Mercury Magnetics OT's - need to replace and need an advice

[Setneck]

Hi!

I think about replacing OT in my amp and think about two Mercury Magnetics output transformers: MMO-PX-100 and MMO-100C. Both are designed for hi-gain applications, but PX-100 is described as right for highest gain amps.

The goal is to remove the "blanket" effect (the amp sounds like the cabinet is covered with blanket). I want to improve my tone by removing it and open it up, I'm also looking for more "bite" and want it to sound sharper.

Does anybody dealt with one of those transformers and could tell me impressions?

Thanks in advance and best regards

Andy

[soundguruman]

Changing the OT will probably produce very little, changing something like the tubes or the preamp circuitry will produce a much more noticeable result.
The design of the cabinet --and the speakers that are in it (is the cabinet specifically designed to accommodate those speakers?) (are those really high quality speakers?)
But I don't think you said what kind of amp you are starting with...
I have had better success changing the preamp tubes to sino chinese, which had much more gain and crunch, it was like I was playing a whole new amp. That's just what I did with the tubes.
I had better results using EVM speakers, and using the electrovoice plans to design a specific cabinet, that would get the maximum efficiency out of the speakers.
and there were several other tweaks...
but, if the stock OT burned out, I would definitely consider changing it to a Mercury Magnetics. I would not spend a lot on it until that time comes. There is no amazing change in sound quality or bite that is produced by just changing the OT.

[herbvis]

You could try out a bbe sonic maximizer stomp box. I dont have any experience with them, but people say that it removes the blanket effect from an amp. People that like them swear by them. I hear they are great for marshalls also.

[ams1aw]

I have a BBE 362NR on Ebay right now. These are ADDICTING and really clarify, focus and sharpen your sound.

The BBE 362NR also has built-in NOISE REDUCTION which is very handy.

I need $60.00 plus $15.00 shipped for it. It is like new with no scratches, nicks, dust or other issues. Comes with factory instruction manual.

I have tried the BBE pedal but it isn't nearly as good for some reason.

Here's a link to my auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :MESELX:IT" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[soundguruman]

I have no faith in pedals. If the amp does not produce the sound you want, modify it or get another amplifier.

[Setneck]

Changing the OT will probably produce very little, changing something like the tubes or the preamp circuitry will produce a much more noticeable result.

I've changed the OT to Mercury Magnetics PX-100 and the change is HUGE!! The tone have been tightened up very much, the lows are very articulate (it was main problem actually, causing the "blanket effect"), the mids are very swirly, however a bit too much highs showed up, so I got to setup the amp again (rolling off Treble and Presence). The PX-100 is very bright OT, as it has self leads. So, the result of that is a bit "hi-fi" tone. But in a band's mix the amp now flows thru very easily.

But first of all - the tone cleaned up very much, and that showed me how high quality The Mercury Magnetics transformers are. The amp really opened up. Worth every penny.

And the main thing is a customer service. Patrick and Sergio are the Guys!! Very helpful and friendly. And first of all - patient . I haven't ever met more supportive persons in my whole life.

But I don't think you said what kind of amp you are starting with...

The amp is Bogner Ecstasy. Unfortunately here in Europe there is no chance to get the parts replacement. But Mercury Magnetics transformers works very well instead.

I have had better success changing the preamp tubes to sino chinese, which had much more gain and crunch, it was like I was playing a whole new amp. That's just what I did with the tubes.

And to me is opposite. The chinese preamps muddied my amp. I have great results with Tung-Sols RI's and with NOS Tesla E83CC goldpins in V1.

but, if the stock OT burned out, I would definitely consider changing it to a Mercury Magnetics.

And this is what I did. No compromises. I don't say Heyboyers or Hammonds are bad, but I chose MM OT and I am very happy with it. I can strongly recommend them.

Regards, Andy

[Setneck]

Hi guys!

I thought I'd share with You that my tone now is even better. After playing PX-100 for a while it turned out that the key thing as far as the OT is concerned is synchronizing with the amp's B+ voltage. The PX-100 was slightly underrated here, as Ecstasy reaches even 520VDC. BTW, that PX-100 works now in my friend's Dual Recto and sounds great, as it is matched better B+ of that amp.

Mercury Magnetics guys offered me a custom wounded output transformer designed especially for my Bogner. I have send them the key values and they produced the OT. And what can I say - the change in tone is even more noticeable. The PX-100 was a bit too aggressive, now the tone is more balanced, more "Marshally", but with a Bogner flavour. Great job MM!!

So, if anybody of You feel that Your amp lacks in anything - write to Patrick Selfridge. Together You will solve any problem as far as transformer is concerned. Either he'll offer You a transformer from their great line-up, or they wound a custom iron especially for Your needs and specs. I am very happy with the iron they produced for me.

