Anyone ever get one of these 2204 Amp build kits?

[EXPcustom]

Thinking about ordering one, anyone build one? Are they any good?

https://cgi.ebay.com/JCM-800-2204a-50W-M ... 2eaac4f0a8

 

[Vrad]

Mallory caps don't sound that great IMO and who knows about those transformers that say "Made in China" LOL! . It's cheap, but I'd say skip it. What would be REALLY frustrating is getting the kit with crappy instructions and parts that don't fit correctly. It would ruin the whole experience. Again, all my opinion.

 

[Dallas Marlow]

Mallory caps don't sound that great IMO and who knows about those transformers that say "Made in China" LOL! . It's cheap, but I'd say skip it. What would be REALLY frustrating is getting the kit with crappy instructions and parts that don't fit correctly. It would ruin the whole experience. Again, all my opinion.

Actually it says it the Trannys are made in Chicago and come with a 6 month warranty, also it's mallory or sprauges doesn't specific, I think for the price.... how bad can it be haha?

 

[EXPcustom]

Mallory caps don't sound that great IMO and who knows about those transformers that say "Made in China" LOL! . It's cheap, but I'd say skip it. What would be REALLY frustrating is getting the kit with crappy instructions and parts that don't fit correctly. It would ruin the whole experience. Again, all my opinion.

Actually it says it the Trannys are made in Chicago and come with a 6 month warranty, also it's mallory or sprauges doesn't specific, I think for the price.... how bad can it be haha?

This will be a first time build for me just to see if I can do it.

Since I know nothing of amps or building them I want to go as cheap as possible when I build this. If I actually do it and it actually works I am going to get a nice Metro Amps kit, if it does not work I will find another hobby.

 

[LP Freak]

Do yourself a favor and download the Metroamp instructions to use as a reference.

 

[Dallas Marlow]

Mallory caps don't sound that great IMO and who knows about those transformers that say "Made in China" LOL! . It's cheap, but I'd say skip it. What would be REALLY frustrating is getting the kit with crappy instructions and parts that don't fit correctly. It would ruin the whole experience. Again, all my opinion.

Actually it says it the Trannys are made in Chicago and come with a 6 month warranty, also it's mallory or sprauges doesn't specific, I think for the price.... how bad can it be haha?

This will be a first time build for me just to see if I can do it.

Since I know nothing of amps or building them I want to go as cheap as possible when I build this. If I actually do it and it actually works I am going to get a nice Metro Amps kit, if it does not work I will find another hobby.

Yea man I don't think thats such a bad idea, I've always wanted to learn to build those things but I simply can't afford to drop that kind of money on a learning process of a metro amp LOL

 

[johnnyjellybean]

Mallory caps don't sound that great IMO and who knows about those transformers that say "Made in China" LOL! . It's cheap, but I'd say skip it. What would be REALLY frustrating is getting the kit with crappy instructions and parts that don't fit correctly. It would ruin the whole experience. Again, all my opinion.

Actually it says it the Trannys are made in Chicago and come with a 6 month warranty, also it's mallory or sprauges doesn't specific, I think for the price.... how bad can it be haha?

This will be a first time build for me just to see if I can do it.

Since I know nothing of amps or building them I want to go as cheap as possible when I build this. If I actually do it and it actually works I am going to get a nice Metro Amps kit, if it does not work I will find another hobby.

You'd be better off spending the extra cash and getting the JTM45 or the 50W kit by Metro. You'll get a chassis and a headcasing and land up with an amp that has great resale value. Besides that, the build instructions are second to none and you have support at any time. As long as you are good with a soldering iron, the build is virtually fool proof.

 

[EXPcustom]

Mallory caps don't sound that great IMO and who knows about those transformers that say "Made in China" LOL! . It's cheap, but I'd say skip it. What would be REALLY frustrating is getting the kit with crappy instructions and parts that don't fit correctly. It would ruin the whole experience. Again, all my opinion.

Actually it says it the Trannys are made in Chicago and come with a 6 month warranty, also it's mallory or sprauges doesn't specific, I think for the price.... how bad can it be haha?

This will be a first time build for me just to see if I can do it.

Since I know nothing of amps or building them I want to go as cheap as possible when I build this. If I actually do it and it actually works I am going to get a nice Metro Amps kit, if it does not work I will find another hobby.

You'd be better off spending the extra cash and getting the JTM45 or the 50W kit by Metro. You'll get a chassis and a headcasing and land up with an amp that has great resale value. Besides that, the build instructions are second to none and you have support at any time. As long as you are good with a soldering iron, the build is virtually fool proof.

That's one of my problems, it's not that I am bad with a soldering iron, it is I just dont have any experience with one so there is no way I would touch a Metro kit yet.

