Mercury Magnetics Transformer Upgrades

  • Thread starter Thread starter zepplin490
  • Start date Start date
Z

zepplin490

New member
What is the affect on an amps tone with a transformer upgrade? I was looking at them on Ebay and the one for the DSL/TSL was about $225. Is this a worthwhile investment?
-mp-
 
When I was into the Randall MTS amps....I bought a MM Transformer and installed it myself.
It was about an overall 10% improvement. Quite noticeable by myself since I played the amp all the time.
To me it cleaned up the tone....more defined.
But for other non guitarists.....not as noticeable. :lol: :LOL:
So if you plan on using/keeping the amp....yeah...its worth it. :thumbsup:
 
$225 invested into a $600 amp?
My experience with MM trannys and Marshall says don't do it.
 
Yeah I never messed with one on a Marshall....but it was a nice improvement on the Randall for sure.
Did it more as a project since i was constantly tinkering with that amp. :lol: :LOL:
 
I recently bought one of the classic tone transformers for my Laney Pro tubes. I had previously thought i fried the tranny, turns out i didn't and I have the amp back up and running. I am not wondering if i feel like tackling that right now due to all the disconnecting and reconnecting i will have to do. This is a good thread though.. overall, how much tonal difference does a tranny make? Seems to me it is more in the EQ of the sound when i listen to comparisons. It isn't like it is going to make it night and day better. 10% seems accurate. I also think the MM trannies are over priced...
 
Marshall spec trannys are all over the place. For the price, the Mercury Magnetics are kinda steep. There are other transformers out there that will get you the same results for less money. Now, upgrading the OT will clean up the tone and tighten things up a little bit. The real question to ask it how much would a Mercury Magnetics tranny effect things compared to one from Drake, or Chicago, or a Rhodes? Would a Mercury Magnetics transformer sound $100 better than other trannys? I know I put a Chicago OT from Triode Electronics in a cheap Carvin MTS and got great results. Are Mercury Magnetics transformers worth the money?
 
Depends on the specific transformer model. But the MM I used in my Metro Plexi make it very stiff in both response and tone. Tight low end, aggressive mid range with a very tight, sterile high-end. Depends on what flavor you like.
 
magnetic components costs less than a half and sound just as good
they're used by baron, granger, two-rock, mesa and many others

heyboers are also much cheaper than mercury magnetics

if you want improvent over the Randall MTS series, get a new Randall Diavlo RD45H or RD100H
I have the Fortin modded RD50H with stock JJ E34L's and this thing is REALLY good for such a cheap amp
one of the most articulate high gain amps I ever played, along with Diezels and a couple custom made amps
 
MM have plastic bobbins. I use Classic Tone (Magnetic Components, Inc.) in my amps. They are paper layer wound (paper bobbins), very high quality materials and construction methods. Better price point, too. I am very proud to have helped them develop their JTM45/JMP50 power transformer (40-18054).
 
I just swapped a classictone OT in my old AOR. Have to hook up the PTP sometime this week but then I'll report back. Really was not digging the stock OT. We'll see if that was what was bugging me after all..
 
Kapo_Polenton":182l9luj said:
I just swapped a classictone OT in my old AOR. Have to hook up the PTP sometime this week but then I'll report back. Really was not digging the stock OT. We'll see if that was what was bugging me after all..
Click to expand...
I've got the ClassicTone OT in my 8-knob 50w AOR. I believe it's the JMP spec.
Made the bass tighter, and the EQ in general more usable (the bass boost is still too insane for my speakers).

For the OP, here is a sound demo of different OT's.

http://www.classictone.net/PaperVsPlastic.html
 
FourT6and2":2s2v5m8a said:
Depends on the specific transformer model. But the MM I used in my Metro Plexi make it very stiff in both response and tone. Tight low end, aggressive mid range with a very tight, sterile high-end. Depends on what flavor you like.
Click to expand...
This. I preferred the metro spec hoeyboer's. Also, mercury offers many different spec for the same model and things the voltage on power transformers has a great effect on headroom and feel, so do some research on which spec u want.
 
I upgraded my Marshall JVM410HJS power and output transformer with noticeable improvements.
I think you need to listen to differences between transformer clips and decide for yourself.
Google transformer shootout mercury Magnetics

I like the haeboer for Marshall amps and the mercury Magnetics with Comtempory styled music.
Depends on your style and budget.
The MM is good iron but a little costly, the haeboer is a lot cheaper and better for "bluesy" stuff.
the answer lies in the eyes of the beholder.

Good luck!

:rock:
 
Interesting.. I liked the Weber a lot in those clips as well..
 
electrophonic.tonic":19eqiad3 said:
Kapo_Polenton":19eqiad3 said:
I just swapped a classictone OT in my old AOR. Have to hook up the PTP sometime this week but then I'll report back. Really was not digging the stock OT. We'll see if that was what was bugging me after all..
Click to expand...
I've got the ClassicTone OT in my 8-knob 50w AOR. I believe it's the JMP spec.
Made the bass tighter, and the EQ in general more usable (the bass boost is still too insane for my speakers).

For the OP, here is a sound demo of different OT's.

http://www.classictone.net/PaperVsPlastic.html
Click to expand...


Also keep in mind as the website says, these were done by Grainger amps a few years ago and were originally on his site as a blind comparison. He had the transformers on a quick connect system, so he literally could swap them in seconds on the same amp so it would be a true comparison, same circuit, tubes bias etc.

In the blind test, the votes Heyboer and the Classic Tone were the favorites (Heyboer had the slight edge), with the Weber in third.

When magnetic components found out about this test, they got permission to host the results.

The reason I post this is some people are suspicious of the tests since they appear on MC website. But This was done well before people really knew about MC.

Also keep in mind, these are good replacements for Marshall style amps, but in metal amps were you want extended lows you may want a full range 20h to 20k OT commonly referred as the Hi Def transformer.
 
Does anybody know what a Lydian choke is? the guy who i bought MY TSL off said he had it installed in the TSL he sold me.
-mp-
 
I'd give the Heyboar the nod also although the classic sounded like it had a scoosh more depth to it, which I liked :yes:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top