Regards, Andy (MM powered )

[soundguruman]

Well, lemme put it this way...
I just did a bunch of work for a customer, first we updated 2 amps with Fromel tone and capacitor kits, this made a very noticeable difference in both a Blues Junior, and a Hot Rod Deville. I was very skeptical of this, but it actually works.
Then we changed the stock transformers to Mercury magnetic, guess what? Very little if any difference. And that was a lot of money to buy those transformers.
The circuitry made the big difference, not the transformer. The transformer made a very small improvement, if any.
And it is a very well made transformer, made in USA, nicely built and painted, Nice Red. If I needed a new transformer, I would probably buy one.
But I am not spending to remove a well made Fender transformer, and install a different one. The amazing improvement people are claiming is simply not present, it's your imagination.
Adjusting the bias to a proper point will make more of a difference than installing one of these transformers, unless your existing transformer is a defect.

[Setneck]

Well, every time it is a different story. I am not affiliated with Mercury Magnetics in any way, I am just happy customer who was given a helping hand. I know the opinions floating thru the web about their prices. I agree - their transformers aren't cheap, but to me their iron is worth the money, period.

What is even more important - they most of all wanted to help and their goodwill was awesome. As I described that already, I had a problem when I couldn't get a replacement OT for my amp. I decided to put the one that most probably was the example for Bogner OT's - Dagnall C2668. The amp's response was quite nice, but the sound was a bit too "vintagey". So I decided to put more modern design to my amp and wrote to Patrick at MM describing my problem. After a long long conversation he offered me PX-100, saying that I could exchange it for another OT in 30 days if I'm not fully satisfied. And I wasn't, as the tone became too "Mesa-like", taking out all Bogner flavour.

Besides, PX-100's mismatch with amp's B+ caused another thing here. I measured the impedance of the amp-to-cab output and it occured that when the impedance switch was set to 4 Ohm, the meter showed 16 Ohm, when it was at 8 Ohm - meter showed about 40 Ohm, and 16 Ohm - about 70 Ohm. That showed how the PX-100 was totally mismatched with my XTC's B+ and I suppose that such mismatch caused such tone. I have also measured my Marshall 6100 and everything was perfect there: 4 Ohm setting - 4 Ohm on the meter, 8 Ohm - 8 Ohm, 16 Ohm - 16 Ohm.

So Patrick said that we won't try any other Marshall OT from their line-up, as it wouldn't match again, and offered me custom OT wounded to certain specs we discussed. It was his idea, not mine. It turned out that the tone would be better if the OT would match B+ of an amp. As I have that OT in my amp the impedance mismatch has gone. So it is actually their new design for XTC 101B.

Another thing - they have sent me that custom transformer in exchange of the previous one, with no additional costs. I was only supposed to send them back the PX-100. I was totally surprised in a good way of course, because I am the just regular customer and they took great care of my problem, finally solving it for good. Maybe for those of You who live in western countries it is totally normal, but I come from the land where such customers treatment is an exception .

As for the tone - all is subjective here, no doubts about that. But there was significant difference between Dagnall C2668 and MM PX-100, same as between PX-100 and my custom OT. The amp's response is now very quick, the tone have become more focused. From the other hand, the custom OT gave back all Bogner flavour the PX-100 took away. So the guys in MM really know what they are doing. I will try to compare my amp with regular 101B but as for now I am very happy, only waiting for my OT to be fully "broken-in" .

So, not only a tone was a key here, but also the way of dealing with customers. Both aspects caused that I don't regret any single $ I paid them .

Regards, Andy

[soundguruman]

I have no doubt that MM makes a really nice tranny. And made in USA, with Teflon wire leads.
I like it, and I will probably order one when I build my next amp.
But I would not take out a perfectly good tranny and replace it. Wait till it blows first. I'm not rich, but I like quality.

[Janglin_Jack]

Some stock transformers perform very well, so in some cases a swap may not yeild a huge tonal difference. You can be sure when you get Mercury Transfomers, that they are well built and going to give you excellent tone and reliability. They have proper replacements for almost any amp/application. You can take a chance on some cheaper ones, and hope for the best. In some cases, you might get excellent results. But I have used Mercury transformers in over 10 amps and I am confident they are the best choice in my eyes. Many other worthy companies, but for me, Mecury Magnetics are who I rely on.

Mike

[robert]

Hi,

shure, the MM transformers are ok, but IMHO absolutely overpriced (at least here in Germany)
Also o lot of advertising- hype, MM seems to have the extra money for it...

Therefore I would choose Marstrans (fantastic quality!) or would give the Classic Components transformers a chance (not tried yet)

Regards

Robert