A replacement transformer for the Marshall JMP-1, my very quiet PML-TX01 — And here it is... my PML-TX01 transformer for the Marshall JMP-1.

This project has taken months but after tracking down Graham Sopp, the guy who designed the original TXMA-00014 JMP-1 transformer, I'm delighted to announce that my PML-TX01 upgraded transformer for the Marshall JMP-1 is now available, featuring laminates made with a higher quality material.

You don't need to be a rocket scientist to notice that the original transformer in the JMP-1 is not particularly stressed. Just take a peek at the regulators and you'll notice an obvious lack of heatsinks suggesting that the current draw from the supply lines is far from excessive. Measuring the input voltages to the regulators indicates that the voltage drop across them is not too much and of course we all know that the valves take very little current.

Marshall JMP-1 Regulators — The regulators in the JMP-1 don't have any additional heatsinking because they don't run hot.

So why then, does the JMP-1 transformer get so hot?

Well, it's due to the fact that the transformer's laminates oscillate. That's right. They oscillate so much that apart from the hum, a considerable amount of heat is also produced.

WARNING - THERMAL MELTDOWN IMMINENT

I've heard of people putting rubber or foam between the top of the transformer and the inside of the JMP-1's lid, to reduce the the hum. DO NOT DO THIS!!! I've just mentioned that the oscillating laminates produce a huge amount of excess heat. Whilst the hum is annoying, with the top of the transformer in contact with the lid, any heat produced at least has a dissipation path. If you put anything on top of the transformer, it'll act like a blanket and you're just going to burn it out quicker. 🙁

Pictured below is an original TXMA-00014 that I removed from a faulty JMP-1. Displaying random behaviour and poor sound quality, when I opened her up, the results of thermal stress were quite obvious.

I spent a lot of time looking at the mystery of the Marshall JMP-1 humming transformer, refusing to acknowledge any issue with the laminates as I just didn't want to believe it. Once the penny dropped though, it all made sense.

My PM-TX01 is of course pin-for-pin compatible with the original Marshall TXMA-00014 — Made in the same factory as the original, my PM-TX01 is of course pin-for-pin compatible with the Marshall TXMA-00014

It took a while but my first batch of PML-TX01 transformers is now here. With considerably less hum and heat than the original Marshall TXMA-00014, I thoroughly recommend that you consider this upgrade.

PML-TX01 transformer for the Marshall JMP-1 installed — Looking quite at home, my PML-TX01 fits easily into the JMP-1.

MARSHALL JMP-1 VOLTAGE SELECTION

I regularly receive two questions from those interested in my PML-TX01:

Is the PML-TX01 replacement transformer for the Marshall JMP-1, 240V or 120V?
Are the voltage selector components diodes, ferrite beads or just fancy wire links?

Marshall JMP-1 voltage selection with PML-TX01 — Here are the link locations to select the voltage rating of the primary windings for the transformer in a Marshall JMP-1. The example shown is set to 230V.

The answer to the first question is, just like the original TXMA-00014, my PML-TX01 has two separate primary windings, each rated at 115V. So…

EUOPEAN / UK VOLTAGE SELECTION. Wired in series, the primary becomes a single 230V winding. To wire in series, connect ONLY LK2.
USA / CANADA / JAPAN VOLTAGE SELECTION. Wired in parallel, the primary becomes a single 115V winding. To wire in parallel, connect LK1 and LK3.

The original links were JUST WIRE LINKS, so you can use wire.

JMP-1 Input Voltage Selection Schematic — This representation might make things a little clearer. Apart from the higher quality material used for the laminates, the PML-TX01 is a direct drop-in replacement for the original Dagnall TXMA-00014.

IMPORTANT

The above is a simple schematic REPRESENTATION of how the links are connected to configure the primaries for either 230V or 115V operation. The physical configuration of the voltage selector links however, is a bit unconventional and suggests that the transformer's primary windings are mirrored with START and FINISH for each winding not being where one might expect! The STARTs, for example could be the the two middle pins and the FINISHes, the two outside pins. Normally, transformer windings would be laid out START - FINISH, START - FINISH. I thought it might therefore be helpful to provide an illustration of the actual (physical) layout of the power input in the Marshall JMP-1 (below).

Marshall JMP-1 Input Voltage Physical Layout — Here's the actual layout of the input voltage side of the Marshall JMP-1. Note that the start and finish of the transformer coils aren't where you might expect.

SIDE NOTE

One might ask why the two individual primary windings are put in parallel for 115V. Why not just use one winding?

Well, a system uses a certain amount of power. Power is the product of voltage and current: P = V x I.

You can probably see now that if you half the voltage, you'll need twice the current to deliver the same amount of power. Placing the two primaries in parallel does just that, it doubles the current going into the system. 🙂

And lastly...

! ! ! DON'T FORGET TO CHECK THE FUSE RATING ! ! !

So as I've just intermated, the power requirement of a machine is the same whatever the supply voltage. Since power = current x voltage, if you're halving the voltage, you'll be doubling the current.

Marshall JMP-1 fuse — Don't forget to select the correct fuse rating for your region.

If running at 230V, the JMP-1 fuse should be 80mA (230V x 0.08A = 18.4W).
If running at 115V, the JMP-1 fuse should be 160mA (115V x 0.16A = 18.4W).

'T' stands for 'time delay' so use a time delay fuse.

A WORD OF CAUTION

The transformer is soldered to the now very old, double-sided main board in the JMP-1. Please take care when removing the original transformer. It's a relatively heavy device and the through-hole plating isn't exactly the best quality. The last thing you want to do is strip it!

IMPORTANT

My PML-TX01 upgraded transformer for the Marshall JMP-1 is a high specification drop-in replacement for the original TXMA-00014 only. It is NOT suitable for other pre-amps such as the Marshall 9001.

If you have any questions about my PML-TX01, please don't hesitate to contact me or you can just

This item regularly goes out of stock, I'm afraid but... I encourage customers to back-order. Unfortunately, the crappy e-commerce plug-in I use, only tells the links (like the one above) that the item is out of stock. What 's the bloody point of that?!?!?! So if you want this, then please just visit the PML-TX01 page on my e-store here.

UPDATE - 22nd July 2023

I often get asked about the memory back-up battery in the Marshall JMP-1 and with soldered batteries not really being in fashion anymore, replacements are difficult to get hold of. I therefore decided to knock up a small PCB that mounts into the original battery location but which has a CR2032 clip. This allows for easy battery changing with a standard (you guessed it) CR2032. Measuring the voltage on the battery is a little easier, too. 🙂

UPDATE - 9th February 2024

Marshall JMP-1 stuff at Plasma Music

With so many bits 'n' pieces available for the JMP-1 and always thinking of new stuff to make for our favourite MIDI valve pre-map, I decided to make a category just for the Marshall JMP-1 in my on-line store. You can check it out here.

Marshall JMP-1 Service
Marshall JMP-1 Needs Attention
Eclipse Marshall JMP-1 Data Encoder Fix
Marshall JMP-1 Nuts, Knobs and Bezels
PML-TX01 replacement transformer for the Marshall JMP-1
CR2031 battery adapter for Marshall JMP-1
RE-JMP-1 replacement rack-ear reinforcement brackets
Screw Kit for the Marshall JMP-1
Oracle Battery Eliminator for the Marshall JMP-1

Tag: JMP-1 transformer

PML-TX01 Upgraded Transformer for the Marshall JMP-1

! ! ! DON'T FORGET TO CHECK THE FUSE RATING ! ! !