New OT for My dual rec. ToV

[guitarzan1143]

Anyone know where to get one thats NOT 300 dollars? The output transformer in my ToV is definitely blown, got a very good tech to tell me what the deal was, showed me the fluctuating readings, and it basically explains all of the problems ive been having with it, trouble is i dont have 3 bills to drop on an output transformer. any ideas? thanks!

 

[fluff191]

Anyone know where to get one thats NOT 300 dollars? The output transformer in my ToV is definitely blown, got a very good tech to tell me what the deal was, showed me the fluctuating readings, and it basically explains all of the problems ive been having with it, trouble is i dont have 3 bills to drop on an output transformer. any ideas? thanks!

Thats just how much there, dude! No getting around it. Good luck and start saving some cash!

 

[guitarzan1143]

There are no other ones that i could use as a replacement, 100 watt jcm/jmp OT wont work?

 

[fluff191]

Nope. That would be like putting a 4 cylinder Honda into an old Buick. Just isn't the same.

Besides, the OT is the one of the central components of an amps tone, you really dont want to skimp on that part at all.

But if I were you, I would just get a custom OT. FJA Mods charges $250 INSTALLED. Just a thought.

 

[guitarzan1143]

I wonder what type of OT he uses if its 250 installed and 275 for a Mercury new. I think i might just get hte mercury since i have techs that will install it at no charge.

 

[mikey383]

Mercury is good. If my OT were to blow, I would definitely go with a Mercury Magnetics.

You could use any OT from any 100 watt amp...just don't expect it to sound the same. Part of the Mesa tone is how their transformers are wound. The OT is a very large part of the tone.

Did I, or did I not call the OT in the last thread though?

 

[guitarzan1143]

You did, and itw as because of that i told my tech to check it, and sure enough its fried. this was trip number 3 before we finally figured it out. he was just like "maybe its an OT, the mesa ones are really good, so usually theres no point in checking it..." and i was like yeah forum people said its a possibility. sure as ****. I think ill just go with a mercury magnetics. It is, from what i have read, the ultimate rectifier to have, and its got two custom avatar 4x12s at home to sit on loaded with 4 eminence legends, and 4 vintage 30s, so why not go all out on one more aspect? haha. the head only cost me 300 bucks, and the two cabs together were 450, so im not really into it that much money wise.

 

[mikey383]

Mesa transformers are very beefy and withstand loads of abuse. It's kind of odd to hear of one blowing without being played while unplugged from the cab for a long period of time. What tipped me off to that was how you said it would play through the 8 ohm output just fine even after a tube change. The OT is the only thing left at that point.

You may end up liking the tonal change of the MM OT as well. I've heard of a lot of people liking the MM transformers. Personally, I can't justify springing the extra money for one unless mine blows, but if it did, I would.

$300 for a TOV head is a steal! Even with a $300 OT, you have less in that head than the majority of TOV owners. $1-1.2K is the going rate for those, so you're around half of that.