NAD - Tone King Metropolitan

frankyknuckles

Yet another evolution of my tone quest.......... Specs.... Output Power: 0.1W-40W Adjustable Reverb: Tube-Driven, Full Size 3-Spring Pan Output Tubes: 6V6GT(x4), Cathode Biased Rectifier Tube: 5AR4 Preamp Tubes: 12AX7(x4), 12AT7 Speaker: 1x12", Custom-Designed Footswitch: Has LED Indicators; controls chan sw & reverb http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i331/db3266/tone king/57D4CF52-67E4-43C6-8D00-1DC37573175E_zpsgebpw2ii.jpg I did have a Marshall YJM100. But I was craving some Fender tones (I'm a huge Peter Green fan), so after lots of looking, I opted for the Tone King Metropolitan. The decision was based on the features of the amp, the other option was a 65amps. The TK won because it has two channels each with its own power control and the amp also has built in spring reverb (3 spring tank reverb), footswitch control for channels and reverb. It has amazing reviews for its Fender BF tones. Reading the manual, it states the amp is voiced half way between a Fender BF and a Fender Tweed, taking the best elements if both and available on the Rhythm channel of the TK. This is how I have it set. http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i331/db3266/tone king/57E1EB05-0C8F-4AFB-9E04-AC4A4E8CE2F9_zpsahbzfsmk.jpg With the power control of the Rhythm channel set like this (full power). http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i331/db3266/tone king/BEDD5BE8-A81B-43A4-8DD4-09C4A461931E_zpseeouoflj.jpg The clean tones are heavenly. On par with my guitar teachers vintage Fender Bandmaster (Brown Face head). Very clean with all the Fender chime and shimmer that you would expect. The Shanks sounds amazing through this channel. Think Peter Green (I loved Another Woman, or Worried Dream), with the Reverb and you got it. Absolutely lovely tone. I did scale down the power and crank the volume on this channel, it also sounded superb, think driven Peter Green (Stop Messin' Round), it nails the driven Fender tones. The Lead channel is a bit of a different beast, the power control does not seem to power the amp down as much, hence (as seen above), the power control is set to maximum with the channel set like this. http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i331/db3266/tone king/50F2BBE2-CBF1-42A0-B2E8-B751EBC401E5_zpszfqsatvm.jpg It's quite loud. Ideally I would like the power control to lower the overall volume more than it does. The mid bite control sets the overall tonality of the lead channel, maxed out, it is very driven, but there are loads of different tones in it. I did wind the mid bite down and cranked the volume and got som early Marshall ish tones, but overall, it is more tweed voiced and Marshall. I need more time to play with this channel to fully explore all the tones. http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i331/db3266/tone king/613DC453-7CD9-4C60-86C2-CB9F773A1562_zpslska77pg.jpg The amp has a toggle switch for overall gain, hi or low, I have it on low, helps keep the volume down, the single control operates for both channels. The amp also has a brite toggle switch for the Rhythm channel, I have it set to off, the Shanks is quite a brite guitar as it is. The amp has an impedance switch on the back. http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i331/db3266/tone king/B33EB280-3F9D-41DA-936C-F5EBBD5E905E_zpsh4wfvawg.jpg I guess for using an extension cab, but I recall the manual says you can switch to 4ohm if playing low volumes, Less than 1w, using the 4ohm setting should fatten up the tone. On/off and Standby are on the back. http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i331/db3266/tone king/9555AF64-1B99-4AFB-87F4-8FB39DED2949_zpsyonlzbal.jpg Special design (Tone King specs) speaker and loads of tubes!! (It has a tube rectifier) and is cathode biased. http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i331/db3266/tone king/CDD72BFB-792B-4E33-BD9A-D305EDB73C49_zpszmbdtnlq.jpg The transformer is wonky on the chassis, I'm not sure if this is by design? It's not loose so I guess it's ok. http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i331/db3266/tone king/29696CC1-EEB4-4CCA-8DC4-710400FEF1D2_zpshndou9jn.jpg It has a fan. It's not noisy, but you can hear it in a quiet room. I don't know what it is for? http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i331/db3266/tone king/2F8DE18E-7B87-4675-B04F-29ED05BE1178_zps76bgdsww.jpg Footswitch http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i331/db3266/tone king/7145C68B-9354-482F-8212-BD05DB55702A_zpsap4qiewi.jpg The reverb is a spring tank and has a single control for both channels. It's extremely Fender like in its application, maybe the best I have ever used (definitely better than the reverb on a Princeton reissue I used to have) . Overall impressions. It sounds great and has the tones I want (Fender). It is amazingly dynamic and touch sensitive (maybe even more so than the YJM). It is also very responsive to guitar volume changes. Guitar volumes are set between 5 and 8 and I have found no need to go over 8, there is plenty of drive at 8. This is different to the YJM, I found myself maxing the guitar volumes, not so on the TK, maybe this is a result of it not being as scaled down in the power section. I like the fact that I can use the guitar volumes and tone controls to make what can be significant changes to the tone. I need to play it some more, I have only had a few hours on it and mainly concentrated on the clean tones jamming along to Fleetwood Mac on the Rhythm channel. It is not capable of bedroom level volumes. At least not that I have discovered so far. Maybe the Rhythm channel is, but the Lead is not. Luckily I do not need bedroom level volumes, I play at volumes that are difficult to talk over. The power control could be better in terms of absolute volume control (the EPA on the YJM appears to be better), hopefully this will not be a major issue for me. Evidence so far suggest I can get the OD tones at a good low volume level. The touch responsiveness of the amp is unlike anything I have ever played. Pick lightly and it's clean, dig in, it breaks up beautifully. Palm mutes sound superb, lovely crunch etc. I need to spend a lot more time with it to fully understand it. But after 2 hours initial playing, it sounds great and has got me immediately into the right ball park. I want to try a pedal with the amp to see where it puts the OD and overall volume.

BBB2005

Great post and bloody marvellous amp......serious envy! Been in awe of them since seeing this:- 

(url=) Metropolitan (/url)

Great score, cheers Steve

frankyknuckles

yeah, that video sold me as well.

I wish he had posted his settings.

Neil

Without even listening to it that Deco styling and graphics are a treat for the eyes.

What a beautiful thing. 

57Deluxe

@frankyknuckles - plaudits suitably added!

I am wondering if you bought this from Andertons?? If so my sweaty fingers probbo been all over it if was on the floor in the boutique amp room...

When can I come round and plug my boys into it??

frankyknuckles

No, I got it from Coda Music in Stevenage. It was a shop demo amp, I got no box with it or anything and judging by the grime on it, it was there a while, but they gave me some money off. I am concerned as to why the transformer is not hanging down straight, I hope the amp has not been knocked at any time?

Dave_Mc

sweet

57Deluxe

frankyknuckles said:

No, I got it from Coda Music in Stevenage. It was a shop demo amp, I got no box with it or anything and judging by the grime on it, it was there a while, but they gave me some money off. I am concerned as to why the transformer is not hanging down straight, I hope the amp has not been knocked at any time?

check out its reaction when you show it a flight of stiars...

EdGrip

This sounds like it's probably my ideal amp. Congratulations! Enjoy!

ROOG

Lovely, liked the idea of one of these despite the efforts of Chappers on the Andertons video!

Good to hear that you found one. I gather they are difficult to come by.

frankyknuckles

As far as I can tell, only Andertons and Coda sell them in the UK.

Bellycaster

Quality Amp!