METRO AMP KIT OPINIONS

[ViperDoc]

I know Metropoulos does not make kits per se anymore, but the hardware and supplies all appear to be available on Valvestorm. How do you feel about this stuff? What cabinets work well with these chassis? I like the Marshall style chassis, personally. Thanks!

[martin manning]

I think they sell good quality stuff, carrying on from George Metropoulos' work. Very similar to the ones you just built (18W and 50W), but they are all about being as authentic as possible using new manufactured parts.

[wpaulvogel]

I’ve purchased everything except for the transformers from Valvestorm and all the components are top notch. The chassis, board and plates are awesome. Get the transformers from metropoulos, Heyboer or Marstran and you’ll have one awesome amp. I got my last cabinet from Mojotone. I’m thinking about building my own or trying sour mash cabinets next build. I’ve also had three other MetroAmp plexis and all of them were wonderful.

[ViperDoc]

Much appreciated!

[The Ballzz]

I got my last cabinet from Mojotone. I’m thinking about building my own or trying sour mash cabinets next build.

I'm curious? Was there some issue with the MojoTone cabinet, or are you simply looking to save a few $$?

Just Askin'
Gene

[Scumback Speakers]

I've built a few Marshall clone amps from the Metro kits. The instructions were clear, a five year old could build the amp from them (I fall into the category). I went with Mercury trannies, and George was kind enough to walk me through wiring up the OT since it wasn't a standard Mercury OT. I put NOS glass in it, and did every wire with the same number of twists/turns/etc as the instructions and they turned out great.

[ViperDoc]

I've built a few Marshall clone amps from the Metro kits. The instructions were clear, a five year old could build the amp from them (I fall into the category). I went with Mercury trannies, and George was kind enough to walk me through wiring up the OT since it wasn't a standard Mercury OT. I put NOS glass in it, and did every wire with the same number of twists/turns/etc as the instructions and they turned out great.

Wow, “same number of turns”, I’ve never heard that. Is that part of the “George Sauce”? Can’t argue with what I’ve heard on the interwebs! I’m feeling you on the novice level, brother. Everyone here has saved my bacon more than enough times already. These kits looked like they specified different part sources, and that alone interested me. Plus the last 800 chassis I used had less-than-ideal component placement, so I’m looking for a more well-planned chassis for the next one.

[wpaulvogel]

I got my last cabinet from Mojotone. I’m thinking about building my own or trying sour mash cabinets next build.

I'm curious? Was there some issue with the MojoTone cabinet, or are you simply looking to save a few $$?

Just Askin'
Gene

Mojotone builds excellent cabinets, I want to build a Marshall cab myself and I also want to see how nice the SourMash cabs.

[Scumback Speakers]

Wow, “same number of turns”, I’ve never heard that. Is that part of the “George Sauce”? Can’t argue with what I’ve heard on the interwebs! I’m feeling you on the novice level, brother. Everyone here has saved my bacon more than enough times already. These kits looked like they specified different part sources, and that alone interested me. Plus the last 800 chassis I used had less-than-ideal component placement, so I’m looking for a more well-planned chassis for the next one.

I'd built 4-5 amps before the Metro, but it was my second kit. One was the D-Lite 22/33w kit. I must have emailed or called Norm about 20 times to go over nit picky details. He hates me now I'm sure. LOL

The next one was my purple 50w Metro 1987 68 spec head, aka Barney. That's the one that took me three nights with four hours per night working on it. I was more than a little anal about measuring all the parts twice, and then copying George's wiring layout. I had standard SoZo's at first, but changed them out to NOS mustard caps later.

http://www.scumbackspeakers.com/metro50/50w112707.jpg

A couple of years later I built a second one, with SoZo premium caps.
http://www.scumbackspeakers.com/metro50/50w010909.jpg

And I stuffed them with good glass.
http://www.scumbackspeakers.com/metro50/atm1.jpg

I've had one solder joint fail on the purple one 13 years later, but Blackie has been bullet proof for 11.

I figured I didn't know anywhere near as much as George about these things and following his instructions to the nth detail was the way to go.

[ViperDoc]

Wow, “same number of turns”, I’ve never heard that. Is that part of the “George Sauce”? Can’t argue with what I’ve heard on the interwebs! I’m feeling you on the novice level, brother. Everyone here has saved my bacon more than enough times already. These kits looked like they specified different part sources, and that alone interested me. Plus the last 800 chassis I used had less-than-ideal component placement, so I’m looking for a more well-planned chassis for the next one.

I'd built 4-5 amps before the Metro, but it was my second kit. One was the D-Lite 22/33w kit. I must have emailed or called Norm about 20 times to go over nit picky details. He hates me now I'm sure. LOL

The next one was my purple 50w Metro 1987 68 spec head, aka Barney. That's the one that took me three nights with four hours per night working on it. I was more than a little anal about measuring all the parts twice, and then copying George's wiring layout. I had standard SoZo's at first, but changed them out to NOS mustard caps later.

http://www.scumbackspeakers.com/metro50/50w112707.jpg

A couple of years later I built a second one, with SoZo premium caps.
http://www.scumbackspeakers.com/metro50/50w010909.jpg

And I stuffed them with good glass.
http://www.scumbackspeakers.com/metro50/atm1.jpg

I've had one solder joint fail on the purple one 13 years later, but Blackie has been bullet proof for 11.

I figured I didn't know anywhere near as much as George about these things and following his instructions to the nth detail was the way to go.

Righteous. Looks like I’m going to want to read those instrucciones. The Avatar cab I’ve been trying all my Marshall builds with has a pair of mixed H and M Scumbacks. Killer tone, brother!

[Roe]

the metro and valvestorm stuff is great. personally, I avoid metal oxide power resistors - they don't sound right to me. the classictone PTs and chokes (352-114) are great but most prefer marstran or cerrem for OTs

[Scumback Speakers]

Righteous. Looks like I’m going to want to read those instrucciones. The Avatar cab I’ve been trying all my Marshall builds with has a pair of mixed H and M Scumbacks. Killer tone, brother!

I did the obsessive compulsive disorder/copying thing while building it. The instructions are in PDF format and I have a 27" monitor, so I zoomed in on everything for details. George's instructions made it pretty easy to follow.

An M75/H75 mix works pretty well with these amps, too, so you're good to go there.

[angelodp]

Yes the Metro guides are very thorough. I take it you followed their grounding scheme with no issues. I am interested in the Larry scheme but I also read that the Metro method works out well.

[adew]

Yes the Metro guides are very thorough. I take it you followed their grounding scheme with no issues. I am interested in the Larry scheme but I also read that the Metro method works out well.

An alternative grounding scheme can be found here: SDM site

[angelodp]

Wow, a treasure trove of information. Thanks. What is SDM?