Amp Build: Ceriatone Kraken 50

[scottosan]

I would be concern about getting metal shaving or dust into the winding if using a dremel

 

[scottosan]

5V Secondary with a voltage doubler and voltage regulator for the heaters?

 

[CrazyNutz]

Marstran transformer arrived yesterday. It uses solder tags instead of leads, which is one of the reasons I wanted it. But some of the eyelets are covered with lacquer. I'll have to find a way to clean 'em off. I've tried a sharp hobby knife and a metal punch and whatnot. But this stuff is pretty hard. Someone suggested a Dremel tool. But I need to make sure I don't damage the thing. Kinda ridiculous that it arrived like this, but I'll make it work.

yeah just hit it with the dremel, or a file, use a xacto knife to clear the eye holes. small metal dust, what little you create wont harm anything. Or you could try some lacquer thinner mixed with some denatured alcohol.

 

[FourT6and2]

5V Secondary with a voltage doubler and voltage regulator for the heaters?

Yeah, running DC off the 5V rectifier tap.

 

[scottosan]

5V Secondary with a voltage doubler and voltage regulator for the heaters?

Yeah, running DC off the 5V rectifier tap.

Cool. This will be my first build with DC heaters. I have done relays, just no heaters. I hopes it's quiet.

 

[FourT6and2]

5V Secondary with a voltage doubler and voltage regulator for the heaters?

Yeah, running DC off the 5V rectifier tap.

Cool. This will be my first build with DC heaters. I have done relays, just no heaters. I hopes it's quiet.

How are you implementing them?

 

[psychodave]

I would be concern about getting metal shaving or dust into the winding if using a dremel

Me too.

I'd just touch end with the soldering iron and burn it off then tin them with fresh solder.

 

[scottosan]

5V Secondary with a voltage doubler and voltage regulator for the heaters?

Yeah, running DC off the 5V rectifier tap.

Cool. This will be my first build with DC heaters. I have done relays, just no heaters. I hopes it's quiet.

How are you implementing them?

I'm using the classic tone project tranny. It has a 15v secondary fot both relays and heaters. Bridge rectified and regulated at 12v.

 

[EXPcustom]

Call Patrick @ Mercury Magnetics, he will take care of you.

Mercury Magnetics
Patrick Selfridge
Service & Support Network
10050 Remmet Ave.
Chatsworth, CA 91311-5903
Patrick@MercuryMagnetics.com
patrick.selfridge

I was actually going to suggest this at page 1 but forgot to post. I think after comparing lots of transformers you can't compare to MM's level of detail. Sergio is a mad scientist and has this part of the amps figured out. Patrick is a class act and will make sure you get your product ASAP, none of this I maybe going on vacation crap.

Unfortunatly I think OP already got his order in before he started this thread.

 

[scottosan]

Call Patrick @ Mercury Magnetics, he will take care of you.

Mercury Magnetics
Patrick Selfridge
Service & Support Network
10050 Remmet Ave.
Chatsworth, CA 91311-5903
Patrick@MercuryMagnetics.com
patrick.selfridge

I was actually going to suggest this at page 1 but forgot to post. I think after comparing lots of transformers you can't compare to MM's level of detail. Sergio is a mad scientist and has this part of the amps figured out. Patrick is a class act and will make sure you get your product ASAP, none of this I maybe going on vacation crap.

Unfortunatly I think OP already got his order in before he started this thread.

While I agree that MM is the most professional, expedient, best selection, and does things the way a company should be ran, I think their prices are not inline with the market. Tonally, the best transformers I have heard are the Heyboer Dagnal C1998 Self lead clones. I have used 4 MM's in similar build and cannot say they are better tonally

 

[FourT6and2]

More progress today. Finished up the power section and did the power tube sockets, bias test points, impedance switch, and a few other things here and there.

 

[SavageRiffer]

Alright damn it. Enough of the picture hype. We need some damn audio, pricing, and an estimated build time.

 

[FourT6and2]

Alright damn it. Enough of the picture hype. We need some damn audio.... and pricing.

I mean... the thing isn't built yet. I'm posting photos as I go lol

 

[SavageRiffer]

Alright damn it. Enough of the picture hype. We need some damn audio.... and pricing.

I mean... the thing isn't built yet. I'm posting photos as I go lol

LOL! Looking forward to the finished product man.

 

[EXPcustom]

Call Patrick @ Mercury Magnetics, he will take care of you.

Mercury Magnetics
Patrick Selfridge
Service & Support Network
10050 Remmet Ave.
Chatsworth, CA 91311-5903
Patrick@MercuryMagnetics.com
patrick.selfridge

I was actually going to suggest this at page 1 but forgot to post. I think after comparing lots of transformers you can't compare to MM's level of detail. Sergio is a mad scientist and has this part of the amps figured out. Patrick is a class act and will make sure you get your product ASAP, none of this I maybe going on vacation crap.

