The Steel Guitar Forum

I was wondering if anyone had experience with them and their products.
I've got an early Musicman Sixty-five 210 that needs a new power transformer, and they make a direct drop in replacement. Expensive, but cheaper than getting the original rebuilt (it still works, but has its own physical hum that makes recording difficult).
FWIW, for me the amp is absolutely a keeper. Been playing through it for over 20 years and I can't imagine a better double duty amp.

best,
Matt Sutton

Their products are very good; often even better than original parts.

Thanks, Donny, good to hear.

No idea if he still uses them but they were OEM in the Milkman amps.

I've had very good luck with them. I like that I can order a TX with multiple output taps that were not offered with the original.

I've fixed that physical him by unbolting the bell ends of the transformer and putting some insulating fiber sheet("fish paper") where the bell bolts down. Might be worth a try - very cheap fix.

I've used a bunch of the Mercury Magnetics transformers, and they've been quite good, if somewhat expensive.

Dave

I spec'd them into my custom 5E3 build. They are great.



Bob

wow, thanks everybody! Paul, I'm gonna give your fix a shot in the short term.

Can I ask a question out of total ignorance of transformers?

What is it that makes these transformers better than others?

Is it a superior quality of material of the stacked plates, better fit and finish, quality control, other factors?

I do understand the part about multiple taps.

Doug Earnest wrote:Can I ask a question out of total ignorance of transformers?

What is it that makes these transformers better than others?

Is it a superior quality of material of the stacked plates, better fit and finish, quality control, other factors?

I do understand the part about multiple taps.

Same things as pickups--the materials, the design and the quality/technique of the windings.

If you want to see some really expensive transformers, look at some of the output transformers made for single ended Hi Fi amps (especially the Japanese "ultra fi" transformers). But there is an audible difference.

Dave

Mercury Magnetics are very high quality, but about twice the price of other comparable transformers. I’ve tried their PT’s in a couple of vintage Fenders and there was a noticeable difference in sound from the originals. The only way I can describe the MMs is that they were much more stiff sounding. If you’re going for all out headroom and cleanliness then they may be the way to go but for a more vintage, loose or broken in sound, I’d try something else. Classic Tones were excellent, but they’re out of business now, I like Heyboer for both replacements and new builds. David Allen of Allen amps used to sell great trannies but isn’t for the time being due to supply chain issues. I think he had Heyboer make them to his specs. For many applications, Hammonds work well.
Sound is of course subjective..

I had an amp tech friend who changed a lot of OE transformers for MM. I had them build one for an obsolete Fender, and it worked great. I generally buy Hammond for my builds, but do believe the MM are a great product.

Jon Light wrote:No idea if he still uses them but they were OEM in the Milkman amps.

yes I do! Standard OEM in every tube amplifier I build