Help with IIC+ transformer choices?

[Racerxrated]

Got my C DRG with 100 PT, that Mike B. upgraded to C+ in 2010, with the stock Mesa tubes Mike has chosen for both pre and power.
Until this date I could not find myself touching that amp to change thing. It does sound so good that I haven't even bothered about trying better tubes or bypassing the reverb.
But if you have the resources and time, and that's what you wanna do, why not? You might like the 105 PT there better. And if not, just put them back the way they were before.

So are you running Tungsgram AX7s then? Those are way too low gain for me.

I read somewhere that Mike B. thinks bypassing the reverb is a waste of time & tries to talk people out of it. FWIW.

Tungsrams are original to those amps. From 2Bs on...up till the late 80s. I can say that without a doubt, the Tungsrams I have kill in the Coli and both Marshalls...no way any of mine are even medium gain. The only beef I have with them is they can make the Mesa a bit 'tubby' and add too much low end. I mix Chinese with the Tungsrams and it's near perfection.

 

[GJgo]

Doesn't the 100 have higher pv than the 105? I thought the 100 was 460 vs 400 for the 105 from what I read. Which leads to a tighter better for metal response from the 100.

Nooo. I've been tracking PV & tubes & colors & bias & all the things in all my Boogies for years. It varies day to day with wall voltage but here you go. I went & double checked notes. Roughly-

Coliseum- 550
105- 490-515 over the 3 I've had
100- 450
X101- 450
JP2C- 450
60W Mark IIB&C- 470
Mark III- 490
Mark IVa- 480
Mark V- 460 (full power)
Rectos on bold / diode 470-480 (dual & triple, 2 channel & MW)

 

[SBlue]

Got my C DRG with 100 PT, that Mike B. upgraded to C+ in 2010, with the stock Mesa tubes Mike has chosen for both pre and power.
Until this date I could not find myself touching that amp to change thing. It does sound so good that I haven't even bothered about trying better tubes or bypassing the reverb.
But if you have the resources and time, and that's what you wanna do, why not? You might like the 105 PT there better. And if not, just put them back the way they were before.

So are you running Tungsgram AX7s then? Those are way too low gain for me.

I read somewhere that Mike B. thinks bypassing the reverb is a waste of time & tries to talk people out of it. FWIW.

I don't think they are Tungsram... they are whatever Mike B. had available that had a Mesa label in 2010. Don't know if they were old stock, but doubt it.
Since Mike got the amp with no tubes at all, all the power and preamp tubes were just installed by him, and not changed to this day.
Regarding the gain, Mike asked me if I wanted him to do the C+ or C++ upgrade, and I've told him I wanted it to sound the best.
When returning the amp, he emailed me and ask to call if any question. Of course I've called just to have a chat with him about the amp, since the condition it was when sent to him was deplorable. When asked about his choice for + or ++, he said he has done the +, and if I didn't like it, I could send it back for the ++ upgrade. He mentioned he really liked the way this one sounded as C+, and it was a very pissed off one.
He was right.
And it has an absurd amount of gain.

 

[Racerxrated]

Doesn't the 100 have higher pv than the 105? I thought the 100 was 460 vs 400 for the 105 from what I read. Which leads to a tighter better for metal response from the 100.

Nooo. I've been tracking PV & tubes & colors & bias & all the things in all my Boogies for years. It varies day to day with wall voltage but here you go. I went & double checked notes. Roughly-

Coliseum- 550
105- 490-515 over the 3 I've had
100- 450
X101- 450
JP2C- 450
60W Mark IIB&C- 470
Mark III- 490
Mark IVa- 480
Mark V- 460 (full power)

Rectos on bold / diode 470-480 (dual & triple, 2 channel & MW)

Get yourself a voltage regulator. My amps sound great without any day to day variation now.

 

[Racerxrated]

Got my C DRG with 100 PT, that Mike B. upgraded to C+ in 2010, with the stock Mesa tubes Mike has chosen for both pre and power.
Until this date I could not find myself touching that amp to change thing. It does sound so good that I haven't even bothered about trying better tubes or bypassing the reverb.
But if you have the resources and time, and that's what you wanna do, why not? You might like the 105 PT there better. And if not, just put them back the way they were before.

So are you running Tungsgram AX7s then? Those are way too low gain for me.

I read somewhere that Mike B. thinks bypassing the reverb is a waste of time & tries to talk people out of it. FWIW.

I don't think they are Tungsram... they are whatever Mike B. had available that had a Mesa label in 2010. Don't know if they were old stock, but doubt it.
Since Mike got the amp with no tubes at all, all the power and preamp tubes were just installed by him, and not changed to this day.
Regarding the gain, Mike asked me if I wanted him to do the C+ or C++ upgrade, and I've told him I wanted it to sound the best.
When returning the amp, he emailed me and ask to call if any question. Of course I've called just to have a chat with him about the amp, since the condition it was when sent to him was deplorable. When asked about his choice for + or ++, he said he has done the +, and if I didn't like it, I could send it back for the ++ upgrade. He mentioned he really liked the way this one sounded as C+, and it was a very pissed off one.
He was right.
And it has an absurd amount of gain.

Tungsams have a telltale silver 'tab' near the top that have a 2 digit number, which indicates the month/year of production. I think every one I've had has been higher gain, and sound incredibly clear. Mine sound so good that hearing that a Tungsram has 'low' gain leads me to believe it's starting to fade.

 

[SBlue]

The Dino and the British Purist I've got came with Tungsram ECC83s all across the preamp, and they are very high gain, with the Dino having a tremendous amount of saturation, and all without loosing clarity.
But I need to check on my C+ if Mike B installed these on the amp when he serviced it.
Almost makes me wanna try some different tubes for it, but the thing sounds so perfect that I do hesitate.
But I'll check what it has, just for curiosity.

 

[GJgo]

Well, I made the switch! The work went well.. BUT! The bias changed & the C+ is waaay too hot now. Like 70mA so I just shut 'er right down. I was planning on sending it in to Mike B. for service & ++ mod anyway so here we go!

The III's bias conversely cooled off, but I have some hot tubes on hand that work so we're still in business there. Likely going to sell the amp though.