Recommendations for converting power from US power to Australian power on komet head?

[Young Angus]

Okay, so the komet head im getting will be set up for US power which is different from our 240 Volts here in australia. A number of people have recommended that i take the amp and get it permanently converted by a specialist so that it would be set up for Australian power for good with no external transformer converters or anything. But my amp tech Dave Ulbrick, whos word is pretty much gospel when it comes to these things, has suggested i get a 240V to 110V external transformer which is very affordable and would get the job done without having to delve inside the amp. Only thing is that it would be an external thing and there would always be a risk of someone else running the wrong power into it if they didnt know what was going on.

What do you think i should do?

[Norman_T]

Re: Recommendations for converting power from US power to Australian power on komet head?

Get some quotes for the work to have this changed over permanently and see if this would then fit into your budget, if its only a bit more I would recommend doing it that way you don't have any problems with using it and also selling it on (god forbid!!). Of course there might be some problems if you do convert it and then have to send it back to Komet for repairs.

If you are going to use it mainly at home then perhaps leave it and just get an external transformer and make sure that it is properly put together and shielded. Whilst playing the guitar - don't forget to have a large bowl of water and put yourself wiith bare feet in the bowl this way you will have one helluva experience - shocking some might say

[Young Angus]

Re: Recommendations for converting power from US power to Australian power on komet head?

Get some quotes for the work to have this changed over permanently and see if this would then fit into your budget, if its only a bit more I would recommend doing it that way you don't have any problems with using it and also selling it on (god forbid!!). Of course there might be some problems if you do convert it and then have to send it back to Komet for repairs.

If you are going to use it mainly at home then perhaps leave it and just get an external transformer and make sure that it is properly put together and shielded. Whilst playing the guitar - don't forget to have a large bowl of water and put yourself wiith bare feet in the bowl this way you will have one helluva experience - shocking some might say

Haha sounds like fun

I dont think ill be selling this one, but i will want to gig with it im not just gonna use it for home use but you're right about the potential problems it may have if sent back to komet for repairs, thats what Dave (amp tech) said to me. But my ex guitar teacher said he knows a guy who specialises in fixing up and maintaining transformers in tube amps and that if i took it to him it may cost a little but he would do a bang up job and make sure the amps power was running perfectly...which incidentally means tubes and things will last a lot longer too. And that sounded like a good idea.

[ishmun]

Re: Recommendations for converting power from US power to Australian power on komet head?

hey YA,
ive had a few issues with the same thing with using my US Mesa Boogie 50/50 poweramp in australia
i just use a stepdown converter - yeh it sux lugging it around, but u gotta!
the thing about changing the transformer inside is that the transformer adds to the tone in the amp
so if u go chaning the transformer, ull get a diff tone
what u can do is
ring up komet
see if they can send u a komet transformer to use it in Australia
and then get a local guy to install it all for u

Ishan

[Young Angus]

Re: Recommendations for converting power from US power to Australian power on komet head?

hey YA,
ive had a few issues with the same thing with using my US Mesa Boogie 50/50 poweramp in australia
i just use a stepdown converter - yeh it sux lugging it around, but u gotta!
the thing about changing the transformer inside is that the transformer adds to the tone in the amp
so if u go chaning the transformer, ull get a diff tone
what u can do is
ring up komet
see if they can send u a komet transformer to use it in Australia
and then get a local guy to install it all for u

Ishan

Cheers, i might just try that

[Norman_T]

Re: Recommendations for converting power from US power to Australian power on komet head?

hey YA,
ive had a few issues with the same thing with using my US Mesa Boogie 50/50 poweramp in australia
i just use a stepdown converter - yeh it sux lugging it around, but u gotta!
the thing about changing the transformer inside is that the transformer adds to the tone in the amp
so if u go chaning the transformer, ull get a diff tone
what u can do is
ring up komet
see if they can send u a komet transformer to use it in Australia
and then get a local guy to install it all for u

Ishan

Ask them also if they can recommend anyone where you live who can have it done. That way you may at least have no problems with repairs!!

[Young Angus]

Re: Recommendations for converting power from US power to Australian power on komet head?

Good point, thanks

[some_dude]

Re: Recommendations for converting power from US power to Australian power on komet head?

Personally, I'd suggest getting the internal tranny changed.

If you do decide on using an external power converter, we have these three prong twist lock plugs over here. I suggest getting something like that and installing it on the end of your amps power cord with the female end attached to the power converter. That way, no one will accidentally plug your 110v amp into the 240v wall outlet, since there's no way in hell they're getting that twist lock plug in the wall socket.