Ceriatone Forum

Hello and thank you for checking!

I'm selling my 2007 Brown Note D’Lite ODS 44W guitar amplifier. I built this amplifier myself out of the Brown Note Super Deluxe kit, and has many other features not in a standard D’Lite. I'm including the amplifier head, 3-way footswitch, IEC power cable, three Electro-Harmonix 12AX7s and a pair of TAD 6L6WGC tubes.

Cosmetically, the D’Lite is in near-mint condition. Its not brand-new, so I can’t say it is new. However, I looked VERY hard to find any nicks or dings in the amplifier, and I can’t find any. I have tried to document its condition as best I could in the pictures. Even the footswitch is in fantastic shape. Overall, the amplifier is a 9.5+/10 cosmetically.

On the rear of the amplifier, there is a hole in the chassis that I previously had a voicing control installed in, and I decided to pull it. I currently have the hole filled with a bolt.

Functionally, the amplifier is fantastic. I took extreme care in the construction of this amplifier, as can be seen in the internal pictures of the amp. I have not had any issues with it after my major “revoicing” overhaul of the entire amplifier (I had a bad cap once, beforehand). I used top-quality components that should last a long, long time.

This amp is approximately 12 months old, and was rebuilt to achieve a certain tonal goal approximately 7 months ago with the help of Scott Lerner, Brandon Montgomery, Moss Hudson, Gil Ayan, and others.

Sound-wise, this D’Lite has the sound and response that you’d expect from a high plate load, non-HRM D-style amplifier. The clean channel is clear, articulate, and fat with a pleasing Blackface-like shimmer when the Bright is engaged.

On the overdrive section, the amp is very rich and responsive. It has a very smooth, singing lead tone that is a blast to play through. It blooms into harmonic overtones quite well, and has fantastic sustain. I’ve taken diligent care to keep noise as low as possible, so there is little tube noise even in the OD channel.

I’ve revoiced the Preamp Boost (“PAB”) so that it is fuller and less nasally than the earlier style of PAB. The style I used is modeled after the later Bluesmaster style “mega boost”.

I replaced the stock Brown Note OT with a 50W Bludotone output transformer that is simply a piece of art. The amp offers 4-8-16 Ohm outputs.

This amplifier has received very positive comments on various builders’ forums, and became the so-called “Tweaked D’Lite”, with its own schematics and layouts. I hope you can see I tried to build a solid, long-lasting, and great-sounding amplifier.

Here is a list of the modifications I included in this amp:
- Bludotone 50W output transformer
- 3-way footswitching (Bright, OD, Preamp Boost)
- “Skyline” tonestack (mid boost omitted)
- Tuned OD channel – less harsh and muddy than some non-HRM variations
- 300R choke replacement resistor for desired level of “sag” at higher volumes
- UF4007 diodes for lower noise (maybe imperceptible, but it can’t hurt)
- Bluesmaster-style “mega boost” PAB (with different padding resistor)
- Closely followed Big D’s wiring style and lead placement
- Passive, serial FX loop

Here is a list of the component types I used:
- F&T electrolytic power and bias supply capacitors
- Custom black G10/FR4 1/8” eyelet boards
- Fairchild UF4007 rectifying diodes
- Belton Micalex tube sockets
- Sprague/SBE 6PS “Orange Drop” polyester film capacitors
- Mallory GP ceramic disk capacitors
- RN65 and 1W carbon film resistors in preamp
- Mountain and Carling switches
- Heyboer-made / Brown Note spec power transformer
- Bludotone spec output transformer
- Alpha 24mm potentiometers
- Switchcraft jacks
- Omron relays
- Solid-stranded silver-plated Teflon wire and low-capacitance Gepco shielded cable

I'm selling this because I have some projects I need to finish, and I'm trying to put money in savings to pay for my son's birth in December.

I am asking $1150 + shipping. This is essentially what I have invested in parts on this amplifier - I'm not trying to recoup my time whatsoever.

Since I'm selling this for financial reasons, I'm not interested in trades.

Thank you SO much for looking. Feel free to PM me if you are interested, or email me at:
m i k e k l e i n 3 1 1 @ y a h o o DOT c o m

More pictures.

More pictures.

More pictures.

SOLD!