Want a Plexi? Build one!!

[David Van Via]

hey BS where can you find these comparisons in tone between the originals and the DIY ones?

[BrownSound1]

http://www.metroamp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=972

These are the clips I listened to. VelvetGeorge is George Metropoulos, the owner and amp guru there. I'm afraid that what he is comparing in the clips is not amps, but one of their output transformer designs to an original 1970 100 watter transformer.

Sorry guys..I guess I got a bit excited.

[BrownSound1]

Here's some of one of his JTM45 clones with various KT66's being demoed: http://www.metroamp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1160

[ThrillsNSpills]

What kind of tubes come with this? What are the best tubes for a plexi amp??

[BrownSound1]

The ones in that picture are JJ Tesla tubes. George, who owns the company, matches the pairs for you before he ships them. I'm pretty sure you can specify what brand of tubes you want.

As far as tubes I've used...Groove Tubes and Svetlanas. However Svetlana is no longer in business...so when I retube I guess it'll be Groove Tubes.

When I finally get enough money saved to get the kit I think I'll see if I can get the EVH spec board, and get 6CA7 power amp tubes. I don't know yet if he's finished developing that amp though. Going to order my Variac next week.

[ThrillsNSpills]

The Variac had to be in the same issue as the boiling strings to stay in tune.
You know someone somewhere blew up their shit after reading that and experimenting.

[Brett]

Shit BS1, I always thought Ed's head was a '71 Plexi.

[BrownSound1]

LOL Brett! I wonder how many people are sitting here going....'71 Plexi...gotta find that on eBay. (Doesn't exist folks)


Well considering Edward said he pushed his amp up to 140 volts or so...yeah you could burn some tubes up rather quickly. Funny how now we all know he dropped it to 90 volts. I'm serious though...I'm ordering a Variac this coming week, but it isn't just for my guitar amp.

[ThrillsNSpills]

bump

[SweetSecrets]

Wow!

[Nitro Express]

I bought the Metropolos 67 plexi components but ended up working for my cousin in Germany for a year. I gave everything to my dad who was a ham radio enthusiast and a military certified wirerer in the day. We used to make some complicated Heathkit projects like an ociliscope.

Anyways when I got home from Germany my dad had my amp done. It looks like a Hiwatt more than a Marshall because my dad knows his shit. He had a lot of fun and I got a great amp. I never take it anywhere though because my dad passed away shortly after I got home and that amp has a lot of sentimental value. It sounds great too. I'll never sell it.

[jhale667]

I'm seriously toying with the idea of building a Metro 12-series Plexi clone (and have been for some time; BS1 knows this and has prodded me to get off my ass and do it already ). My friend has one and it sounds kick ass! :D

[BrownSound1]

Originally posted by Nitro Express
I bought the Metropolos 67 plexi components but ended up working for my cousin in Germany for a year. I gave everything to my dad who was a ham radio enthusiast and a military certified wirerer in the day. We used to make some complicated Heathkit projects like an ociliscope.

Anyways when I got home from Germany my dad had my amp done. It looks like a Hiwatt more than a Marshall because my dad knows his shit. He had a lot of fun and I got a great amp. I never take it anywhere though because my dad passed away shortly after I got home and that amp has a lot of sentimental value. It sounds great too. I'll never sell it.

Sorry to hear about your father Nitro. I lost my dad in January of '06, and he was always dinkin' around with electronics projects as long as I can remember. Sounds like our fathers were a lot alike, and I knew what a transistor and a vacuum tube were before I started to school. :D

I now have most of his old components and equipment...would be to hard to part with that stuff. Found some great old resistors that made their way into my old Crybaby. Really fattened up the sound with those old carbon resistors...especially the ones that have drifted a bit off spec.

[Nitro Express]

Originally posted by Panamark
If I was Marshall I would be seriously re-issuing those 60's/70's models made exactly as they were. They would make a killing.
BS1, if these things sound as good, you could flog em for $2000
easy... (Assembled)

I took a tour of the Marshall plant last time I was in Europe and I brought that up. I was told Marshall makes most their money on the small solid state combo amps. The tube amps are the high end but they are less profitable. They do make custom handmade amps that costs $$$$$. They will also rebuild your old Marshall for $$$$$.

I got the impression the company was proud of their legacy and old amps but the business model was based on going forwards with new technology and trends and not to get pigeon holed into the past.

They said Marshall became successful in the begining because Jim Marshall was willing to listen to the younger musicians and give them what they wanted. The hundred watt stack was considered insane at the time but Jim Marshall wanted to push the boundaries and give the kids what they wanted. They still want to do that in another way. Plus the new players want a harsher sound now and with China and Russia looking like possible future enemies, the supply of valve tubes could dry up overnight making solid state amps a neccessity. It was starting to look that way in the 1980's.

[Panamark]

Heya Nitro !

After obtaining an ADA MP1 recently, I bought probably 6 or 7
different pairs of 12AX7's to try in this great little pre-amp..
All russian and chinese....
How can the biggest economy in the world not manufacture
tubes anymore..?? I thought the electro-harmonix were meant
to be US, but they sounded the worst out the bunch..
Are the JJ's US made, or just "rebadged" I wonder ?

Best sounding 12AX7's were the Beijing ones...
I can describe the plates and mica's if you are
after this particular valve..

But yeah, seems we are screwed if the Ruskis and
Chinese dont want to sell us tubes !!

Tone chasers are like old fart audiophiles now, we
have to seek out that perfect "Stylus" to play our
old LP's.. (Except its our Amps and tubes/valves)

Im betting theres dudes here that agonize over styluses
and Tubes !! LOL....