.

MM sure do know how to whip up an ad. If you read the fine print you'll find out they use plastic bobbins. I'll take traditional materials every time.

[Badside]

Do the make a ac30 trans ? I seen Marshall but 660v is to much for my amp. I need 290 o 290 4el84 two preamp tube reverb tube and trem tube

Magnetic Components you mean? They don't

But Hammond does (the 290 series, not the "universal" 269-270).

I just built an AC30 clone with a 290MX PT and 1750V OT.
The 290MX is actually 275-0-275, although they have a more "vintage" spec one that is 290-0-290 but it has a form factor that would be harder to install in a non-Vox style chassis.

I get 335V on the plates with the 275-0-275 after tube rectification, that's with the 4 EL84 pulling 200mA (screens included) at idle.

[Badside]

The current Express schematic suggests a Hammond 1650H. I wonder if the "H" stands for hi-fi?!

Nope, but 1650 does though

The 1650 series is their generic hi-fi transformers.

The real guitar specific OTs are the 1750/1760 series.
But there's no 1750/1760 that fits the required specs for an Express

[FYL]

Do the make a ac30 trans ?

Magnetic Components? Not yet - their Vox line is ready but not launched.

[oldmanmetal]

So are these recommended or not? I also need an 18W Marshall good output transformer, AND a PT,OT and Choke for a Peavey Windsor High gain monster I am working on. If not MC, then who would you suggest?

[gldtp99]

So are these recommended or not? I also need an 18W Marshall good output transformer, AND a PT,OT and Choke for a Peavey Windsor High gain monster I am working on. If not MC, then who would you suggest?

Is this the same "oldmanmetal" who used to come over and help test out my early amp builds ? I'm pretty sure it is considering the Landgraff connection.
i can vouch for the MC 50 watt Marshall OT---- and their Fender-type iron----- remember the SF Showman that i put a Heyboer 4/8/16 ohm OT into and when you played it the other band down the hall was giving you the "I'm not worthy" bowing routine----- i have a beater BF Showman now that i put a MC 4/8/16 ohm OT into and this BF sounds as good as the SF with the Heyboer.
I recently built a Brownface Bassman-based 50 watt 1x12 combo w/reverb for a local guy and when he first came for initial tone testing he immediately had to trade me his BF '65 Bassman head so he could take the combo with him that day (he liked it)---this combo i built has all MC iron--- incl a 4/8/16 ohm OT---he still needs to bring it back so i can install the faceplate.
I can't personally vouch for the MC 18 watt Marshall OT or the 100 watt Marshall set for the Windsor--- but i haven't been disappointed with any of their iron yet.
oldmanmetal's building amps now---- everybody watch out !!! ...................gldtp99

[Badside]

So are these recommended or not? I also need an 18W Marshall good output transformer, AND a PT,OT and Choke for a Peavey Windsor High gain monster I am working on. If not MC, then who would you suggest?

The one odd thing about the 18W OT is the weird impedance taps. It's actually 3/7/15 taps (not 4/8/16), meaning that the "16" tap will be the closer, the reflected primary impedance will go up as you use lower impedance speakers.

There has been some lengthy discussions on the subject on the 18W forums.
According to MC, that's how the original was, but not everyone agrees.

However, it seems that everyone who used it liked it, so I guess that's what counts!

I'll have to get one of those soon too. I usually go Hammond since they're cheap up here, but they don't make a dedicated 18W OT in their guitar amp line.

[oldmanmetal]

So are these recommended or not? I also need an 18W Marshall good output transformer, AND a PT,OT and Choke for a Peavey Windsor High gain monster I am working on. If not MC, then who would you suggest?

Is this the same "oldmanmetal" who used to come over and help test out my early amp builds ? I'm pretty sure it is considering the Landgraff connection.
i can vouch for the MC 50 watt Marshall OT---- and their Fender-type iron----- remember the SF Showman that i put a Heyboer 4/8/16 ohm OT into and when you played it the other band down the hall was giving you the "I'm not worthy" bowing routine----- i have a beater BF Showman now that i put a MC 4/8/16 ohm OT into and this BF sounds as good as the SF with the Heyboer.
I recently built a Brownface Bassman-based 50 watt 1x12 combo w/reverb for a local guy and when he first came for initial tone testing he immediately had to trade me his BF '65 Bassman head so he could take the combo with him that day (he liked it)---this combo i built has all MC iron--- incl a 4/8/16 ohm OT---he still needs to bring it back so i can install the faceplate.
I can't personally vouch for the MC 18 watt Marshall OT or the 100 watt Marshall set for the Windsor--- but i haven't been disappointed with any of their iron yet.
oldmanmetal's building amps now---- everybody watch out !!! ...................gldtp99

Mark, it is me!!!! I have been a tech for about 4 years for Starbucks on high end espresso and coffee machines. Been goofing around on amps for awhile, you inspired me!!! With you recommendation, I will go get them today at Triode Electronics. Thanks man!!!

[iknowjohnny]

Don't let my thoughts on them sway you. I didn't mean to say they sound bad at all, just not sure i like the OT as much as the heyboer But i'm going to use it in the new build anyways because the difference i described was very subtle. I will play the amp for a while then tack in the heyboer and see how they compare. But i decided at this point the MC is probably better than the hammond or at least as good in it's own yet different way. Also, tacking a OT in will yield results not quite the same as bolting it in because of the physical location. So they still may be as good as anything. Hopefully i will know soon enough if my last parts shipment ever arrives.

