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Vintage threads from the first ten years

Another "what's the best tranny" question.(AC30)

8/30/2000 4:23 AM
PeterF	Another "what's the best tranny" question.(AC30) Ah think I'mma gonna build me uh AC30 clone. So what transformers would you folks recommend? So far I've found: CLARK PARTS OT-$105 choke-$30, HOLLAND OT-$82 PT-$85 choke-$26, and HOFFMAN (it says they're re-issues. I don't know if it means they ARE the ones used in the re-issues) OT-$75 PT-$80 choke-$36. I also found a couple OT's that say 4 EL84/30w but don't actually say they're made to vox specs, although I assume that's what they're getting at. Any opinions appreciated. PeterF

8/30/2000 4:23 AM

PeterF

Another "what's the best tranny" question.(AC30)

Ah think I'mma gonna build me uh AC30 clone. So what transformers would you folks recommend? So far I've found: CLARK PARTS OT-$105 choke-$30, HOLLAND OT-$82 PT-$85 choke-$26, and HOFFMAN (it says they're re-issues. I don't know if it means they ARE the ones used in the re-issues) OT-$75 PT-$80 choke-$36. I also found a couple OT's that say 4 EL84/30w but don't actually say they're made to vox specs, although I assume that's what they're getting at. Any opinions appreciated.

PeterF

8/30/2000 1:04 PM
mod	this is an e-mail i saved from along time ago Here is were the Matchless trany's are. ARS Electronics 1 800 422 4250, in CA 1-800-422-4277. They are not on the net! They only have the 30wt stuff. might be another option to think about btw i used the hoffman trannys for my ac-30 clone i and i like em alot, i used the reissue power tranny and the reissue choke but i subed out the output tranny for one of doug's custom tranny's because his had a 4ohm out, my cab is a matchless 2x12 at 4 ohms. the reissue ot doesnt have the 4 ohm out. i dont know how much that place is askin for those matchless trannys but i know a guy was askin a boat load for em some time ago, good luck! btw if you call that matchless please place post the prices it'd be interesting to know how much their charging for em.

8/30/2000 1:04 PM

mod

this is an e-mail i saved from along time ago

Here is were
the Matchless trany's are. ARS Electronics 1 800 422 4250, in CA 1-800-422-4277. They are not on the net! They only have the 30wt stuff.

might be another option to think about

btw i used the hoffman trannys for my ac-30 clone i and i like em alot, i used the reissue power tranny and the reissue choke but i subed out the output tranny for one of doug's custom tranny's because his had a 4ohm out, my cab is a matchless 2x12 at 4 ohms. the reissue ot doesnt have the 4 ohm out. i dont know how much that place is askin for those matchless trannys but i know a guy was askin a boat load for em some time ago, good luck!

btw if you call that matchless please place post the prices it'd be interesting to know how much their charging for em.

8/31/2000 7:52 PM
Rick Erickson	ARS Electronics Customer Service Nightmare Q{Here is were the Matchless trany's are. ARS Electronics } I tried to do business with ARS once. I ordered four Celestion Vintage 10's and received two new speakers and two that looked weathered and had obviously been reconed. To make matters worse, the reconed speakers rattled. When I called to straighten out this obvious mistake I was rudely told by the woman who answered the phone "Let me inform you sir, We do not sell reconed speakers as new". I tried to explain to her that they obviously had done just that and I wanted them exchanged for new ones. I returned the defective speakers with a note explaining the mistake and that I wanted to exchange these speakers for a brand new pair and waited for them to arrive. When the new package arived I opened it up to find the same pair of weathered baskets with fresh cones in them. I immediately called up and talked this time to a younger guy who explained to me that "this is what the factory wanted us to do". They were completely unwilling to exchange these battered & reconed speakers for a new pair. I ended up using the Visa dispute process to resolve the problem and ordered another pair from a different supplier. This is the only time I have ever had to reverse charges on a supplier. I couldn't believe the attitudes I was getting from the people I talked to at ARS. This was my first and last order with this company. It's too bad because they carry quite a few products that I would buy if they hadn't treated me so poorly. Their attitude seemed to be "We're right and the customer is wrong. So what're ya gonna do about it?" I'm going to never shop there again and tell the world about the poor service I received from ARS Electronics in CA. That's what!!! I feel better already. RE

8/31/2000 7:52 PM

Rick Erickson

ARS Electronics Customer Service Nightmare

Q{Here is were
the Matchless trany's are. ARS Electronics }

I tried to do business with ARS once. I ordered four Celestion Vintage 10's and received two new speakers and two that looked weathered and had obviously been reconed. To make matters worse, the reconed speakers rattled. When I called to straighten out this obvious mistake I was rudely told by the woman who answered the phone "Let me inform you sir, We do not sell reconed speakers as new". I tried to explain to her that they obviously had done just that and I wanted them exchanged for new ones. I returned the defective speakers with a note explaining the mistake and that I wanted to exchange these speakers for a brand new pair and waited for them to arrive. When the new package arived I opened it up to find the same pair of weathered baskets with fresh cones in them. I immediately called up and talked this time to a younger guy who explained to me that "this is what the factory wanted us to do". They were completely unwilling to exchange these battered & reconed speakers for a new pair. I ended up using the Visa dispute process to resolve the problem and ordered another pair from a different supplier. This is the only time I have ever had to reverse charges on a supplier. I couldn't believe the attitudes I was getting from the people I talked to at ARS.
This was my first and last order with this company.
It's too bad because they carry quite a few products that I would buy if they hadn't treated me so poorly. Their attitude seemed to be "We're right and the customer is wrong. So what're ya gonna do about it?"
I'm going to never shop there again and tell the world about the poor service I received from ARS Electronics in CA. That's what!!!
I feel better already.
RE

