It would be great if you can make a trip West, you've always got a place to stay! As for the preamp, the first version is done, I've been listening for a month or two. The second version adds shunt reg to the phono stage and it is 50% done, still on the bench. With warmer weather I've been doing things like taking care of the lawn instead of building, but will complete it in the next week or two. It uses 12V6's (like 6V6) as the line stage, which sound amazing, and a modified version of the RCA phono circuit in the same chassis (using 12SL7s). I love the sound of this thing!