16 Sep Introducing Metro Amps
Update as of Sep 16th 2010: George has provided internals images of my amp directly from his archive. If you wanted to peek into it, you’re served!
http://plexireplicas.com/amplifier-archives/Misc/5007/
A few months ago, I started researching for another Amplifier Head. Reason was, I wanted to go even higher in quality and a sort of back to my vintage Marshall Heads. But didn’t want to go into vintage again
with amps: too many things to maintain to make the amp work.
So, I stumbled upon a known replica builder: George Metropoulos, the builder of the famous early design Marshall replicas “Metro Amps” (click here to go to George for more info)
George offers his amps both in kit form and completed. I wanted a completed one and got in touch with him.
I told George – kind and always professional – that I wanted a sort of “AC/DC” Marshall Head. Specifically, one that would capture the raw sound of Angus.
He said he could do it and we went on.
A few months went by and George sent me my amp.
Metro Amps are known among professional and amateurs as some of the best replicas of vintage Marshalls. George is a top notch professional that researched every detail on the older models and seems to have captured the magic of those early, older Marshall amplifier heads.
You can read a fascinating article of a group of people comparing several JTM45s, with the Metro basically the winner: 45 Degrees of Tone: The JTM45 Roundup
Here it is to you, today I received it and opened the box.
I will be posting a qualitative video/audio test with this in the following days. I shot a rough video of it today, but I have to check if it is worth posting (might post it here for us members only).
I will also be interviewing George here, an exclusive for us at SoloDallas.net soon.
Below, a close up of the head.
Invoice and wishing well by George.
Detail of the back of the chassis: a master volume (acts similarly to a cheap power attenuator). This way, also this amp – similarly to my 1987XL Marshall head – can be brought down to bedroom volume level.
Sitting on top of my Marshall 4×12 non slanted cabinet (Vintage 30s speakers inside)
Loading the EL34 tubes in it.
This one is the tuber rectifier. My 1987XL has a solid state rectifier, resulting in “stiffer” attack. I wanted a softer, mellower attack for this one.
stretchy
Posted at 06:46h, 27 SeptemberI’ve kinda lost the thread here… I’ve been following you on YouTube for years now… glad to see that the project is in it’s working phase.
I know Metroamp for a long time now, and I’m planning to build my own either JTM45 or 50w kit (plexi 50w). can you be more specific on the model you got form Metro ?
Is it from the replica site or the store site ?
Is it the GPM45 (JTM45 replica) with some mods (el34 tubes and MV) or is it the 45/100 model ?
Or is it the 50w kit (modeling the real 1987 model) that you ask pre-builded ?
So many questions… 😉
Long live to this site!
Guy Provost
Kinglance
Posted at 17:13h, 17 SeptemberI love that Metro-amp, sounds very very nice with Gibsons :p Is that a 100 watt amp? Cause 100 is too much for me, I prefer 60 or less…
Emerald
Posted at 00:38h, 17 SeptemberSorry, the True Replica cabs are 1968, not 1969, my bad!
http://forum.metroamp.com/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=32249
Emerald
Emerald
Posted at 00:15h, 17 SeptemberPassed on your SoloDallas info to my friend Richard Baines of Shredaholic fame, hopefully you’ll have a European link for your awesome site Fil! Just warning you, but have you checked out George’s relatively new True Replica 1969 4X12″ cabs, available both in pin stripe and basket weave.
I know you already have a great Marshall cab, but the cabinet is the final factor in the complete tone equation.
These cabinets are CNC’d to exactly replicate the vintage Marshall cabs of old. The construction, materials used and the inner workings of the cab are that extra 25% of the tone factor equation. Not that your clips aren’t awesome, just check out these cabs though, expensive to go to Italia I know, but unloaded shouldn’t be too expensive (ie;heavy)!
Again you have done so much with Word Press, mine is pathetic in comparison, but great site. I am spreading the word on the net to many many forums, so hopefully your membership will start increasing.George really picked the ideal Metro for your AC/DC request, he is a great guy!
Cheers
Emerald
depuis1899
Posted at 02:54h, 16 SeptemberFil, this amps are juste great, perfect work…
i’m just a bit shy and don’t want to contact george for nothing so i ask you, to you think he could build an head amp with a cabinet for about 800 €? so that i get something close to angus’ sound with 20 watt
greetz
SoloDallas
Posted at 03:01h, 16 SeptemberWe’re all shy. I’m a shy nerd, what do you think???
Just write him. Do NOT worry. Write and ask. George is a GREAT guy. Mention what you want and your budget. And be proud: you deserve it.
depuis1899
Posted at 06:46h, 16 Septemberwhat i think? that you are one of the greatest guitarist i’ve ever heard and you’re juste a really really nice guy =)
thanks for your answer, i think i will contact him in a few days (when i got out how xD )
bmi
Posted at 01:28h, 15 SeptemberI know Metropoulos amps and nothing is secret about his great work but it seems that you ask a specific build.
I’m wondering if it was possible to get technical details, even a simple picture of inside could be enough for me.
Thanks,
bmi.
