Well, I've owned my Roadster for almost 5 years now (4-25-07). I love the tones, and it is my "A-Rig". However like most of us, I like to tweak to bring out the best in my amp (NOS preamp tubes, different powertubes etc.). With that said, alot of research led me to talking with Patrick Selfridge at Mercury Magnetics about my likes (Raw uncompressed tone, Recto "Roar", big bottom end response, just about everything) and dislikes (somewhat undefined high-gain chords, lack of fluid-like response) about the Roadster, and my desire to not change the fundamental voice of the amp. I also expressed that I am not looking to get caught up in the whole "this brand tranny is better than that brand tranny" thing, I'm honestly just looking for different shades of the same color.
He recommended I change my Output Transformer and Choke with Mercury Magnetics upgrades. I also spoke with him about using different powertubes, specifically 6550/KT-88 with the MM Trannys. He said that while the OT would be up to the task, I would really be pushing the Mesa Power Transformer beyond it's design running 6550/KT-88. After a few phone calls and e-mails we deceided to replace the Power Transformer with a Mercury Magnetics one that would be designed to work with just about any Octal Socket Power Pentode that I could run in the circuit. To do this they needed my stock Mesa PT as they did not yet make a replacement PT for the Roadster.
I just picked up the Roadster today from my tech, 45 days after I dropped it off to him. All the transformers have been replaced (OT, PT, Choke & Reverb Tranny) with a set designed to work together to help improve the areas I am concerned with.
It was awesome to work with my tech, Andrew Bell of Bell Audio Labs in CT, and Patrick Selfridge at Mercury Magnetics to help design a new model PT, but also to "think outside the box" on what model Choke and Reverb transformer to use.
I've played the amp at low volume at home and have noticed some improvement in note and chord clarity, but in all fairness I'll save my review after I have some real-world playing time on the amp. Patrick recommended 30-40 hours of break in time for the trannys anyway, and I don't want to put up a "Honeymoon Phase" review either. I still have all my "Reference Tubes" (Stock Mesa's) in the amp and will wait until the break-in time has passed before I start rolling in my favorites.
Anyway, in the mean-time here are some pics.
OUTPUT TRANSFORMER:
ROADSTER POWER TRANSFORMER #1
CHOKE
REVERB TRANSFORMER
Dom
He recommended I change my Output Transformer and Choke with Mercury Magnetics upgrades. I also spoke with him about using different powertubes, specifically 6550/KT-88 with the MM Trannys. He said that while the OT would be up to the task, I would really be pushing the Mesa Power Transformer beyond it's design running 6550/KT-88. After a few phone calls and e-mails we deceided to replace the Power Transformer with a Mercury Magnetics one that would be designed to work with just about any Octal Socket Power Pentode that I could run in the circuit. To do this they needed my stock Mesa PT as they did not yet make a replacement PT for the Roadster.
I just picked up the Roadster today from my tech, 45 days after I dropped it off to him. All the transformers have been replaced (OT, PT, Choke & Reverb Tranny) with a set designed to work together to help improve the areas I am concerned with.
It was awesome to work with my tech, Andrew Bell of Bell Audio Labs in CT, and Patrick Selfridge at Mercury Magnetics to help design a new model PT, but also to "think outside the box" on what model Choke and Reverb transformer to use.
I've played the amp at low volume at home and have noticed some improvement in note and chord clarity, but in all fairness I'll save my review after I have some real-world playing time on the amp. Patrick recommended 30-40 hours of break in time for the trannys anyway, and I don't want to put up a "Honeymoon Phase" review either. I still have all my "Reference Tubes" (Stock Mesa's) in the amp and will wait until the break-in time has passed before I start rolling in my favorites.
Anyway, in the mean-time here are some pics.
OUTPUT TRANSFORMER:
ROADSTER POWER TRANSFORMER #1
CHOKE
REVERB TRANSFORMER
Dom