Stereomour with external pre-amp

[lordvader]

Hey all.

I'm close to purchasing a Stereomour II (any black Friday deals coming up ), but have a question ...
I already have a pre-amp, so have no intention of using the switch, volume or balance controls, so ...

Is it possible to get a plate without the extra holes (or a layout for Front Panel Express so I can get a custom one done up) ?
And ... is removing the volume and balance controls as simple enough as adding 50K resistor across the input ?

Thanks

[Doc B.]

Just turn the volume up all the way.

[lordvader]

Can the controls be removed all together ?
I have a pet peeve about doubling up on volume controls

[Doc B.]

If you turn the volume pot up all the way it's effectively a grid resistor and a direct connection to the input grid, same a fixed resistor and a piece of wire at the input of a power amp. I don't mean to sound intolerant but I often see posts where a builder wants to change something seemingly because it feels right, while from a technical perspective the work involved to modify the amp might not necessarily be justified.

All that said, yes, you can replace the pot with a fixed value grid resistor.

[Paul Birkeland]

You can also fill all the holes in the chassis plate with chrome hole plugs. 

I would also mention that very nicely built kits that are bone stock have very high resale value (in case the Kaiju beckons down the road).