Lemmiwinks
Posted at 09:37h, 13 SeptemberHey, I tryed a marshall jtm 45 reissue a while ago and it was good but really hard to get an early ac/dc tone out it. I only tryed it for about 1 hour or so with only high treble volume on but it didnt have that malcolm crisp. I used a gretsch jet and all too but it was a lowprice one with so called ”dumbuckers” straight into the lead channel.
Do you think a pair of real (or tv jones) filtertrons would help?
SoloDallas
Posted at 09:46h, 13 SeptemberI always tend to say that the guitar comes first if you want to play good rock and roll, but getting specific tones can involve having the correct gear. So, yes, I think the reissue JTM45 won’t cut it WITHOUT a proper mod. I think all Marshall reissues need the modification to sound “better” like the older ones did.
I shot a video last saturday – 4 hours long – trying the Metro and my older 1987XL MArshall David Bray modified. They sound good both of them, with the Metro being the better one. More sensitive to tone controls, more bass, more cream. The reissue head tended to be more acid sounding, less bass frequencies, less sensitiveness. Still a great heazd – modified – but not quite on par with the Metro. You need to go either real vintage, or boutique (Metro, Ceriatone, … ) or modified reissue. Imho!
Lemmiwinks
Posted at 10:00h, 13 Septemberok thanks for the fast reply. I will read about mods 🙂
LedSabbath
Posted at 18:36h, 06 SeptemberWait what tubes does Angus use?
HagusYoung
Posted at 10:16h, 13 SeptemberEL 84s, says that he liked the JJs for both pre and power amp tubes.
adam10603
Posted at 04:03h, 27 AugustHey Fil
That starwars trooper appears very often in your pictures. Are you a starwars fan too ? 😀
Ethan Tomlins
Posted at 17:32h, 21 AugustHey Fil,
First, I appreciate the website and all the input so far. Also, do you know what kind of marshall amp Angus would’ve been using during the powerage and highway to hell recordings specifically? And possibly what kind of Metroamp would be equivalent?
thanks, Ethan
adam10603
Posted at 19:59h, 21 AugustHi
As far as I know, he used JMP 2204 (or 2203) master volume marshalls during the powerage era. If you look at the concert videos on youtube from 1978, you can see those amps there. And also:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0lKDjsNE_o&feature=related
This is pretty close to the powerage tone, and played on a 2203. So thats for powerage, but i dont know anything about highway to hell.
Ethan Tomlins
Posted at 21:31h, 21 AugustInteresting to know because powerage and highway to hell are my two favorite eras of ac/dc. Thank you for that information.
AccaDacca
Posted at 14:42h, 22 AugustDoes anyone know what amp angus would’ve used during highway to hell?
SoloDallas
Posted at 14:52h, 22 AugustNope. Not exactly at least, not yet. I think what it’s been stated above might have been reused for HTH as well. Let’s remember that “tone” the way we hear on records, it’s much a function of the CABINETS (surprising, huh?) and the recording environment and recording technique (microphones, their placement, … ). More than the amp itself.
AccaDacca
Posted at 15:22h, 22 AugustIt is surprising that the cabinets and the recording style have such an impact on the tone. Thanks for the input. 🙂
SoloDallas
Posted at 16:12h, 22 AugustIt was (surprising) for me too, when I learned about it. Just make a simple thing: listen to AC/DC live, and then listen to the record. You can obviously relate the two – it’s the same people playing . but the sound is completely different. Recording in studio gives you a completely controlled environment. The rooms are designed to “sound good”, and good studios are recognized much for this, more for their equipment. Recording engineers add a magic touch. Naturally, you HAVE to know how to play well, to sound well. But the inner characteristics of the tone will be captured by great microphone positioning. It’s a lengthy matter, I’ve been reading interviews with Tony Platt (former AC/DC recording engineer on HTH and BiB) and they are revealing. I will be posting them here with personal considerations, soon! 🙂
Dries
Posted at 17:43h, 22 Augusthttp://www.recordproduction.com/tony-platt-bigvid.html
Here’s also a interview with Tony Platt, he talks about the Back in Black album.
rpatzelt
Posted at 13:58h, 16 SeptemberOMG, I’m helpless – there are too many things involved: the mics, the heads, the cabinets, the room (I told you that the color of your studio gives that warm tone from early clips 🙂 ), the sound engineer, the player, the guitar, the strings, pickups…OMG. I think there are two ways to get “The Tone”, your way (digging it deep) or pure luck – close your eyes ant turn the knobs 🙂 Crazy, crazy…
SoloDallas
Posted at 14:44h, 22 AugustPleased that you like it!
It’s a good question. I am studying these things in these very days. I think he/they used both Plexi style amps (and precisely, JTM50s and JTM100s) and 2203-style amps (master volume amps).
AccaDacca
Posted at 22:18h, 22 AugustI actually heard somewhere that on the HTH album, Angus’ channel might have been two recordings overdubbed to make a more full sound.
AccaDacca
Posted at 22:21h, 22 AugustI think the above is for just the song highway to hell, not necessarily the whole album. Does this sound like it might be a possibility?
