Nice looking gear there Phil.
Thanks Johnny, it's my 86 darkback goldtop. I always liked the look of the 57's with the dark brown backs, and this looks the same way. I put an old set of Grover's on it (I didn't need to ream out the holes as it had Schaller Thistle machines, which have the larger hole already). I'm a big fan of the look of LP's with Grovers. Mind you, your lion really looks the business. Have you used the synth yet? I set up a PRS clone with the roland GK kit and still haven't used it because my guitar synth is in storage!
The amp is a custom Ceriatone and I really have to thank Nik for making a great job of it. It is a JTM45 power amp (JJ GZ34, Shuguang KT66 - soon to be replaced with Groove Tube Saratov's), GT 12AX7M phase inverter), mated with a Marshall 18w TMB preamp with an EF86 channel. The EF86 channel has a 6 position tone cut, and uses a NOS Sylvania EF86, which really can get that spanky clean Vox tone, the TMB channel has a master vol and uses an original GE and original Sylvania 12AX7's. They really do bring out a lot more tone than the Mullard reissue ECC83's (even though they were sounding really good originally). I have some NOS JAN Phillips 5751's that I was going to try, but these are sounding so good that I am loathe to take them out!
The Scumback M75-LDHC is in the Matamp 1x12, and now it is played in is sounding great, though yesterday with the RTO and Klon going I was getting some cone cry. I just got a new Weber Fane 12 copy and I am going to put that in the cab (that's actually because I want the Scumback to put in a 2x12 with another for my Ceriatone Dumble clone [when it get's back from Ear Candy]).
GwEm has played through the setup quite a few times, and has heard the comparison of pre-amp valves. If ever you come to New York you'd be welcome to come over and check thing out.