Is this a Drake transformer in this jcm800?

[nickfox]

I am looking at a jcm800 4010 50W combo and I asked the seller to take a picture. The one in the right has Drake stamped on it and the large one on the left has "Marshall - England" stamped on it. Are they both Drakes?

thanks
n

 

[neikeel]

The choke is definitely a Drake and the likelihood is that the OT is a Drake too. To be sure there will be an ink stamp on the top of the endbell, should be 784-139 for that era of 4010.
The PT should be 1202-324. On the face where the screws are there will be a month and year stamp too (on both).

 

[nickfox]

The choke is definitely a Drake and the likelihood is that the OT is a Drake too. To be sure there will be an ink stamp on the top of the endbell, should be 784-139 for that era of 4010.
The PT should be 1202-324. On the face where the screws are there will be a month and year stamp too (on both).

Thanks neikeel. So basically the information might be hidden on the back side of the transformer? I will ask the seller if he sees any date stamps or those two numbers you posted.

EDIT: A slight tangent. Is there any truth that similar models of the 4010 can sound dramatically different? Are there any "bad" sounding 4010s?

n

 

[neikeel]

I do not know if there were design issues but any valve amp can sound bad with wrong bias, poor tubes, dying caps knackered speaker, etc.
Personally I would treat each one on its merits. Build consistency is pretty reliable around this period. So a proper service with decent tubes appropriate bias and a good speaker. Stock they came with G12M-70 which has very mixed reviews.
I like a 65s in MV amps. I think that you need to make your own mind up when you play it.
People will tell you there are even better speakers out there too.

 

[nickfox]

Both of the 4010s I'm looking at have the G12-65. I want to go and try them out but here in France we're still in quarantine and can't travel outside of our local area without a good reason.

This is a great reason to me but I would have a hard time selling it to the cops...

n

 

[_Steve]

Both of the 4010s I'm looking at have the G12-65. I want to go and try them out but here in France we're still in quarantine and can't travel outside of our local area without a good reason.

This is a great reason to me but I would have a hard time selling it to the cops...

n

Its a shame the gendarmes don't understand rock'n'roll like we do

Bonne chance avec l'amplificateur!

 

[Chris-in-LA]

That label on the OT seems like it references 7 tubes.

 

[Kelia]

That label on the OT seems like it references 7 tubes.

Here are some pictures of an OT I have here for reference ,..it's from 1978

 

[neikeel]

That label on the OT seems like it references 7 tubes.

but you will see it is a generic label with various options.

The pic from Kelia is very helpful too as it shows the stampings very clearly.

 

[Chris-in-LA]

but you will see it is a generic label with various options.

Yes and it almost looks like another label is underneath. That choke has a 1982 date on it, maybe that’s how they did it in 1982.

 

[nickfox]

Here are some pictures of an OT I have here for reference ,..it's from 1978

thanks for posting this. One thing I've been wondering about is in my picture, the transformer looks all shiny and new and here @Kelia's transformer has aged. Is it common for transformers that are 40 years old to look that new?

And is the transformer in @Kelia's picture (and mine) actually a Drake? I'm still not clear on that.

I know up above @neikeel stated that the numbers 784 139 indicates that it's a Drake, is that correct?

n

 

[Kelia]

thanks for posting this. One thing I've been wondering about is in my picture, the transformer looks all shiny and new and here @Kelia's transformer has aged. Is it common for transformers that are 40 years old to look that new?

And is the transformer in @Kelia's picture (and mine) actually a Drake? I'm still not clear on that.

I know up above @neikeel stated that the numbers 784 139 indicates that it's a Drake, is that correct?

n

Can't answer for the 784-139 question about if Dagnall ever made those but my guess is that if they did,
they probably had a different number but really not sure ,...Neikeel would know more about this,

As for your 40 year old trannys looking new question,......yes it can ,...I can't find the pictures right now but
the 1978 half stack Hiwatt I had was showroom mint ,.....so much that it was scary !
I'll post pictures if I ever find them.

 

[Chris-in-LA]

The Drake OT in my 86 is clearly labeled as 784-139 and is still very shiny as well. I do need some better pics as this is the only one I have.

 

[junk notes]

I do not know if there were design issues but any valve amp can sound bad with wrong bias, poor tubes, dying caps knackered speaker, etc.
Personally I would treat each one on its merits. Build consistency is pretty reliable around this period. So a proper service with decent tubes appropriate bias and a good speaker. Stock they came with G12M-70 which has very mixed reviews.
I like a 65s in MV amps. I think that you need to make your own mind up when you play it.
People will tell you there are even better speakers out there too.

No/Yes. They initially came with the G12-65's, as well as the Canadian models. -Serials that had N, P, or R.
Around 1984 the were equipped with the 70's as well as the 1933 extension cab.

carry on.

 

[Kelia]

Finaly found the Hiwatt pictures,.........42 years and still shining !

 

[nickfox]

Finaly found the Hiwatt pictures,.........42 years and still shining !

Beautiful amp. I'm curious about something. I see it's a 100W amp but it's called a "Custom Hiwatt 50". Am I missing something?

n

 

[Kelia]

Beautiful amp. I'm curious about something. I see it's a 100W amp but it's called a "Custom Hiwatt 50". Am I missing something?

n

It is a 50 watt,..........only two EL34's

 

[Marshallmadness]

I have a 82 USA 4010 with 6550’s and it has that exact same label and all drake iron. Mine is all shiny and new looking after all these years but I don’t live in a humid environment. Mine came with the G12m-65 but I tried a greenback in it and I liked it better.

Something to consider is mine had a 120k bias range resistor and no way could the bias be brought to a good level. I played it for years like that but recently changed the bias range from 120k to 150k for 6550’s and biased it at 65% with new tubes. The amp now sounds absolutely beautiful.