SoloDallas
Posted at 03:02h, 23 AugustIt IS like that, but I think quite much on the whole album. At least two main interventions were made on Angus: a main, center guitar that will play rhythm parts AND solos and there may be a few overdubbings even on the right positioned guitar, just like you said, to make the sound fuller. I can hear that because of the phase shifting caused by different – slightly different – guitar tuning
AccaDacca
Posted at 23:45h, 07 SeptemberWould you happen to know what kind of cabinet Angus would have used on Powerage? Im interested because you said that the cabinet has a lot of influence on the tone as well.
adam10603
Posted at 18:04h, 15 AugustHi. Why are you using Vintage 30 speakers ? As far as I know, Angus uses G12M Greeenbacks. Congratulations for your new amp by the way. You should do a video, letting us hear the sounds of it.
SoloDallas
Posted at 18:44h, 15 AugustThat’s a good question. Partially, my mistake. Angus live uses vintage30s, but in the studio, only marginally, he uses the greenbacks 25 watts. Since I have those – original, 1969 – in another 4×12 slanted, I bought this. But I prefer the crunchier, smoother greenbacks, so probably will be going back to the other cabinet
mbstring
Posted at 17:38h, 14 AugustI am dying to see the demo of this amp! Can i order the same one too? Is it more expensive as just an ordinary marshall plexi replica and how much it costs?
SoloDallas
Posted at 17:46h, 14 AugustOF COURSE you can order the same one too! 🙂
Wait for a proper demo from me though first. THEN decide if you like it. It would kill me to know you’re spending your money on something you don’t like. It cost me 2.6k USD, shipping included, head only. The cabinet I had it already.
If you decide to get in touch with George, tell him you want SoloDallas’ amp. Fil’s amp. He should remember. Plus he’ll be here in the near future 😀
mbstring
Posted at 20:43h, 14 AugustYes i will wait for the demo, i must get the money first anyway 😀 ! 2,6k, but don’t you get the original marshall 1987x reissue for that money?
whiskeyontherocks
Posted at 20:52h, 13 AugustHow much is spent in maintenance on a tube amp like this? Thanks for all of this information
SoloDallas
Posted at 07:32h, 14 AugustFor a new amp, nothing. For a vintage amp of value, that’s another story. They need re-biasing, you have to be careful if you blast them all the time, they may blow, even the power supply. You have to be careful with vintage stuff. Which thing, I don’t wanna do!
Max
Posted at 19:19h, 13 AugustHey Fil,
Are these the tubes that come with the amp? usually the bias setting needs to be regulated every time the tubes are replaced?
SoloDallas
Posted at 07:31h, 14 AugustMaxi, YES: These were the tubes that George at MetroAmps biased for me. It’s all good, works excellently! Great tone.
Kossoff1
Posted at 17:53h, 13 AugustYour gear look beautiful Fil, can’t wait for the video!
TheBrowling
Posted at 17:06h, 13 AugustI know another enterprise that sells replicas, it’s called ceriatone Fil and it seems a good one. Oh! and another one that sells good cheap pickups is called GFS (Guitar fetish).
SoloDallas
Posted at 17:12h, 13 AugustOh yeah, Ceriatone is also known and very good.
Thanks for the heads up on the cheap PU maker. I’ll have to compile a links page with vendors suggestions for people to look into. I’ll try to remember your entry. If not, please remind me 🙂
iBrows
Posted at 17:06h, 13 AugustHey Fil!
I’m loving the site so far. As an AC/DC fan and a gearhead, this is my new heaven!
How does the Metro head compare to your modified 1987XL?
I own a stock 1987x and I quite like it’s sound.
SoloDallas
Posted at 17:10h, 13 AugustSo happy to hear you say that (well, read you state that 😛 ).
Don’t know yet (comparison): haven’t tried them both one next to each other (just shot a pic of them together). I will, naturally, that’s for sure.
Feeling for now is that the rectifier tube works well, towards my desire: I love to hear the amp “fry”, like it was about blowing. It’s soft, smooth, sweet, not stiff. My 1987 sounds stiffer and – from what I recall – was harder to play. But these are only feelings and memories, will have to do a thorough test. To be published here, naturally!
deni91
Posted at 14:49h, 13 AugustIt’s a JTM replica? I would like to buy a JTM Metro amp one day 🙂 After a Gibson SG I think I’ll spend my first salary on these :D:D
SoloDallas
Posted at 14:55h, 13 AugustNope, a JMP50 replica. It has EL34s not 6L6 or KT88. You can find info here:
http://vintageamps.com/jtm50/
davidon66
Posted at 12:19h, 13 AugustCant wait for the videos 🙂
SoloDallas
Posted at 12:52h, 13 AugustI may upload what I played today, need to check it
FjordMonkey
Posted at 13:14h, 13 AugustDo it fil:P also check your Facebook page:)
SoloDallas
Posted at 14:38h, 13 AugustWIll check in a little bit. Heard the clip, it’s awful. My camera compressed all the audio, it’s impossible to appreciate. I want to do you guys a service, not a disservice! 😀