Metro JTM45 kit

[paulster]

+1.

[vibratoking]

I emailed George and talked with one of his guys via phone. The kit is the kit - no substitutions or changes allowed. So George is a nice guy, just not willing to make any changes. Business must be good enough to turn some down. Maybe the custom kits is what got them into trouble in the first place?

[Roe]

its a good kit but I'd recommend marstran trannes (partially because of the voltages) and sozo vintage/premium or mustards

There were two kits mentioned, Metro and Weber, so I am confused. Which are you referring to? I would hate to pay the $ for the Metro only to replace the iron and the caps. I would probably kit it myself if I were to go that route. I researched the Weber kits and most guys say that many of the components are crap - knobs, jacks, switches, pilot assembly, and iron. If that is truly the case, I am not thrilled about the Weber option.

Thanks for all the responses and for helping me to "think this through".

I'm referring to the metro. the stock kit is good but it can be made better

[dynaman]

+1 on the Metro kit.

The kit contains all the parts that are considered standard fare for making a reasonably accurate clone. Metro has received great reviews and built their reputation on that kit without resorting to exotic parts substitutions. Any changes would just be extra icing on an already great cake.

I'd dare say that your resale value will be helped more by simply carrying the Metro name and solid assembly. Check out homeboy's amp in this other thread: https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.php?t=11775

That's a good looking amp and neat assembly is just as important as parts brands when reselling.

Less cork-sniffing...more building!!

[johan]

For us europeans TAD sells a kit made up of their high quality parts. Not the same as the Metro or Weber kit.
I got the Marstran RS transformers and Sozo Vintage caps. Was about to order the Metro kit w/o the transformers and caps but then Metro site died and George started only selling full kits w transformers etc. I will most likely score the parts from TAD now. I've got the TAD JTM45 BOM so it's just to start picking the parts.

[PCollen]

Thanks again. You didn't comment so I am assuming that you think this proves the tone is all in the player and not in the amp? If so, it's funny how we could perceive it so differently.

Here's a clip with vastly different tone in my opinion. Clams and all

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgGvml0cOKA

I don't care for the edge he puts on his tone for this song in the video you referenced. I thought the Ronnie Scott CD performance was way to over the top as well...but that's what the audience was there for, to hear hyper-diostorted tones. But he's just giving the audience what they want..

[Structo]

Yeah, unfortunately, the kits and all the littl bits and pieces just took too much of their time to weed through and stock.
He said he was trying to give his customers such a good deal on whatever they wanted in the kit, that he forgot about the business end of it and was losing sight of the bottom line. (profit)

The Metropolus side of things apparently is doing well since they are more boutique oriented with NOS parts and more of a replica than a current production type model.

I guess I should have gotten in when it was possible to get a super lead 100 kit, with all the goodies.
Thing is, that is one 100w amp I probably couldn't use effectively at all, but I always wanted a JCM 800 Superlead.

[rp]

Thing is, that is one 100w amp I probably couldn't use effectively at all, but I always wanted a JCM 800 Superlead.

Few weeks back I was in a store tire kicking an early ASAT. When I asked to plug it in the guy puts me in a 6'x6' demo room with a 4x12 and a BF Showman. Me, "You're kidding right?" but the guy's like "no sweat, you'll be fine, just keep it low." I hadn't plugged into a big amp in 25 years. Turned it on and put it on 3 - HOLY MOTHER OF BUCKAROO! The clarity with power, the snap with power, the response with power, the subtlety with power, the headroom, the speed, the dynamics. I had forgotten. And, all at a pretty easy volume in a tiny closed room.

Back in the day when everyone wanted big amps, and I approached every amp by plugging in and maxing out, not being that good I learned to shy away from big amps. Then the world changed and no one wanted big amps which only reinforced the idea that they were pretty useless. I want to one day build a clean amp but wasn't sure which of the 35-50 watters to choose, now I know what I'll build - the same thing Leo built towards this goal - a BF 80 watter.

I know this doesn't apply to 100w Marshalls where the sweet spot is way up but that experience with the showman was enlightening. Everyone should own a 100W amp even if you only plug into it once a year. Schedule it with the neighbor's vacation.

[paulster]

Everyone should own a 100W amp even if you only plug into it once a year. Schedule it with the neighbor's vacation.

That's gotta be the quote of the day!

[vibratoking]

I always wanted a JCM 800 Superlead

I had on of those. I could dial my Mesa Mark III to sound so close to the JCM 800 that I could not tell the difference in a blind test. Maybe I just have bad ears, but I eventually sold the JCM cause it seemed redundant. And most people bad-mouth the Mark III. I just laugh knowing that you can pick one up pretty cheap these days.

Now the JTM 45 is a different animal. I'll look a little while for a used Metro. If I can't find one, I'll eventually bust out the $$$ for a new kit.

You all are a great source of information. Thanks guys.

[PCollen]

There were two kits mentioned, Metro and Weber, so I am confused.
Thanks for all the responses and for helping me to "think this through".

I was NOT recommending a Weber Kit over a MetroAmp. I was only describing a Weber kit that I built (6M45) , and using another Weber kit (6M45P) as a reference to the TYPE of Marshall-style circuit ( Model 1987)that might be better suited to the OP's needs , i.e., Beck-like tones. Weber kits are good value FOR THE MONEY, but the parts are certainly not top-shelf, premium items. That said, the Weber WOT45 output transform did very well in a shoot-out awhile back, and I've never had any issues with either that OT or the PT. In fact, I've never had a part fail in my ampsince I built it in 2006.