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previous: Stephen R.G.,Yeah..well..that's what I'... -- 1/7/1998 10:54 PM

Re: O.T. tone

1/8/1998 8:19 AM
Doc	Re: O.T. tone Mentioning the name Peerless, after R.G. discussed some core/magnetization parameters helped me recall something which may help in describing why certain high quality OPT's sound decidedly better than other high quality units. The Peerless archives, original engineering drawings and notes, were purchased a while back by the owner of Magnequest. I remember discussing with him, in reference to some Peerless 20-20 Plus designs, that special alloy sheeting with superior properties, as far as audio transformers go, was used for core laminations. This material is not currently manufactured (maybe in small quantities at outrageous prices) and the remaining stock was bought up by people in the know. Getting back to what Ken Fischer is quoted as saying, with respect to building a Trainwreck clone and not having the exact output transformer to make it sound the same, and the existence of various other uncomplicated amps with something a little extra in their sound like Matchless, leads me to believe that the iron could be the key. A month ago, I was at a club where a guy in the band was playing thru a 4xEL84 Trainwreck amp and a 4x10 Celestion loaded Mesa cabinet. It had a great sound. The owner let me take a peek behind the nice hardwood cabinet. The transformers were not huge. They looked to be the right size for the power,etc. Since transformers can be copied using the same core size, wire sizes, number of turns, interleaving materials & thicknesses, etc., and still not sound the same, maybe it's the iron alloy which increases the octane just enough to make a pleasing audible difference? Doc

1/8/1998 8:19 AM

Doc

Re: O.T. tone

Mentioning the name Peerless, after R.G. discussed some core/magnetization parameters helped me recall something which may help in describing why certain high quality OPT's sound decidedly better than other high quality units.

The Peerless archives, original engineering drawings and notes, were purchased a while back by the owner of Magnequest. I remember discussing with him, in reference to some Peerless 20-20 Plus designs, that special alloy sheeting with superior properties, as far as audio transformers go, was used for core laminations. This material is not currently manufactured (maybe in small quantities at outrageous prices) and the remaining stock was bought up by people in the know.

Getting back to what Ken Fischer is quoted as saying, with respect to building a Trainwreck clone and not having the exact output transformer to make it sound the same, and the existence of various other uncomplicated amps with something a little extra in their sound like Matchless, leads me to believe that the iron could be the key.

A month ago, I was at a club where a guy in the band was playing thru a 4xEL84 Trainwreck amp and a 4x10 Celestion loaded Mesa cabinet. It had a great sound. The owner let me take a peek behind the nice hardwood cabinet. The transformers were not huge. They looked to be the right size for the power,etc.

Since transformers can be copied using the same core size, wire sizes, number of turns, interleaving materials & thicknesses, etc., and still not sound the same, maybe it's the iron alloy which increases the octane just enough to make a pleasing audible difference?

Doc

Replies:

R.G. The iron alloy does have an effect,... -- 1/8/1998 10:20 AM