what's the best power transformer for a sf vibrolux reverb?

[tomfarnan]

I'm in oz - 240V land.

Any suggestions about what to get? I can't seem to find anything appropriate from Mercury Magnetics.

[EdMax]

Originally Posted by tomfarnan

I'm in oz - 240V land.

Any suggestions about what to get? I can't seem to find anything appropriate from Mercury Magnetics.

Mercury most likely makes one however,

Hammond makes a direct drop in replacement in a 240V version.
Part number 290CEX, Replaces Fender Part Numbers 125P26A & 022723
I would think there would be someone that sells Hammond wherever you are, and I would guess it will cost 40-50% less.

Hammond Guitar Series

I have been using them a lot lately for service jobs, and they are easily one of the best quality units I have seen lately.

Good Luck

[1293]

Hammond 290 CEX

EDIT: I would swear that EdMax's post wasn't there when I replied, but the timestamp suggests otherwise.

[tomfarnan]

thanks for the links!

I emailed Mercury Magnetics and Jim Muirhead (ebay MM seller) too and got replies straight away. The MM tranny is about 60% more expensive than the Hammond.

MM also suggest their BF reproduction output transformer and choke to BF the sound.

Anyone familiar with the differences between their stuff and the rest of the field?

[scooteraz]

As noted above, the Hammond is the drop in replacement. Meets OEM specifications. Mercury magnetics claims they have some special recipe for making transformers that make them sound better. I am willing to agree on the output transformer making a difference in sound, but if you wanted a PT to "sound better" you could get one that is the same set of voltages but one step up in current carrying capacity. That should give you a bit stiffer power supply.

The choke should give slightly more stable DC voltages and less ripple. Whether that means much or not has been debated here. I have heard choke mods in amps, and they sound better to me, but as in all things tone related, YMMV.

Let's be fair here. MM makes a premium product and asks a premium price. Whether that premium is of benefit or not is for you to decide. Hammond makes a great product, and it is drop-in. If all you really want to do is replace the PT (I'm assuming yours is going or gone bad) the Hammond makes sense. If you want to experiment with your amp and have the money to play with, go the full MM route and replace both transformers and add the choke.

If your PT is not going or gone, then I would not expect replacing the PT with either Hammond or MM would make much difference.

[milocj]

I can't imagine that a power transformer or choke would have any major affect on the tone of the amp as long as they met the original specs. I know that MM makes good quality stuff but I'm not convinced that on things like a power tranny or choke you'll get any real improvement over other good quality brands.

If you're going to have something shipped from the US I know that www.tubesandmore.com sells the Hammond model listed above. Mojo also makes one but it's expensive. https://www.mojomusicalsupply.com/it...8&id=MOJO758EX

[tomfarnan]

Originally Posted by scooteraz

I am willing to agree on the output transformer making a difference in sound, but if you wanted a PT to "sound better" you could get one that is the same set of voltages but one step up in current carrying capacity. That should give you a bit stiffer power supply.

Scooter, thanks for your reply.

Would a "stiffer power supply" create less sag and therefore more clean headroom?

[tomfarnan]

Originally Posted by EdMax

Mercury most likely makes one however,

Hammond makes a direct drop in replacement in a 240V version.

By direct drop in replacement does this mean that I could simply unscrew / unsolder the old part and add in the new one with little knowledge of what I was doing?! ...

[Louthunder]

What about Heyboer, or is that a Hammond ?

[1293]

Originally Posted by tomfarnan

By direct drop in replacement does this mean that I could simply unscrew / unsolder the old part and add in the new one with little knowledge of what I was doing?! ...

Assuming it really is a drop-in replacement, yes. But you really should do some homework first and do it with a little more than a little knowledge. The only info you'll get with the transformer is the sticker on the top. Don't do anything without learning about amp safety first.

You really have to decide if killing youself or wrecking your amp are worth the time you'll save by not doing a little reading. Don't be afraid to ask questions. There's a lot of good help here.