Search found 233 matches

by Jackie Treehorn
Mon Mar 03, 2014 1:04 pm
Forum: Trainwreck Discussion
Topic: Opinions welome! Various OTs for the Express
Replies: 54
Views: 9051

Re: Opinions welome! Various OTs for the Express

I bought an actual trainwreck power transformer from eBay around 8 or 9 years ago. 3 taps, 250, 275, and 300 volts at 250ma. It's in my rocket type amp. I posted the part number previously. There's a Heyboer output transformer that has the exact Pacific part number 11415 (not exactly sure on the num...
by Jackie Treehorn
Mon Feb 24, 2014 6:38 pm
Forum: Trainwreck Discussion
Topic: Opinions welome! Various OTs for the Express
Replies: 54
Views: 9051

Re: Opinions welome! Various OTs for the Express

Interesting, I did not know that. I asked Heyboer once if they could do a Mac style trifilar and they told me no. That's perspective, though, any push pull transformer will work for a wreck. Compare that to a McIntosh. Even the original company couldn't do the mc290, the reissue is a bifilar design....
by Jackie Treehorn
Mon Feb 24, 2014 5:48 pm
Forum: Trainwreck Discussion
Topic: Opinions welome! Various OTs for the Express
Replies: 54
Views: 9051

Re: Opinions welome! Various OTs for the Express

I would guess that it was excluded because Ken felt it would be an improvement to not have the unused tap. Lots of guys say that the 16 ohm tap sounds best because you're using the whole wind of the secondary.
by Jackie Treehorn
Wed Feb 19, 2014 10:26 pm
Forum: Trainwreck Discussion
Topic: New Express Clone: What are your suggested knob settings?
Replies: 11
Views: 2206

Re: New Express Clone: What are your suggested knob settings?

I just use a phase reversed speaker cable and try to keep the reversed end at the speaker cabinet. The shell of the plug that's reversed will have the ac from the amp output, 30 volts or so, when you're playing, so if you're using an airbrake, you may touch it while you're playing with your hands on...
by Jackie Treehorn
Wed Feb 19, 2014 8:55 pm
Forum: Trainwreck Discussion
Topic: New Express Clone: What are your suggested knob settings?
Replies: 11
Views: 2206

Re: New Express Clone: What are your suggested knob settings?

You might try reversing the phase of the speaker. The Express inverts the phase. You get a bit of a different sound, fuller mids with the phase reversed.

I usually set the knobs to provide the most harmonic feedback, then trim off some bass, add some highs to fit the mix/room, etc.
by Jackie Treehorn
Mon Jan 20, 2014 1:30 pm
Forum: Trainwreck Discussion
Topic: Wiring
Replies: 8
Views: 1774

Re: Wiring

How many types of Teflon wire have you two tried? I've never had a problem with Kimber TCSS, getting it in place. I've done multiple wreck types with it without problem and it sounds awesome if you're looking for a fuller tone from your amp.
by Jackie Treehorn
Mon Jan 20, 2014 1:27 am
Forum: Trainwreck Discussion
Topic: Wiring
Replies: 8
Views: 1774

Re: Wiring

The wire I would avoid, is the silver plated copper type. A lot of the Teflon wire is silver plated and to me, it sounds clangy and harsh on the top end.

I really like Kimber TCSS which is pure copper, 7 strands, with Teflon jacket.
by Jackie Treehorn
Mon Dec 09, 2013 2:09 am
Forum: Trainwreck Discussion
Topic: Opinions on rocket PS filtering sought
Replies: 7
Views: 1145

Re: Opinions on rocket PS filtering sought

Are you talking about putting the choke before the plates? That would make it pretty stiff. I would go the opposite route and go 40 mf or lower.
by Jackie Treehorn
Fri Nov 29, 2013 2:01 pm
Forum: Trainwreck Discussion
Topic: rjguitar Rocket build
Replies: 42
Views: 11973

Re: rjguitar Rocket build

I think the 716P didn't come on the market until 1989 or so, and the 715 has copper clad steel leads. Good question about the Panasonic caps. I've got some that I bought at a surplus store thinking they were the polypropylene, but after a bit of research, turns out they were polyester. The k40y's ar...
by Jackie Treehorn
Tue Nov 26, 2013 12:15 am
Forum: Trainwreck Discussion
Topic: A3801 value?
Replies: 180
Views: 30827

Re: A3801 value?

I don't have anything tangible to sell, but would like some money, anyway, so I will sell over the counter, derivative financial instruments based on the market movement of the transformers and the wire snippets. PM me if you want in on the action!
by Jackie Treehorn
Mon Nov 25, 2013 6:05 pm
Forum: Trainwreck Discussion
Topic: A3801 value?
Replies: 180
Views: 30827

Re: A3801 value?

Best of luck with your transformer speculation/arbitrage.
by Jackie Treehorn
Sun Nov 24, 2013 8:49 pm
Forum: Trainwreck Discussion
Topic: A3801 value?
Replies: 180
Views: 30827

Re: A3801 value?

$585? That's nuts. It's an off the shelf, generic transformer. It's not like it's a trifilar wound McIntosh. Any 6.6k push pull transformer will work in this amp and quite possibly, sound better. Keep in mind, Ken had to build these amps to a price point. We have no idea which transformer he would h...
by Jackie Treehorn
Thu Nov 21, 2013 2:02 am
Forum: Trainwreck Discussion
Topic: Half Power Switch in Rocket
Replies: 7
Views: 1495

Re: Half Power Switch in Rocket

You still have to adjust the load, run the 16 ohm cab into the 8 ohm tap, but it should work.
by Jackie Treehorn
Thu Nov 14, 2013 1:58 pm
Forum: Trainwreck Discussion
Topic: Rocket a bit too dark
Replies: 28
Views: 5803

Re: Rocket a bit too dark

I like smaller couplers to the power tubes, .022, made a pretty significant difference. If you've got the 220k into the phase inverter, you can stick a small cap across it 500pf or so. I did that with the ef86 channel in my rocket. You can also get a little nicer high end by bypassing the electrolyt...
by Jackie Treehorn
Sun Nov 03, 2013 7:46 pm
Forum: Trainwreck Discussion
Topic: Rocket rectifier tubes and Merlin's Rocket mod
Replies: 19
Views: 5273

Re: Rocket rectifier tubes and Merlin's Rocket mod

Hey, Martin. Whatever it was, it worked and strikes me as a pretty good solution. Look at the Dual Rectifier, with 110 microfarad on a 5u4 rated for 40 microfarad. Just double them up. That's a solution done on a lot of amps. I've never tried the real Mullard, but I would guess that a weak JJ with a...