Transformer choice for Stang ray

[chopstuck]

I finally had a chance to try some DRZ amps after building a few 18 watters. Compared to 18 watt lite, I just don't know what people see in the ghia. The tone control sweep is nice but the tone reminds me of an old blackface Deluxe without reverb. The maz jr NR was a good sounding amp. I may try building one but the surprise was the Stangray. I guess it's just a AC30/4 with a CG tone control. I guess the icing on the cake was the Celestion alnico gold. That 1x12 combo was out of this world clean and shimmery without the icepick highs of the Twin reverbs with JBL's. But $2100 ?

If I'm starting from scratch and I have to get a set of transformers what set would work well ? I know the TDS were designed to emulate the AC30 but they are the most expensive at $310/set

GDS
TDS
Toneslut ?

[M Fowler]

Chopstuck did you ever get your Stangray going?

Edit: Power is 293v at rectifier in my ray. So you could go with the following:

Power Transformer
Primary: 120V
HV Taps: 300 - 260 - 0 - 260 - 300 (300mA)
Heater Tap: 6.3V (7.5A)
Rectifier Tap: 5V (3A)

Vintage Spec Liverpool Output Transformer

Primary: Dual 5200 Ohms
Secondary: 4 / 8 / 16 Ohms
Steel: M19/26
Watts: 35 (conservatively)

Experimenter's Output Transformer

Primary: Dual 4300 / 5200 Ohms
Secondary: 4 / 8 / 16 Ohms
Steel: M19/26
Watts: 35 (conservatively)

[chopstuck]

Yup that's what I got. Impressive iron too !

[fzfwyv]

I'm in process of building an AC30/4 using Toneslut iron. I built one prior to this with scrap parts so I am anxious to build one with good iron.

Just a suggestion, try the AC30/4 without the tone control. The CG tone just seems to choke off the amps tone, IMO.

-Rich

[M Fowler]

What voltages did you use chopstuck.

fzfwyv what voltage are you looking to go with?

I am curious because I want to built another Rocket and up the volume and my last build used 245-0-245 Edcor with Dynaco A470-s OT.

The Stangray not far off that design used pretty high secondary.

[Zippy]

I am curious because I want to built another Rocket and up the volume and my last build used 245-0-245 Edcor with Dynaco A470-s OT.

Have you considered the KT66 Rockster???

[M Fowler]

Yup I did and Normster's reverb Rocket too, all very nice and on my list to do.

[Zippy]

Cool, so how much louder do you need? 4xEL34???

[M Fowler]

I am trying to go with the original based Rocket EL84s but probably will up the PT to 280v instead of the 245v secondary as on my first Rocket.

I don't need anymore four EL34 amps sitting around.