9/1/2000 2:39 AM
PeterF	Wow! That's unreal. I will probably still call them and see what thier deal is, but I promise not to do business with them unless I somehow decide I absolutely must have a Matchless tranny. I don't imagine that being the case. I'm actually leaning towards the re-issue trannies because I've played a re-issue AC30 and thought it was the best sounding amp I'd ever heard, though I should probably mention that I don't think I've ever seen an original AC30 in person, let alone played through one. PeterF

9/1/2000 2:39 AM

PeterF

Wow! That's unreal. I will probably still call them and see what thier deal is, but I promise not to do business with them unless I somehow decide I absolutely must have a Matchless tranny. I don't imagine that being the case.

I'm actually leaning towards the re-issue trannies because I've played a re-issue AC30 and thought it was the best sounding amp I'd ever heard, though I should probably mention that I don't think I've ever seen an original AC30 in person, let alone played through one.

PeterF

9/1/2000 3:13 AM
Paul C	Korg's been saying for about a year that they were going to come out with an Albion clone for a replacement tranny. I've been waiting for this because that to my ears was by far the best sounding tranny used in the AC30. My fav was a non TB normal model with the Albions. Anyway I've used the Hoffman 30watt a few times in 2 EL84 amps. It's much better sounding to me then the one used in the AC15, and it's the same size so it's "almost" a pure drop in. I'd have to think about it in a 30watt version ( seems a little light on the iron...), but it's the best sounding of the off the shelf tranny I've found for my little home brew.

9/1/2000 3:13 AM

Paul C

Korg's been saying for about a year that they were going to come out with an Albion clone for a replacement tranny. I've been waiting for this because that to my ears was by far the best sounding tranny used in the AC30. My fav was a non TB normal model with the Albions. Anyway I've used the Hoffman 30watt a few times in 2 EL84 amps. It's much better sounding to me then the one used in the AC15, and it's the same size so it's "almost" a pure drop in. I'd have to think about it in a 30watt version ( seems a little light on the iron...), but it's the best sounding of the off the shelf tranny I've found for my little home brew.

9/1/2000 6:53 AM
Steve A.	Rick: I immediately called up and talked this time to a younger guy who explained to me that "this is what the factory wanted us to do". Some mfg's just won't replace a defective item! Especially with Celestion shipping their speakers from England (that is where they are from- right?) It could be that they will pay to have a defective speaker reconed but not actually replaced. With some items the mfg will factor in a discount to cover the anticipated defective returns... and it will be up to the distributor to honor the warranties. But with Celestion raising their wholesale prices I doubt that they have made any concessions for defective items... However, for ARS Electronics to expect you (a paying customer) to accept reconed speakers as new... that really sucks! Someone in management must have had his head up his woofer to have decided on a policy like that. Maybe they will lose a few bucks on the reconed speakers, but that is not as bad as losing a customer for good! Thank god for the Visa dispute process... Steve Ahola P.S. As for a PT for an AC30-style amp I was wondering about the Hammond 263CX... the secondary is 180-0-180 (just like on one schematic for the AC30) with 250mA! There is a 5V 3A FT for a tube rectifier but no 6.3V tap for the filaments... I had heard that a low voltage high current PT is the ticket for an AC30/DC30 type amp, but do you think that 250mA is too high? Thanks!

9/1/2000 6:53 AM

Steve A.

Rick:

I immediately called up and talked this time to a younger guy who explained to me that "this is what the factory wanted us to do".

Some mfg's just won't replace a defective item! Especially with Celestion shipping their speakers from England (that is where they are from- right?) It could be that they will pay to have a defective speaker reconed but not actually replaced. With some items the mfg will factor in a discount to cover the anticipated defective returns... and it will be up to the distributor to honor the warranties. But with Celestion raising their wholesale prices I doubt that they have made any concessions for defective items...

However, for ARS Electronics to expect you (a paying customer) to accept reconed speakers as new... that really sucks! Someone in management must have had his head up his woofer to have decided on a policy like that. Maybe they will lose a few bucks on the reconed speakers, but that is not as bad as losing a customer for good! Thank god for the Visa dispute process...

Steve Ahola

P.S. As for a PT for an AC30-style amp I was wondering about the Hammond 263CX... the secondary is 180-0-180 (just like on one schematic for the AC30) with 250mA! There is a 5V 3A FT for a tube rectifier but no 6.3V tap for the filaments...

I had heard that a low voltage high current PT is the ticket for an AC30/DC30 type amp, but do you think that 250mA is too high? Thanks!

9/1/2000 11:32 AM

BWilliamson

quote:
"the secondary is 180-0-180 (just like on one schematic for the AC30) with 250mA!"

Looking at the schem in Weber's book--mine says 280v. I remember the same # from Pittman's. I was thinking of using the 270HX (275-0-275 @ 200ma)

bw

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