Now first of all im not an amp builder, not a tweaker, or technician heck my experience only goes as far as knowing which end of the soldering iron is hot!Lol

Anyway, I think ive learned a few things by osmosis ie hanging out with people that know stuff and asking questions. So with the latest and greatest build (the S&M) ive been wondering why it sounds so much better than the other 2 OTS ive had and specifically why better than the FM ME?

Now the tubes are the same ie rca blackplates X 2 and a Jan Phillips all nos. And Sylvania 6l6GCs again nos. These are the same as I put into the FM ME.

The box is the same Two Rock 2x12.

The only diffs are
1. the variant of the S&M model
2. the build
 
The S&M diff would imho give a different flavour of OTS but would not account for the improvement in overall tone and harmonic richness.

So that leaves the build. The guy who put this together is at a level where he'd rather read a schematic than a layout ( and I now know what the diff is between the two). He said he was very careful with the lead dressing and spent a lot of time getting it the way he would if he built it for himself. He also mentioned that a few things (I cant remember what they were) were put in slightly diff positions in the chassis to cut down noise and signal bleed.

Oh and btw he only charged me for 3 hrs labour even though it took close to 5-6 hrs with final tweaks and tube/ plate bias.

This is no attack on Niks builds but im just curious what you all think cause its head and shoulders above the other OTS's ive had as well as the TR Gainmaster.
Thoughts?

Hello, any pictures of this build would be appreciated, just to see the lead dress.
thanks.

Lol, yeah but that would mean I have to stop playing it!!!!!!! to take some pictures.