Company Making ClassicTone Transformers

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wangdaning

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I just noticed a shop in China doing ClassicTone transformer remakes. They are called Sonowav 索娜威. They seem to have all of the old schematics, though I am not sure how available they are outside of China. I am just passing this along and not connected to the company at all. They label their transformers with the ClassicTone model numbers.

I only came about this searching for a 220V PT for my Super Reverb.
 

wangdaning

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Just for the record, I am an American living in China (almost 15 years now). My first start to finish amp build was built using stuff sourced from China (it is logged on here). I can send a spec sheet to a place here and they will make a transformer for me. I found this interesting as this company seems to have all of the spec sheets for classictone transformers (something that we had a thread for on here). I am not sure if they ship outside of China though.

I think there is a lot of hate directed at China and Chinese products, but they can be very good. There are a lot of very competent Chinese people who make amazing things. I understand that when you buy it from far away you then have little chance of returning it or pointing out what is wrong.
 

wangdaning

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Link?

Thanks for sharing @wangdaning

Sorry about ignorance in this thread but this is what it's like in America now. Very embarrassing.

Can I come live with you in China?

I have tried to find a link, but it seems they are only in China. When I go to international taobao I cannot find their shop. As far as the silliness, I understand. My mom tells people my brother is now Australian and married to someone from Brazil, but half Japanese. It is like oh so wonderful, then she tells them I live in China, haha. People are silly, I can forgive them.
 

72_Custom

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Not to derail the thread entirely, but has anyone heard any updates on Triode USA’s Classictone replacement line of transformers (made in the USA and quite possibly by Magnetic Components themselves)? Back in April, they said they’d be available in six weeks, but the site still says “coming soon”.
 

The Ballzz

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Just for the record, I am an American living in China (almost 15 years now). My first start to finish amp build was built using stuff sourced from China (it is logged on here). I can send a spec sheet to a place here and they will make a transformer for me. I found this interesting as this company seems to have all of the spec sheets for classictone transformers (something that we had a thread for on here). I am not sure if they ship outside of China though.

I think there is a lot of hate directed at China and Chinese products, but they can be very good. There are a lot of very competent Chinese people who make amazing things. I understand that when you buy it from far away you then have little chance of returning it or pointing out what is wrong.

I certainly have no hatred for the people of china nor the fine, skilled craftsmen among them. I only take issue with inhumane bad guys in their guv'mint, businesses and other guv'mints around the globe. In the end, people will be people!
Just Sayin'
Gene
 

backporchmusic

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I'm inclined to wait to see how they do after a period of use (as I would with gauging the reliability of any new electronics firm) but it is good to know someone is trying to fill the void left by Classic Tone.
 

Jesco

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There are a lot of very competent Chinese people who make amazing things.

Manufacturers in China can make great quality products (the iPhone is an easy to reference example) for a higher price point or they can make junk for a low price point. It’s economics. Any notion that Chinese workers don’t have the ability to make great products is purely colonialist thinking. Taiwan made cheap junk for a while, and now makes the best electronics in the world.
 

sds1

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Not to derail the thread entirely, but has anyone heard any updates on Triode USA’s Classictone replacement line of transformers (made in the USA and quite possibly by Magnetic Components themselves)? Back in April, they said they’d be available in six weeks, but the site still says “coming soon”.
Looks like have some of the new trannies listed, with a note on the listing that says:
AVAILABLE STARTING APPROX 4 WEEKS, ACCEPTING PRE-ORDERS NOW!!!

But who knows how long ago that note was written. Still though, looks like they are moving forward.
 

Bendyha

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Up to now, I have only had good experiences with the quality of the few items I have ordered from China. Quicker than expected delivery, and very reasonable shipping charges (if at all).

The exorbitant shipping costs from America have often put me off from choosing U.S. products - Plus the fact that some companies, like Allen Amplification, have always flat out refused to sell transformers to non-American customers.
 
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King Fan

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This thread will be a lot shorter and more useful if folks observe the posted rules that say the forums are not for discussion of 'foreign policy, global warming, job outsourcing, domestic economic policy, global trade issues, labor politics,' and so on. The OP was just sharing information, and various folks reassured him that's OK. Hey, I have strong practical, ethical, and geopolitical views, but I don’t come to an amp forum to discuss 'em.
 

sds1

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It is a very fine line to walk sharing such information, without seeming to slam upon any particular ethnic or national group!
Nah, it's really not. Maybe you have a point in some other thread, but in this thread there are no fine lines being navigated, as no constructive criticism of this product/vendor has been provided, only criticism of country of origin with no data or experiences with respect to said product/vendor to back it up.

It's called bigotry and it's real easy to spot and at least one post in this thread has already been removed by admins for violation of forum rules.

China has access to all the same raw materials and skilled labor and machinery as USA (or any other country) to produce a high quality audio/power transformer.

The quality of the transformers mentioned here is yet to be known by anyone participating in this discussion.
 
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