Input transformer?

[demonstratedspatulas]

This might be a very stupid question, but I've been looking over schematics of studio gear just for fun, and I'll see something like a 600 to 60k ohm transformer on the input, going into a small grid stopper, into the grid of the first triode.

Certainly pro studio gear is different from a guitar amp, but I was just curious, maybe some guitar amps have transformers on the input, and maybe they give a certain sound? I have no idea, but thought it would be fun to ask if anyone has tried anything like this or seen anything like it.

[pompeiisneaks]

My understanding is that a guitar has a pretty well matched impedance for the first triode. The transformers are for things like microphones or other devices that have a very different impedance to help match them. Kind of the whole

line/instrument level thing,

A DI box is just a transformer that converts a guitar signal to an impedance that a device expecting a line level can handle too...

~Phil

[demonstratedspatulas]

Definitely agree that a guitar has a good impedance for the input stage

I was thinking maybe if the input transformer was small it would saturate easily and provide some sort of musical nonlinear distortion, but just spitballing really

[pompeiisneaks]

I've never heard of a transformer 'saturating' or 'distorting' It either can or can't handle the current being passed through it or it will melt down/fail basically.

But I'm not a master of transformer science

~Phil

[beasleybodyshop]

"Transformer saturation" is one of the big studio gear buzzwords. lol. Seems like every studio rat I worked with made a big deal about if a mic preamp was transformer input or not - Im sure this does make a big difference if you use cheap ones but not sure how much marketing speak is at play here either. YMMV.

[roberto]

I've never heard of a transformer 'saturating' or 'distorting' It either can or can't handle the current being passed through it or it will melt down/fail basically.

it is not the copper saturating, but the iron. In any case an input transformer directly connected to the pickups cannot saturate.

[pompeiisneaks]

I've never heard of a transformer 'saturating' or 'distorting' It either can or can't handle the current being passed through it or it will melt down/fail basically.

it is not the copper saturating, but the iron. In any case an input transformer directly connected to the pickups cannot saturate.

oh yeah core saturation, ok I do know a very small bit about that

~Phil

[roberto]

This is a very good book to be introduced to the argument:
http://www.dissident-audio.com/Transfos ... Manual.pdf

[The Ballzz]

This is a very good book to be introduced to the argument:
http://www.dissident-audio.com/Transfos ... Manual.pdf

Interesting how you refer to it as an "argument" rather than a "discussion!" I'm assuming that is a VERY telling choice of words!

Just Sayin'
Gene

[roberto]

can I say that my native language is strongly latin influenced (latin as old romans, not south america), so “argument” is a first choice. But that’s a must read on the arg... ehm...

[martin manning]

ar·​gu·​ment | \ ˈär-gyə-mənt \
1a: the act or process of arguing, reasoning, or discussing
b: a coherent series of reasons, statements, or facts intended to support or establish a point of view
c: an angry quarrel or disagreement

[roberto]

B would B my choice, as "argumentum" etymology comes from latin "arguĕre", that means "to demonstrate".

[sluckey]

You make a convincing argument Counselor.

[pompeiisneaks]

You make a convincing argument Counselor.

I OBJECT!

to what I've no clue

~Phil