Metropoulos

[tbwrench]

I built a JTM45 from Metro. They are a first class company. I love my JTM45 and now want to build another.

[StephenRutledge]

Nice work tbwrench... lead dress looks really clean... I bet it sounds great too!

[tbwrench]

Thanks stephen, it sounds awesome. It was my first build and I really enjoyed it. It took 12 hours. I want to build a 100w plexi next but 1,000.00 for a big boys model kit is a lot to talk the wife into.

I see in your sig you have an eric johnson strat. how do you like the pickups? I have one as well and hate the pickup on the bridge. It seems pretty wear and lifeless.
What has your experience been? PS it is my first strat and I am a les paul guy..........

[slowpokerhino]

You're killing me!

BTW, did you do any of the upgrades (tranformer, MV etc)? I wonder if they're worth the additional cost.

[tbwrench]

I bought the MV kit but didn't install it yet, sounds good without it. I did get the sozo caps and allen bradley vintage resistors. the tranny I was not sure about but after speaking to some others, upon their advice, I ordered them stock. The only thing I would have liked was the mullard pre amp tubes.

Metro really has a nice thing going on. The instructions are very good and if you are patient and can look at something and copy it like the wire routing, and check and re check your work you will end up with a great product when you are done.

[slowpokerhino]

Cool, I've heard the Metro trannys are pretty good. Did you make the chassis stand too? Pretty cool, I bet that made it easier.

[tbwrench]

Yeah, I built the stand after it was finished. It would have been nice for assembly. It is a must for biasing and being able to play and have a sturdy platform for the amp while setting it up. I made the stand to fit the jtm45 to a jcm 800.

[surfnorthwest]

The only thing I would have liked was the mullard pre amp tubes.

The old NOS mullards are the correct tube for that amp. I have a few extra Blackburn long plates and honestly I will probably never use all of them in my lifetime. if you want one for V1 PM me.

$40

[StephenRutledge]

I see in your sig you have an eric johnson strat. how do you like the pickups? I have one as well and hate the pickup on the bridge. It seems pretty wear and lifeless.
What has your experience been? PS it is my first strat and I am a les paul guy..........

So far I've been happy with the pickups.

The extra hum which is standard from single coils is the only real downer for me - not to say I won't try stacked humbuckers (noiseless single coils etc) down the track. I'm happy with the tones I'm getting atm. Tone... it's all so very subjective. We are all chasing it and we all have a very different perception of what good tone is.

My set-up:

For what it's worth - I play on the middle pickup (it's like a bridge pickup for me atm) and neck most of the time.

When I play on the bridge pickup I have the tone control set to about 7 and always have the volume no higher than 9 at most (7-8 when chugging out on chords) and that goes for all pickup selections too. I find having the volume tweaked down a little bit takes off top end treble that can be really piercing at times.

My fuzz pedal and overdrive pedals are all set as boosters ie. drive fairly low (8-9+ o'clock) and volume up high (12-1+ o'clock).

I have the VM combo set at HDR mid boost off... Detail about 1.5-2 and body about 3.5-4 (depends on room acoustic and other members instruments at the time) mostly the EQs all set at 12 o'clock but may vary depending on room acoustic etc. Reverb 0.

Now this setup is not going to be everyones cup of tea... you really gotta play well to get some fat tones happening but I'm really liking how the pickups are responding so far.

I hope that's of some value for you.

P.S. What are all your settings?

[LivewireBlanco]

My Metro JTM45 was the best purchase I have made as far as music gear goes. Take away all my fancy guitars and pedals and just leave me my JTM45 and I will be just fine!