 

[johnnyjellybean]

Mallory caps don't sound that great IMO and who knows about those transformers that say "Made in China" LOL! . It's cheap, but I'd say skip it. What would be REALLY frustrating is getting the kit with crappy instructions and parts that don't fit correctly. It would ruin the whole experience. Again, all my opinion.

Actually it says it the Trannys are made in Chicago and come with a 6 month warranty, also it's mallory or sprauges doesn't specific, I think for the price.... how bad can it be haha?

This will be a first time build for me just to see if I can do it.

Since I know nothing of amps or building them I want to go as cheap as possible when I build this. If I actually do it and it actually works I am going to get a nice Metro Amps kit, if it does not work I will find another hobby.

You'd be better off spending the extra cash and getting the JTM45 or the 50W kit by Metro. You'll get a chassis and a headcasing and land up with an amp that has great resale value. Besides that, the build instructions are second to none and you have support at any time. As long as you are good with a soldering iron, the build is virtually fool proof.

That's one of my problems, it's not that I am bad with a soldering iron, it is I just dont have any experience with one so there is no way I would touch a Metro kit yet.

Then I wouldn't even attempt a cheaper build until you put in some practice

 

[Vrad]

All you need is practice. The other thing about soldering is that it can be corrected. Get a desoldering braid and you'll be fine.

Also, I find that it's easier to solder new components. I'm not the greatest solderer in the world, but when I work on new stuff, it comes out very neat. Neatness is usually a problem for me when I'm removing and resoldering stuff. That's where the desoldering braid comes in. There are alot of websites with soldering technique. Don't get a very powerful soldering iron. 25 watts should be fine.

But certainly, if you don't feel you're up to it, then take it slower.

If and when you're done, and you start trouble-shooting; make sure you drain the filter caps. Don't want to get fried....

 

[Rufus Leaking]

I just bought a Metro JTM-45 that was upgraded with Marstran trannies, PEC pots and Sozo caps - assembled, with headshell and Marshall logo for $900 shipped. There's plenty of deals like that out there and it's easy to convert it to a 2204.

I'm going to try doing mine with bass circuit values and keep the tube rectifier

 

[Mudder]

I'm considering getting into the building thing myself. Do you guys think it would be better to start with something like the Doberman kit first?

 

[jerrydyer]

my friend Doug had never soldered before. Bought a super lead from Metro, practiced a couple times on a turret strip, built his amp, brought it to my house to fire it up, fired it up worked great. Biased it for him now he rocks. you might as well wait just a little longer and do the Metro.

 

[MrDan666]

That's one of my problems, it's not that I am bad with a soldering iron, it is I just dont have any experience with one so there is no way I would touch a Metro kit yet.

If you have no experience building a kit amp, then go for the Metro kit and nothing else. Seriously, the Metro kits have fantastic in depth/step by step instructions, that even a total beginner can follow easily. They even tell you the exact wire lengths to cut and everything. Couldn't be easier Trust me, it's worth the extra $$

I wouldn't go for any of the other amp kits if it's your first time, because it's not going to be easy to follow like the Metro kits are.

 

[blackba]

Why not build an effects pedal 1st to learn to solder, then move on to an amp kit. Plenty of BYOC pedals for under $100 you can start on.

I agree with the others, go for the Metro kit...

 

[Digital Jams]

That's one of my problems, it's not that I am bad with a soldering iron, it is I just dont have any experience with one so there is no way I would touch a Metro kit yet.

If you have no experience building a kit amp, then go for the Metro kit and nothing else. Seriously, the Metro kits have fantastic in depth/step by step instructions, that even a total beginner can follow easily. They even tell you the exact wire lengths to cut and everything. Couldn't be easier Trust me, it's worth the extra $$

I wouldn't go for any of the other amp kits if it's your first time, because it's not going to be easy to follow like the Metro kits are.

BIG +1

If you are going to try it for the first time get a quality kit with a good forum that you can run to with questions.

 

[cyndicate]

Check out the Metro manual for the 2203.. http://metroamp.com/store/index.php?mai ... cts_id=505

I don't think it will get any easier than this I'm about to do a build in a few weeks too, going to order it next week.

 

[Mudder]

So I decided to start small and ordered the Doberman AX84 kit. I figured if I'm going to blow something up it won't be $1k kit, just a cheap one. If that goes well, and I live, I'm thinking about the Ceriatone 18w TMB ef 86 as a next step. Though I just heard the Triwatt and that thing sounds incredible.

 

[locoed]

Buy a Metro,think of it this way,if you have a question during the building process,who you gonna call? Or if you need parts? Even though it's a little more $, your in much better hands.
I have one and it's something i never thought i'd like,but i love it,sounds awsome.

 

[Anonymous]

Thinking about ordering one, anyone build one? Are they any good?

https://cgi.ebay.com/JCM-800-2204a-50W-M ... 2eaac4f0a8

Where are you gonna get the chassis from?

Steve