Page 1 of 5

Is this the pic of the 2" Drake?

Posted: Fri May 13, 2011 5:08 am
by Star*Guitar
If so what year was it taken. I want to make sure I order the right O.T. for my build. There has been discussion Ed didn't have a Dagnall # C1998 in his amp on VH-1 which is the core tone I am looking for. Any other pics to offer of the O.T. from that period?

Re: Is this the pic of the 2" Drake?

Posted: Fri May 13, 2011 6:12 am
by leadguy
No, that photo is from the 90s or whatever.

The 2 inch output transformer seems to be in the VHII staged studio photos in 1978 and from what I can remember Dave Friedman has said that he heard that the transformer was changed from the original before VH1.

Re: Is this the pic of the 2" Drake?

Posted: Fri May 13, 2011 9:54 am
by Tone Slinger
Yeah, Tube Tramp said that Eddie blew out the original transformer in '72 or '73. The way Ed cranked that thing and ran it (almost certainly) while maybe it wasnt in 'proper' working form alot, I'm sure he blew another after that, and probably before the first album.

Regardless, that first album has a different sound as any of the others.IMO, only the boots right before and after that first album have 'THAT' tone (first album).

The variables are more than just the amp though.

Strat78 has nailed the core tone pretty damn close. His 'straight' 12xxx clips are great, as are his 2 inch clips. Keep in mind that strat78 also put in a quad of the EH 6ca7's in his '2 inch' clips. These are WAY closer to the Sylvies than anything BUT the sylvies.

Re: Is this the pic of the 2" Drake?

Posted: Fri May 13, 2011 10:31 am
by jape88
Tone Slinger wrote: Keep in mind that strat78 also put in a quad of the EH 6ca7's in his '2 inch' clips. These are WAY closer to the Sylvies than anything BUT the sylvies.
I thought Strat got those GE big bottles from TT? ...swine, wish I could of got some :lol:

What's the general opinion on the best 2" OT?

Re: Is this the pic of the 2" Drake?

Posted: Fri May 13, 2011 1:52 pm
by Roe
the marstran is excellent. i'd try the 132

Re: Is this the pic of the 2" Drake?

Posted: Sun May 15, 2011 9:42 pm
by Ralle
Could the 2" OT have been in the amp during the "After Zero" demo and the first album... before the seccon album?

Re: Is this the pic of the 2" Drake?

Posted: Sun May 15, 2011 10:43 pm
by Strat78
Ralle wrote:Could the 2" OT have been in the amp during the "After Zero" demo and the first album... before the seccon album?
It looks like it was their for the first tour. I've got the M e r r e n 132 and also their regular 1.5 C1998 in my next 12 series build. I want to do a side by side comparison when this latest amp is done. :D

Re: Is this the pic of the 2" Drake?

Posted: Sun May 15, 2011 10:54 pm
by sgv
...on a different note. Is that amp balancing on a stack of extra bodies? :shock:

Re: Is this the pic of the 2" Drake?

Posted: Mon May 16, 2011 8:06 am
by Ralle
Strat78 wrote:
Ralle wrote:Could the 2" OT have been in the amp during the "After Zero" demo and the first album... before the seccon album?
It looks like it was their for the first tour. I've got the M e r r e n 132 and also their regular 1.5 C1998 in my next 12 series build. I want to do a side by side comparison when this latest amp is done. :D
When you say "looks like"... are there any pics to show that, or have you read any statements?

Re: Is this the pic of the 2" Drake?

Posted: Mon May 16, 2011 10:01 am
by leadguy
The only early back of the amp photos that I know of are the Japan mid 1978 photos and the late 1978 VHII staged photos.

Dave Friedman apparently was told the transformer was changed (probably to the 2 inch) before VH1 so I would tend to believe it.

Re: Is this the pic of the 2" Drake?

Posted: Mon May 16, 2011 10:10 am
by Strat78
I thought we had posted several shots from the 78 sunset sound photo shoot in the plexi debate thread but I could not find them.

Re: Is this the pic of the 2" Drake?

Posted: Mon May 16, 2011 10:25 am
by leadguy
Yes, there is a whole thread on the 2 inch Drake in Ed's amp in the VHII Sunset Sound staged photos.

Re: Is this the pic of the 2" Drake?

Posted: Mon May 16, 2011 11:30 am
by plexified
Just a suggestion but to avoid all confusion how about this , we now refer to it as ........ Drum rolll ,,,,,

" 100watt JMP factory replacement output transformer "

obviously from 69 to prior to the JCM line they were all carbon copies , nothin special .



Sure makes things easier .


And to be clear , the 12 series power transformer is actually a much , much , MUCH ... must I yell ... bigger deal .

Talk about rare , I would speculate maybe , MAYBE a 100 origionals world wide are left .

100w JMP transformers , still available all day long . and even copied very nicely these days .

Food for thought .

Re: Is this the pic of the 2" Drake?

Posted: Mon May 16, 2011 5:28 pm
by Star*Guitar
http://forum.metroamp.com/viewtopic.php ... 0&start=15" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

Is this the topic where it is referenced that you guys are talking about?

Re: Is this the pic of the 2" Drake?

Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 9:26 pm
by plexified
Its a great thread. My position is that the larger transformer in the thread is a 69 and up Dagnall. Standard JMP from 69 to 79 . The big Drake is 2500 ohm and is smooth and loud!! The jmp is the same 1750 ohm unit and louder with more grind. You guys never seem to get my outreach. And her you all missed it aging like a drive by.

The JMP otx was used in the variplex. HEEELLLOOOO. The big Drake sounds good but smoother.

Smoothes rolled strings and new speaks with authority.

You guys are onto the upgjrades now. And this is a true connisuer preference . Play women in love. Higher output primary makes the full Hendrix chords the mind meld. Eds harmonic complexity was old gear. Speakers first and the heads walking them on the tight chokehold leash. Afraid the goodneess of the 2500 ohm Drake is finding the close horserace in preference to the JMP 100 Watt otx. Totally tw
o different horse races