whats the best new jtm45 outut transformer

pjbottoms · Post by **pjbottoms** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 12:42 am

I have a ceriatone jtm45 and I wanted a better output transformer and choke. Anybody have some suggestions ?

Rickey_Dee · Post by **Rickey_Dee** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 1:03 am

well, there are a couple of options you have... mostly it depends on how much money you would spend... (not saying that the more expensive transformer and the better ones, just a bit different!)

you could got for george's transformer, they are made by heyboer ( http://www.heyboertransformers.com/index.shtml ). he offers two versions, a "standard" jtm45 (which are shipped with his kits) and a radiospares deluxe ot. the radiospares ot's were used in the very early jtm's. you can find them here:

http://store.metroamp.com/index.php?cPa ... 8ca7ui7ad6

the second option you have is marstran ( www.marstran.com ). scroll down the page a bit and you can see what he's having in stock currently. these are also said to be great transformer, i never heard an amp with a marstran ot, but there are some people here who have built amps with those trannies, so i'm sure you can get some more info about that.

the third is mercury magnetics ( www.mercurymagnetics.com ). these are also great transformer, and the one i use. these are said to be a bit brighter, but that's what i wanted in my 50W plexi... they are also a bit more expensive that the other ones, but i wouldn't rate them better, just a bit different. if i would build a jtm, i probably would go with heyboer or marstran.

you can also find the mercury's in george's shop... http://store.metroamp.com/index.php?cPa ... 8ca7ui7ad6

maybe there are some more companies who offer transformer, but i don't really know them, and i guess those 3 companies above are the most common options, and either way you choose, they all 3 are big improvements for your amp! same for the chokes...

cheers
rickey

pjbottoms · Post by **pjbottoms** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 1:25 am

Any idea how any of the transformers listed above compare to the one Nik uses in his ceriatone kits ?

Rickey_Dee · Post by **Rickey_Dee** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 2:45 am

i don't know much about the ceriatone transformer except that they are obviously made in malaysia... so i can't compare them... what you get when you buy one of the above and replace a "standard" transformer, you get mostly more dynamic headroom, better note seperation, more harmonic overtones... more "life".

and as long as it seems - to my eye - that heyboer, marstran and mercury are simply the best transformer you can get for a marshall, i'm sure they will be an improvent over your ceriatone transformer.

if you want a lil bit of "modern" (modern may be the wrong word), a lil bit more overall brightness, i would go for mercury. if you want the ultimate in vintage sound, go for heyboer or marstran, especially the radiospares.

that's how i would see the whole thing.

Rickey_Dee · Post by **Rickey_Dee** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 2:49 am

maybe this one can help out a bit:

http://forum.metroamp.com/viewtopic.php?t=6391