[Tonegeek]

+1 on MC. I have used nothing but their Marshall PT in all my builds. They are priced right, are quiet, and run cool. My personal amp also has the MC Marshall OT pushing 2 El-34s. I had the unique opportunity to have that amp and one that i built with a Merc Mag Bassman OT to compare side by side. It was kind of an apples to oranges comparison because one amp was a BM HRM with the EL-34s and the other was #124 with the MM and 6L6s. What I did was cross wire each amp with the other by wiring the send from one to the return of the other with the intention of seeing how the sound was affected by each output section. To my surprise, what i found was that one output section did not sound BETTER than the other. There were tonal differences for sure but nothing objectionable, JUST DIFFERENT. I had no reason to believe the MM was any better in terms of bandwidth, smoothness, etc. My feeling was that all the mojo in these 2 amps was in the preamp section and worked well with either output. Not very scientific, I realize, but it was worth something. MC is OK by me. i would still like to do a more rigorous comparison with the MM sometime, but am not losing sleep over it.

[mlp-mx6]

I have built a 6V6 ODS-101 that I am currently gigging with. It sounds EXCELLENT! I got the 4-8-16 6600 one. Great transformer. I will definitely buy from them again.

[crbowman]

+1 on MC transformers. I just used a pair in a Dumble clone. Sounds great and I've been gigging it for about 3 months now with no problems. Very good customer service too. I had a question about the PT and received an answer from them the next day.

[oldmanmetal]

Bought the Heavier duty Deluxe reverb Power Transformer, because I am running a diode SS rectifier, and the Tweed Deluxe Paper interleaved output tformer. Bought the 18 watt Marshall style output for another project. Will report back on the results. Thanks for all the input from everyone!!!

[iknowjohnny]

I still don't have all the parts for the new build, so I tacked in the MC PT into my old amp like i also did with the OY. This time i prefered the MC. Of course that could be due to the higher plate V, but in any case it's certainly a keeper.

[gldtp99]

So are these recommended or not? I also need an 18W Marshall good output transformer, AND a PT,OT and Choke for a Peavey Windsor High gain monster I am working on. If not MC, then who would you suggest?

Is this the same "oldmanmetal" who used to come over and help test out my early amp builds ? I'm pretty sure it is considering the Landgraff connection.
i can vouch for the MC 50 watt Marshall OT---- and their Fender-type iron----- remember the SF Showman that i put a Heyboer 4/8/16 ohm OT into and when you played it the other band down the hall was giving you the "I'm not worthy" bowing routine----- i have a beater BF Showman now that i put a MC 4/8/16 ohm OT into and this BF sounds as good as the SF with the Heyboer.
I recently built a Brownface Bassman-based 50 watt 1x12 combo w/reverb for a local guy and when he first came for initial tone testing he immediately had to trade me his BF '65 Bassman head so he could take the combo with him that day (he liked it)---this combo i built has all MC iron--- incl a 4/8/16 ohm OT---he still needs to bring it back so i can install the faceplate.
I can't personally vouch for the MC 18 watt Marshall OT or the 100 watt Marshall set for the Windsor--- but i haven't been disappointed with any of their iron yet.
oldmanmetal's building amps now---- everybody watch out !!! ...................gldtp99

Mark, it is me!!!! I have been a tech for about 4 years for Starbucks on high end espresso and coffee machines. Been goofing around on amps for awhile, you inspired me!!! With you recommendation, I will go get them today at Triode Electronics. Thanks man!!!

MC iron is a great value and the pieces i've used have contributed to great sounding builds------ but i've also had Heyboer wind some custom iron with non-standard specs (amps not yet built)
1) Massive capacity PT's for no/lo sag @150 watt, KT88x4 (or EL34x4) hi-gain channel switchers----considering some different circuit designs based on several hi-gain single channel experiments i've done---and some still in planning stages.
2) 100 watt OT's (4/8/16) with 4k primary for KT88x2 builds-----i re-did a Gibson Atlas head for a local band using a 4 ohm Twin Reverb OT pushing an 8 ohm 4x12 (effective 4k reflected load for the EL34x2)--- gutted Atlas circuit and built a hotrodded "Plexi-style" circuit into the Atlas chassis------ they've been using this one for a couple of yrs----- very ugly but very good sounding amp----- been wanting to build a Park 75-ish kinda thing with one of the Heyboer OT's---but a nice, pretty, pro-looking build for this one.
I'm literally surrounded by parts for amp builds that i don't have enough time to get to----- massive overtime at work and no end in sight----so i keep buying parts and making plans until i can get some free time to do the builds i'm planning.
Just finishing up the circuit tweaks on a 50 watt head based on a "Sh*va" lead channel w/footswitchable Lead Boost-----i made many changes to get less "fizz" and tighter bottom end (+ more gain--- a very aggressive 3-stage preamp here) from the preamp but keep the tone of a modded JCM 800 being pushed by an OD pedal--- it cranks now---- i just need to re-install the relay board for the boost switch (boost is actually the normal tone of the amp as it is now----- the relay switches in a voltage divider to lower gain level to provide the "normal" mode)----- i had a 1N4007 diode fail on the relay board (kit from popular supplier in Indiana) and it produced some impressive buzz---- no biggie, just a bad 1N4007 that failed after @20 hrs---- a 3 cent part failure----- glad this amp wasn't sold when this happened........................gldtp99