Worth upgrading your output and power transformers to Mercury Magnetics?
- Thread starter crguti
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Agileguy_101
Master of his Domain
Re: Worth upgrading your output and power transformers to Mercury Magnetics?
From what I've heard, even among aftermarket transformers, they're too expensive for what you get.
From what I've heard, even among aftermarket transformers, they're too expensive for what you get.
FuseG4
Our Neighbor Totoro
Re: Worth upgrading your output and power transformers to Mercury Magnetics?
The thing transformers are supposed to help with, particularly the OT, is bigger bass and more clarity and definition, and just better dynamics. It's supposed to be a "feel" thing. Some people claim drastic differences in tone with swapping iron or adding chokes, some people say it was more subtle for them.
If you like the basic voice of the amp but need more bottom focus I bet MM makes something... but for other tonal changes i'd spend the money on speakers or something
The thing transformers are supposed to help with, particularly the OT, is bigger bass and more clarity and definition, and just better dynamics. It's supposed to be a "feel" thing. Some people claim drastic differences in tone with swapping iron or adding chokes, some people say it was more subtle for them.
If you like the basic voice of the amp but need more bottom focus I bet MM makes something... but for other tonal changes i'd spend the money on speakers or something
Edgecrusher
Well-known member
Re: Worth upgrading your output and power transformers to Mercury Magnetics?
It also depends a lot on the transformer your swapping from. Mesa uses good transformers to begin with so the difference will be small at best other companies use bargain basement transformers so its a larger difference.
It also depends a lot on the transformer your swapping from. Mesa uses good transformers to begin with so the difference will be small at best other companies use bargain basement transformers so its a larger difference.
FuseG4
Our Neighbor Totoro
Re: Worth upgrading your output and power transformers to Mercury Magnetics?
indeed. one might expect great results in a valve jr, maybe even a reissue fender. But yeah I think Mesa would be using at least "decent" stuff.
I just googled the DC-5 and did find a person or 2 complaining of the DC series transformers being a little wimpy, but take that with a grain of salt, right? It doesn't seem to be a common complaint, but now that I'm reading, bass being flabby IS a rather common complaint? Maybe transformers could help some but a lot of people are just saying turn the bass down to dial this amp in.
indeed. one might expect great results in a valve jr, maybe even a reissue fender. But yeah I think Mesa would be using at least "decent" stuff.
I just googled the DC-5 and did find a person or 2 complaining of the DC series transformers being a little wimpy, but take that with a grain of salt, right? It doesn't seem to be a common complaint, but now that I'm reading, bass being flabby IS a rather common complaint? Maybe transformers could help some but a lot of people are just saying turn the bass down to dial this amp in.
Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: Worth upgrading your output and power transformers to Mercury Magnetics?
booogie dont skimp on parts. I'd be very surprised if you would get any kind of upgrade in sound.
booogie dont skimp on parts. I'd be very surprised if you would get any kind of upgrade in sound.
Edgecrusher
Well-known member
Re: Worth upgrading your output and power transformers to Mercury Magnetics?
Yeah the complaints misguided the issue really is that they dont know how to dial in the bass on a boogie. On my MKIV it NEVER gets above 3.5 most of the time is around 1.5 even as low as zero. Its not the transformers its just how the tone network is set up.
Yeah the complaints misguided the issue really is that they dont know how to dial in the bass on a boogie. On my MKIV it NEVER gets above 3.5 most of the time is around 1.5 even as low as zero. Its not the transformers its just how the tone network is set up.
IM4Tone
New member
Re: Worth upgrading your output and power transformers to Mercury Magnetics?
Putting $$$ into a Bugera is like putting lipstick on a pig! It's still a pig, and it still ain't pretty.so it would be worth upgrade if you have a Peavey Valve King or any Bugera ampnder:
Lewguitar
New member
Re: Worth upgrading your output and power transformers to Mercury Magnetics?
Bruce at Mission Amps put a Mercury Magnetics tranny in my '51 Fender Super when the original Triad tranny blew. Sounds exactly the same as it always did: GREAT!
When the tranny in my old blackface Deluxe Reverb blew Bruce put a MM tranny in that too and the results were the same: GREAT!
When the tranny in my old blackface Princeton Reverb blew Bruce put a MM tranny in it as well - and this time, the amp sounded even better than it did originally!
But I wouldn't swap trannys in a Mesa unless there was a real problem with the originals.
