martin manning wrote:So why don't they post it all on their web site (like Mag Components does) and save themselves the trouble of answering e-mails? Don't they have something better to do?
I have asked that and wish they would myself as it would make life easier and more interesting for the self-service minded people if they did. The short answer is that they have a massive catalog of guitar amp transformers alone and haven't committed the resources to doing so. Mag Comp builds a few parts built to specification so they have a simple a la carte setup; one size fits most. Mercury has half dozen flavors of Blackface Deluxe Reverb iron whose specifications are taken from notable examples of iconic amps. I think the idea behind having a potential client deal with a human directly is so that they can best ensure the proper part for the job. There isn't just ONE Plexi power transformer. Consider the range of people coming to them: everything from Dr. Martin Manning, genius at large to a kid with a Valve Junior. FWIW, I've had a long relationship with Mercury, have nothing but good to say about them, have yet to build a bad amp with their transformers, my customers who are my unbiased estimators are the real judges agree, and no, I don't pay retail.
RockingClassElectronics wrote:Just got done meeting with the current Pacific engineers and manger of sales, including my old man who founded the company. Ken only used these two part numbers in regular production:
Power Tranny: 11410
Output Tranny: 11415
They were used and are the originals. These are the direct OEM replacement for your Express, Liverpool, and Rocket Wrecks, these are the two we're selling.
Can you quote general specs for these transformers? By that I mean voltages and current ratings for the PT, and impedances for the OT?
So I'm hearing the answer to the above question is no. This, along with the price, is why I don't buy Mercury transformers, and I won't be likely to buy off-the-shelf transformers from any vendor who doesn't provide the basic data to design a circuit around.
I'll say again to make clear.
BASIC spec information will be available ON our website as soon as it is published IE size dimensions, input impedance, output impedance. Wiring diagram. The original spec sheets we have for these parts provide more information than we can give out, thus must be revised. Like what Classic Tone does. I may have misunderstood some previous requests and took it as "gimme gimme gimme your recipe."
Colossal Dave, MC has over 100 stock guitar amp transformer part numbers, and typically several OT and PT options for any given amp model. Not a problem for them.
martin manning wrote:Thanks, Dave T, good to hear.
Colossal Dave, MC has over 100 stock guitar amp transformer part numbers, and typically several OT and PT options for any given amp model. Not a problem for them.
Didn't realize it was that many, but still a much smaller collection by comparison. That said, I think it's to Mercury's detriment that they haven't modernized but I guess it's a model that works for them. Whenever I need a part, I will call or email my requirements. Often there are several things across multiple collections that can fit the bill so sometimes a discussion can help zero in on the best part. I have had repairs where a guy wanted a particular part and didn't want anything but the exact closest match to his vintage part. I think a major difference between Mercury and say MC is that if you want an exact copy of an AC30 PT you can choose from Haddon, Woden, or RadioSpares parts in the Vox Catalog for example, all of which were used during the course of vintage Vox manufacture. Same with their Marshall stuff; tons of stuff to choose from. I'm not shilling for them, just relating what has worked for me.
M Fowler wrote:Except for Edcor and Magnetic Components the rest of the transformer companies are in old school business mode.
They cater to dealers and manufacturers only with line cards not to the millions of online shoppers they could have as potential customers.
Sad to see this day and age with core values of of so called technology driven.
A simple to use shopping cart could produce more sales then the winding machines could keep up with.
Mark
This is what Pacific is doing, hence the purpose of this thread. They wont be sold under the name Pacific anymore. As I've said before, Pacific makes transformers for any and all applications. Amplifier parts are a TINY aspect of the entire operation. We are looking for make a name for ourselves in the audio parts market, since it has already made a name for itself in general electronic market. It's just going to be a different name for audio parts.
M Fowler wrote:Except for Edcor and Magnetic Components the rest of the transformer companies are in old school business mode.
They cater to dealers and manufacturers only with line cards not to the millions of online shoppers they could have as potential customers.
Sad to see this day and age with core values of of so called technology driven.
A simple to use shopping cart could produce more sales then the winding machines could keep up with.
Mark
Exactly right Mark. Heyboer makes an excellent transformer and they have nothing online except for their phone number. I can understand the trepidation of an online shopper (myself included) where there is no product to at least see. One thing I do not abide is a transformer dunked in dirty varnish with insect bits stuck to laminations.
martin manning wrote:So why don't they post it all on their web site (like Mag Components does) and save themselves the trouble of answering e-mails? Don't they have something better to do?
Exactly what I was going to say.
I'm often looking for a PT or OT not as a drop in replacement but w/ some other plan in mind. I want the specs of the complete catalog available all at once to match and compare, when I feel like it too, w/o waiting for a response. Like Hammond, MC, Edcor, and other non-dilettante companies offer. I cut heyboer slack as they're not web-hyping their stuff like Sozo and Mercury. Sozo never replied to two emails. Why would you not post dimensional drawings if you have a website??? It's part of the trade, it's how you do things if you make electronic parts. I give no quarter.
A couple years ago, I emailed Sozo, asking for dimensions of their entire line. I actually did get a reply - and a rather baffling reply at that. i forget the head honcho's name, it's been so long ago, but he told me the dimensions are "intellectual property" and that he would not divulge that information to me. After a few more emails (some heated), it became clear that he really believed I could reverse engineer his caps with nothing but their value, voltage rating and dimensions. I like dealing with companies that know what customer service is all about, so I won't be buying caps from Sozo.
FWIW, I have sent Sozo three emails since December and haven't received any replies. Guess they have all the business they need.
RP: if you need dimensions for any of the caps, I have most values on hand in blue and yellow flavors and can take measurements. I will probably be using up and/or selling my remaining stock.
Colossal: yup, John Gaynor is who I tried to talk some sense into, arguing that EVERY cap manufacturer publishes their product's dimensions! My arguments fell on deaf ears.
Hey RockingClass, I have a question for you: are there winding machines for toroid transformers? Every time I try to imagine a machine that can pass the wire end through the doughnut, my head hurts! I've always assumed these parts are wound by hand.
i'm pretty sure bruno uses pacific, as i have seen their stickers on a cowtipper i believe. i think they may have made the komet 60 stuff as well, given the look and the buttstacking of the lams (ala the 3801/express style stack and wind). i have ( and still have) all the 3 different labeled specimens of their 3801/ express types and they all sound pretty much the same to me--very good. they even measure exactly the same in terms of pri. resistance, so there can't be too much tweaking of the winding pattern. rh
JazzGuitarGimp wrote:Colossal: yup, John Gaynor is who I tried to talk some sense into, arguing that EVERY cap manufacturer publishes their product's dimensions! My arguments fell on deaf ears.
Hey RockingClass, I have a question for you: are there winding machines for toroid transformers? Every time I try to imagine a machine that can pass the wire end through the doughnut, my head hurts! I've always assumed these parts are wound by hand.
Haha we do both hand wind and machine wind toroidal parts. We also have machines that wind toroid transformers so small you couldn't do it by hand. We just tested one that fits on your pinky nail.
We are getting closer and closer to launching the official website. All the stuff we have out right now are what I like to call "reservation sites" and may not reflect what will be published at official launch.
Per the magnetics part of it:
It will be laid out with amps that they work with; pictures of the iron with a selection of either original spec or custom.
RCM model number
Dimensions
Wire/Taps
Impedance I/O
to a kid with a Valve Junior. FWIW, I've had a long relationship with Mercury, have nothing but good to say about them, have yet to build a bad amp with their transformers, my customers who are my unbiased estimators are the real judges agree, and no, I don't pay retail.
We just tested one that fits on your pinky nail.