Metropoulos Forum

I just finished a JTM 45/100 build. I used Brian Wallace's chassis so I used his transformers too. The front panel is from Sparky, back panel and the bulk of the parts from Valvestorm, Mojo '66 spec cabinet with VOX style vents, Takman CF resistors, and Sozo vintage caps. I made the boards myself with Watts tube audio materials and tools. I threw in an extra turret in case I want to split the cathodes on V1, but I don't think I want to mess with it now that I've fired it up. I used Larry's grounding scheme and it is very quiet. This thing sounds awesome!

Thank you George, Larry, Robert from Valvestorm, Brian Wallace, Sparky, and everyone else that made this possible or inspired me in some way.

Here are some photos: http://photobucket.com/AJWs_45-100

Sorry for the necropost but this is really nice looking build. Would you let me know your email so I could ask you about the bill of materials, or if you don't mind could you post it here? Thanks!

Thanks, nice to get a reply to my March post! Almost all of the parts are from Valvestorm's 45/100 checklist. The tubes, Sozo Vintage caps, and Takman resistors were probably the only things sourced elsewhere. If you have any questions you can post them here (or PM me).

It's on my bench ready for a Zero Loss FX loop install. I hate to mess with it because it's my current favorite, but Steve's loop is great. I have one in my original Metro kit build as well (which is now a 2203).

Thanks buddy. Have you installed the PPIMV? If you have what's the result? I don't think I'd need an FX loop but a MV or attenuator.

I don't feel the need for a PPIMV because I use an Alex attenuator with it. I would only install one if I needed something in between the fixed settings on the Alex. That could be a possibility, and I have the parts collected to do that. The Alex sounds good if you were thinking of buying an attenuator, and it's not as expensive as some. A PPIMV is way cheaper though.

AJW wrote:I don't feel the need for a PPIMV because I use an Alex attenuator with it. I would only install one if I needed something in between the fixed settings on the Alex. That could be a possibility, and I have the parts collected to do that. The Alex sounds good if you were thinking of buying an attenuator, and it's not as expensive as some. A PPIMV is way cheaper though.

Yea a Lar/Mar is like 10 bucks in parts. I'll get it installed first to see if I'll like the result.

Do you notice any difference going in with the takman's verses regular CF resistors?

I don't know if they make a difference in the sound of the amp, but the amp does sound great! I do know that they were all long enough to span the board which is one of the reasons I went with them.

The leads are also thicker than a normal resistor so it was tight when I needed to get more than two components in a turret. I was using Watts tube audio double turrets with a larger through hole too.

Update on this amp:
I installed the LarMar PPIMV with a PEC dual audio taper pot, and love it. I use an Alex attenuator, and the combination of the two work great. I wish I had done that a long time ago!

Also, after that mod I replaced all the Sozo vintage caps from the original build in 2012 with new Sozo NexGen caps. Woah! The amp (which has been my primary amp, and my favorite) sounded better right off the bat. Clearer and sweeter. The caps were not even broken in yet.

My next build will be a JTM1 style 1watt amp in a ValveJunior combo, and I bought NexGen Caps for that too.