Best Place to Buy Plexi Amp Kit?

[Zen Guitar]

Hi All,

I apologize if this is the wrong place for this or if I missed something obvious in my forum search, but...

Now that Metro is no longer selling complete kits, is there a good place to buy a quality amp kit for a Marshall Plexi style amp?

I am brand new to amp building, but would prefer to learn on an amp that I will really enjoy once it is complete. I'm thinking an early '68 (10,000 series) Super Lead or a JTM 45/100 type build.

Thanks!

[DonMoose]

I've liked dealing with these guys
https://taweber.powweb.com/store/kits_60b.htm#6M45
but I bought a BFTR kit, so can't talk to their Plexi kits.

[ToneMerc]

IIRC, even when George was offering kits he never offered these models. Now there's quality and accuracy or both, so pick your poison. If you want to do it right, the best way is to build it is ala carte like most folks. Honestly, the choices of kits are limited with these and your closet bet would be Ceriatone or find a used clone.

TM

[sliberty]

Ceriatone offers a JTM45/100 kit. I built my JTM45 (not 100) using their kit, but i bought my transformers from Marstran. The results were spectacular.

[Tone Lover]

Yes you shure cant beat marstran for marshall clone iron.
Good stuff

[kevster]

I'm pretty sure Ceriatone stopped doing complete kits a few months ago. I think it is only with an assembled board and the buyer gets the iron and tubes (and cab).

Metro's done with that too? The money must still be flowing to the amp builders. I wish I could afford to kill off segments of my business.

[Gibsonman63]

I'm pretty sure Ceriatone stopped doing complete kits a few months ago. I think it is only with an assembled board and the buyer gets the iron and tubes (and cab).

Metro's done with that too? The money must still be flowing to the amp builders. I wish I could afford to kill off segments of my business.

Support must be a nightmare.

[sliberty]

I'm pretty sure Ceriatone stopped doing complete kits a few months ago. I think it is only with an assembled board and the buyer gets the iron and tubes (and cab).

Metro's done with that too? The money must still be flowing to the amp builders. I wish I could afford to kill off segments of my business.

Support must be a nightmare.

Their website still lists the same options as always.nthey have always assembled the boards but you can ask them not to.

[chrisc]

My first build was a weber 6M45 kit. I replaced the pots, jacks, and tubes almost immediately, these were the worst parts of the kit. Had i known more i would have replaced the resistors, signal caps and the goofy cap board too. The transformers weren't bad but really the best parts would be the chassis and faceplates. At the time i thought it was pretty good kit until I bought a Triwatt kit from Trinity! I was blown away by the difference in quality.
If i were to do it again, id probably go with a kit from triode http://www.triodestore.com/1987marshkit.html

just my $.02

[myfoot]

There are a few people on the metro forum doing chassis and I think George is offering a JTM45 chassis with both panels right now if he gets enough orders.

Brian Wallace makes great transformers and I think that he has offered several different plexi chassis lately as well. Check his forums.
http://www.marstran.com/

There is a website run by a metro forumer at http://www.valvestorm.com/ that has all the parts to populate your board and chassis and Brian Habes at http://www.kurtsequipment.com/reproboards/ makes great reproduction turret boards.

I have used all these folk and they make a great product. Not as cheap as buying all in one place but the quality speaks for itself IMO.

[M Fowler]

Mojotone
Triodestore
Ceriatone
Weber
Marsh

All offer kits, I building a Mojo JTM45 right now.

[Teleguy61]

If this is your first build, just getting your feet wet, you can't beat Weber's
bang for the buck. Good starting place, good forum with lots of support.
Ceriatone is a step up in quality of parts, Pack 4 kits is all that's available now, but they are fine. Get iron and cab on this side of ocean.
More experienced builders scratch build for more control of parts quality.
Get into it. It is fun.

[chrisc]

Very true, the Weber kit was a fantastic deal. I got in on a special and paid under $400 shipped. It got me into building and their forum is wonderful

[Reeltarded]

Metro forum. Ask this question there.

3 stop shopping, and you get basically the same quality as Metro amp kits were previously, and there is NO comparison between those and a Weber kit. Nunz.

The big problem with ala carte' is the shipping costs as much as the kit.

[kevster]

I'm pretty sure Ceriatone stopped doing complete kits a few months ago. I think it is only with an assembled board and the buyer gets the iron and tubes (and cab).

Metro's done with that too? The money must still be flowing to the amp builders. I wish I could afford to kill off segments of my business.

Support must be a nightmare.

Their website still lists the same options as always.nthey have always assembled the boards but you can ask them not to.

If you go here: http://www.ceriatone.com/tlbrBorderSub/ ... 202011.htm

You Get This:

Effective 15th June, 2011

With regret, Ceriatone will temporarily stop selling kits starting from 15th June, 2011, until further notice.

We are cleaning up the operation - streamlining the products, increasing efficiency, as well as looking for better ways to serve you.

Furthermore, I find myself too tied up with kit support to quickly release new models, including new lines such as effects pedals.

Therefore, until further notice, only complete amps would be available.

However, Pack 1 + Assembly would still be on the menu, for those wanting to use other brand of transformers.

For our business partners (companies, and small-scale builders), it is possible to order from us, albeit in a different format.

Due to our schedule, making the assembled boards are getting slower. Kits are prone to mistakes, as well, for the components. Doing totally unassembled boards would make it even slower, with more mistakes, due to the parts count involved.

Therefore, most likely, for the future, we will offer bare bones kits. All the items needed but not small stuff like resistors and signal caps.

Blah, Blah, Blah.... He goes on, but the point is made.

This wasn't to start a "Nik Bash Fest" but just make sure the info is out there...