Transformer swap.

selbydoodl

This has probably been asked before so forgive my repetition.

I have found an VERY old Fender amp in the States.

It works 100% and sounds superb.

only drawback is the voltage difference.

I want to replace the original transformer with a 230 volt equivalent locally.

IS it possible to do this and will it affect the sound?

I dont want a step down transformer in line.

AlanRatcliffe

What is the amp?

You can order a replacement transformer with a 230V primary and have someone local fit it. Get a Heyboer or a Hammond and you can't go wrong. I think Mr Valve stocks some models, otherwise Mojo or similar.

Ray

This is an interesting topic. Well , especially so for me becasue I'm so poep scared of electricity and stuff that it's a mission to change a light bulb. The people in my house that due to an intellect issue but anyway. I am keen on some good amplification and was wondering about getting an amp in from overseas and getting something done so it will be OK for our power supply.

AlanRatcliffe

Well, first prize is to get it from Europe, as the voltage is the same as ours, so you get the "Export" version of the amp. From the US it's worth it if it's a common brand name amp, as the transformers are readily available (but will add another $50 - $150 on to the price - excluding paying someone to swap them out). However, valve amps use a couple of different voltages at the same time and are sometimes custom made for the amp, so if it isn't a common one, you may have to have one custom wound or get an original one from the manufacturer.

selbydoodl

Hi Alan,

It's a 1973 Fender Twin Reverb with JBL speakers in pristine condition and it's a steal at the price, but o nlyu if I can get the right 230 volt transformer.

RGDS

nick

A friends company builds custom transformers so if you know the voltages and amps, number of taps etc I can tell you roughly what it would cost.

AlanRatcliffe

selbydoodl wrote It's a 1973 Fender Twin Reverb with JBL speakers in pristine condition and it's a steal at the price, but o nlyu if I can get the right 230 volt transformer.

It's gonna cost a fortune to ship though. A JBL loaded 100W Twin is heavy!

No problem getting a 230V power transformer though - Hammond makes them and they seem to retail for $89 - $99 (http://tubesandmore.com/ lists them at $89).

Speak to Karel as he knows way more than I do - I hear he has also experimented with winding his own. Let's hope he chips in...

FenderBender

IMO you'd be safe buying the amp and then getting it sorted locally. Just do your shipping and customs homework. For transformers, I go to Karel. I know that he would be able to sort you out. He recently wound a custom output transformer for a Peavey 5150 I repaired and he did a great job. The owner of the amp said it never sounded better.

TomCat

Graeme Parfett wrote IMO you'd be safe buying the amp and then getting it sorted locally. Just do your shipping and customs homework. For transformers, I go to Karel. I know that he would be able to sort you out. He recently wound a custom output transformer for a Peavey 5150 I repaired and he did a great job. The owner of the amp said it never sounded better.

I can vouch for Karel as well. He wound the power tranny and choke for my project amp and they work great..... 8)

selbydoodl

Thanks all.

Shipping not a problem - we just put it into a container with other machine parts.

After all the machinery operator will need to be given loud and clear instruction in a noisy factory won't he? ?

AlanRatcliffe

selbydoodl wrote Shipping not a problem - we just put it into a container with other machine parts.

After all the machinery operator will need to be given loud and clear instruction in a noisy factory won't he? ?

Yeah, I suppose so. Lol! That's handy...