Original Dagnall OT '74 100W Super Lead

rgalpin · Post by **rgalpin** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 4:44 pm

I have an Original Dagnall OT from a '74 100W Super Lead.

Does anyone have experience with this era OT?

I know it's simply a matter of sticking it in an amp and listening with my own pointy ears but... i don't have that luxury right now so I'm curious about what to expect.

Is there anything special there with a 33 year old OT? Wild ass opinions welcome... encouraged even!

Thanks

novosibir · Post by **novosibir** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 5:53 pm

Although it's already not the legendary, on a paper former wound and paper insulated Dagnall C1998, it's nevertheless a good old iron, which already was very very very often back and forth magnetized and therefore has a by operating softened iron in it, what certainly makes is sound thick, warm and smooth.

So that iron is really something special and you shouldn't give it away as a bargain

Larry

Tone Slinger · Post by **Tone Slinger** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 2:07 pm

Take out the MM and put in the 74' and lets hear sound comparisons.

rockstah · Post by **rockstah** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 5:11 pm

Tone Slinger wrote:Take out the MM and put in the 74' and lets hear sound comparisons.

or send it to me ill do the sound comparison clips.

rgalpin · Post by **rgalpin** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 5:32 pm

part of the reason i'm asking is because i'm considering swapping - but it's only worth the effort if there's reason to be believe that it might be better than the MM. and i have no experience of my own with it - so i'm askin'fer opinions.

rockstah · Post by **rockstah** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 6:15 pm

that is exactly why i would swap it out if i had that tranny and compare it to my MM - so i would know the difference.

rgalpin · Post by **rgalpin** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 12:14 pm

you think there would be any problems with disconnecting the MM and connecting the dagnall without taking the MM out?

for a test run.

i don't have as much experience with this part of the amp...

awangotango · Post by **awangotango** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 11:25 pm

you can leave the merc bolted on. just flip over the chassis, sit the original OT towards the back, close enough so the wires will reach their destinations; imp selector, board center tap, ground,common. and disconnect the merc wires. The swap might help the inability to punch through the mix as well. The merc is kind of an open-fisted punch to my ears, on the 'airy' side, that '74 dagnal should have more of a close fist feel that may jive with the band more. In any case, you shouldn't let that OT sit there and not try it since you've tried a hundred other swaps that likely aren't as dramatic as this one will be. It won't likely be an instant dramatic change but the amp should feel and sound like a different amp. And don't be suprised if it moves you away from vh I and into more 1984 house of pain type tone. The merc imo had some of the studio and effect voodoo added into the OT to mimic ed's effected tone, so the '74 ot will be more like a stock marshall, but since you have the low filter and greenbacks, should be very vh'y, and may even need another tweek or two, since swapping OT's will change things. You may get lucky and have a winner right off though when you swap it in.

rgalpin · Post by **rgalpin** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 12:53 am

gotta try it. thanks for the insight.

rockstah · Post by **rockstah** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 1:43 am

cant wait to hear your findings.

Tone Slinger · Post by **Tone Slinger** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:52 am

Oh, yeah.