Unfortunatly I think OP already got his order in before he started this thread.

While I agree that MM is the most professional, expedient, best selection, and does things the way a company should be ran, I think their prices are not inline with the market. Tonally, the best transformers I have heard are the Heyboer Dagnal C1998 Self lead clones. I have used 4 MM's in similar build and cannot say they are better tonally

I've seen plenty of problamatic Heyboers replaced by Mercury Magnetics, difference in tone is night and day. Don't want to get into details of which particular amps I have seen this replacement done in because that's a entire different subject I don't even want to touch.

At the same time I have heard great Heyboers and know lots of high end companies use them with good results.

Me personally I go with the old saying of "buy once, cry once" so if I am getting an amp done for myself I am going with MM all the way.

 

[FourT6and2]

I've only ever used MM iron in one build. No clue how much of that amp's tone was in the iron, so I can't really comment. But a lot of anecdotal accounts out there of people not liking MM iron for whatever reason. Never seen much in the way of negative criticism of Heyboer though.

 

[Rick Lee]

Aren't MM more than Merrens? Why would anyone pay more $$ for anything other than Merrens? Though, IMHO, my ClassicTone amps sound just as good as my Merren one. MM prices are nuts.

 

[SpiderWars]

I've built several amps with Heyboers and most were fine. I did have a couple where the PT vibrated audibly and the amp had more hum than I'd like. I replaced both with MM (a Marshall 50W and a Vox AC30 Haddon) and in both cases the vibration/hum went away. I've always gotten quick response from Patrick at MM. But I also got the same from Phil at Heyboer. But the MM prices are really high. I justified it using that "buy once, cry once" (or "it only hurts once") adage. That said, I do want to try the Classic Tones.

My Merrens were about the the same price as MM but my OT was a special order (UL OT for a 2xKT88 mini-Major with regular 100W PT).

FourTsix; that build is looking awesome! I hope you don't have to tweak it too much. I've built a couple where I was so meticulous, only to mod it to hell and back and make it look not so nice. Or the problem-child amp, my mini-Major (the Cursed Caiman lol). That amp has had more issues than every other combined.

 

[FourT6and2]

I've built several amps with Heyboers and most were fine. I did have a couple where the PT vibrated audibly and the amp had more hum than I'd like. I replaced both with MM (a Marshall 50W and a Vox AC30 Haddon) and in both cases the vibration/hum went away. I've always gotten quick response from Patrick at MM. But I also got the same from Phil at Heyboer. But the MM prices are really high. I justified it using that "buy once, cry once" (or "it only hurts once") adage. That said, I do want to try the Classic Tones.

My Merrens were about the the same price as MM but my OT was a special order (UL OT for a 2xKT88 mini-Major with regular 100W PT).

FourTsix; that build is looking awesome! I hope you don't have to tweak it too much. I've built a couple where I was so meticulous, only to mod it to hell and back and make it look not so nice. Or the problem-child amp, my mini-Major (the Cursed Caiman lol). That amp has had more issues than every other combined.

Which Heyboer models did you have problems with?

I was told my PT was wired incorrectly during production and they had to go back and redo it. That's why it took so long. I hope when I get it wired up it doesn't turn out to be a lemon.

 

[SpiderWars]

I've built several amps with Heyboers and most were fine. I did have a couple where the PT vibrated audibly and the amp had more hum than I'd like. I replaced both with MM (a Marshall 50W and a Vox AC30 Haddon) and in both cases the vibration/hum went away. I've always gotten quick response from Patrick at MM. But I also got the same from Phil at Heyboer. But the MM prices are really high. I justified it using that "buy once, cry once" (or "it only hurts once") adage. That said, I do want to try the Classic Tones.

My Merrens were about the the same price as MM but my OT was a special order (UL OT for a 2xKT88 mini-Major with regular 100W PT).

FourTsix; that build is looking awesome! I hope you don't have to tweak it too much. I've built a couple where I was so meticulous, only to mod it to hell and back and make it look not so nice. Or the problem-child amp, my mini-Major (the Cursed Caiman lol). That amp has had more issues than every other combined.

Which Heyboer models did you have problems with?

I was told my PT was wired incorrectly during production and they had to go back and redo it. That's why it took so long. I hope when I get it wired up it doesn't turn out to be a lemon.

They were both Trainwreck clone PTs. They both were low voltage, the Marshall had like 390-400vdc and the Rocket had like 290-300vdc. The Heyboer Trainwreck Rocket OTs (I want to say they were Dynaco clones) were known to sound a noticeably brighter than the MM and the Rocket circuit has plenty of cut as-is. So my Rocket had a MM Woden OT from the jump. The Marshall has an OEI OT which I think was Heyboer-wound.