Boutique/custom vs production tube linestages

Check out Toodshed Amps on Instagram or FB  if you want to see some beautiful  hand made creations.   Im having Matt build me a 300b amp and possibly his DHT Preamp.   

Thats why I liked working with Matt at Toolshed.  Mine will be a 3oob but will have a few upgrades like stepped Khozmo attenuators.  Upgraded output trannys,  silver foil coupling caps.   Transformer covers will be dark bronze hammertone.   Amp uses 0.5 % tolerance resistors throughout.  Rosewood/Figured Cherry base.   

B.O.M. is better than most anything in its price.   I spoke to a few Toolshed owners and they said it was the best amp they've ever owned , and their list of former amps included all the big boys.  Many which are beyond my reach.    

Toolshed has a preamp too ....

It’s not that PCBs are garbage but in a tube amp there is often collateral damage when a tube fails.  I had an Anthem Amp 1 and it really was a nice sounding amp but if a tube failed it would also burn the bias resistor.  Wound not have been a big deal but it left a nice burn mark on the circuit board itself .  After cleaning that up 🆙 replaced all bias resistors and mounted them away from the PCB

Thats the main reason I am not buying a power amp with a PCB.  That plus  the fact that my last two tube amps with Point to Point never had any issues.  I think fewer parts and solder nodes make them more reliable to.  There are thousands and thousands of hours on my QS never a problem  

Like Aric Audio..., I have heard nothing but great things .   

 I wasn't quite sure what I wanted in an amp.   I almost bought another PP but honestly those QS are great, I certainly didn't need more power.  I wanted something different.... For around the same money as an entry level from one of the big boys, I will have a custom 300b that will be heirloom quality.     And while you may see another Toolshed 300b, it won't be exactly like mine.