Bruce at Mission Amps put a Mercury Magnetics tranny in my '51 Fender Super when the original Triad tranny blew. Sounds exactly the same as it always did: GREAT!
When the tranny in my old blackface Deluxe Reverb blew Bruce put a MM tranny in that too and the results were the same: GREAT!
When the tranny in my old blackface Princeton Reverb blew Bruce put a MM tranny in it as well - and this time, the amp sounded even better than it did originally!
But I wouldn't swap trannys in a Mesa unless there was a real problem with the originals.
Lewguitar
New member
Re: Worth upgrading your output and power transformers to Mercury Magnetics?
I hate blowing transformers. But I love gigging with my old amps. And that's what happens to 40, 50 and 60 year old amps when I gig with them a lot. It's also why Bruce and I have been planning on doing a Lew Collins Model Mission Amp for me...but we never seem to get around to completing it. :banghead:
Bruce is just to busy making HARMONICA amps! He's found his niche.
I hate blowing transformers. But I love gigging with my old amps. And that's what happens to 40, 50 and 60 year old amps when I gig with them a lot. It's also why Bruce and I have been planning on doing a Lew Collins Model Mission Amp for me...but we never seem to get around to completing it. :banghead: Bruce is just to busy making HARMONICA amps! He's found his niche.
Toe-Knee
New member
Re: Worth upgrading your output and power transformers to Mercury Magnetics?
MM transformers are way overpriced for the quality. If you were going to upgrade them (which isn't really necessary in your case) i'd go with heyboer or O'netics you'll get a lot more for your money.
If you are concerned about loose low end remove the resistor that is in parallel with the choke.
MM transformers are way overpriced for the quality. If you were going to upgrade them (which isn't really necessary in your case) i'd go with heyboer or O'netics you'll get a lot more for your money.
If you are concerned about loose low end remove the resistor that is in parallel with the choke.
ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Re: Worth upgrading your output and power transformers to Mercury Magnetics?
I will also agree that there's little to no point in swapping a Mesa transformer. They're already super high quality.
Transformer upgrades are most effective in low-dollar amps, since that's an area where the budget builders do a great deal of cost cutting.
I will also agree that there's little to no point in swapping a Mesa transformer. They're already super high quality.
Transformer upgrades are most effective in low-dollar amps, since that's an area where the budget builders do a great deal of cost cutting.
Ayrton
New member
Re: Worth upgrading your output and power transformers to Mercury Magnetics?
This....
MM makes great transformers, but so do many other companies. Unless you have blown your stocker, no need to buy other iron.
This....
MM makes great transformers, but so do many other companies. Unless you have blown your stocker, no need to buy other iron.
Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
Re: Worth upgrading your output and power transformers to Mercury Magnetics?
Spoken like someone who's never owned/played one...
& if you've seen the size of Bugera trannies you'd know they don't skimp...my 333XL's tranny makes a JSX's look like a midget...but don't take my word for it...take a look yourself:
Spoken like someone who's never owned/played one...
& if you've seen the size of Bugera trannies you'd know they don't skimp...my 333XL's tranny makes a JSX's look like a midget...but don't take my word for it...take a look yourself:
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Empty Pockets
BadHairDayologist
Re: Worth upgrading your output and power transformers to Mercury Magnetics?
Sounds like a lot of work for a bit of tonal variation. I'd rather buy a new cab or a bunch of new pedals or another head.
Sounds like a lot of work for a bit of tonal variation. I'd rather buy a new cab or a bunch of new pedals or another head.
Edgecrusher
Well-known member
Re: Worth upgrading your output and power transformers to Mercury Magnetics?
This is a joke right? your not really bragging about the size of your trannies are you? Or is this some veiled innuendo and when you say "tranny" you arent talking a transformer...
Spoken like someone who's never owned/played one...
This is a joke right? your not really bragging about the size of your trannies are you? Or is this some veiled innuendo and when you say "tranny" you arent talking a transformer...
Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
Re: Worth upgrading your output and power transformers to Mercury Magnetics?
Nah..just calling bull**** where I see it man.. (there's nothing to beat saying it with pictures..)
Edit: Wow..I just realized that post was 3 years old :lmao:
Nah..just calling bull**** where I see it man.. (there's nothing to beat saying it with pictures..)
Edit: Wow..I just realized that post was 3 years old :lmao:
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