Ceriatone Forum

I wonder what the wait is for these. Hoping to have it early in the new year so I can start building when thing get a bit quieter.

Fun days ahead for you as well.
 ;D


Keep us posted... want to see some build pictures
 ;)

I'll try and remember to get lots of photos as I'm doing it. Last time I just got carried away and forgot the photos!.

I've also ordered a London Power SB-2 powerscaling kit aswell. I'm going to have an experienced tech fit that though as it will need a fan.

Sods law, just a matter of hours after I pulled the trigger, the £ went up 3cents against the dollar!

I'm wanting to pull the trigger on this as well , but our dollar has been taking a pounding lately.  I haven't emailed Nik yet , but was there any kind of a discount on the kit? Thanks. :)

Yes he's discounting the DC-30 until the end of the month. Email him and he'll quote you a price depending on what you're after.

Damn that was quick. Just checked my emails and theres a tracking number. Its in the UK already will be with me tomorrow.

Arrived today. Won't be able to start until new year though.

Managed a couple of hours weekend before last and 3 hours yesterday. Completed PT wiring and valve heaters.

I had an accident with the rear faceplate and had to order another one off Nik, so I might get a bit of a delay finishing. I had to drill a hole on the rear for the power switch and I went through with an 8mm bit then went on to a ½" bit and that dug in to the perspex and cracked it. Not the end of the world but annoying none the less.

 :o
really nice work so far


 ;)

I only had a couple of hours spare on Sunday so not much accomplished.

Anyone confirm that the markings on the 220uF cap indicate the negative side? Seeing as there is nothing on the positive contact to indicate otherwise I feel I am fairly safe with my assumption.

Yes the stripe is the negative side, nice work! :)

Thanks that puts my mind at rest, though I didn't think it would be possible to interpret it any other way.

Still didn't get a lot of time on it today, we had a gig this evening to prepare for. Some progress though.

All completed now. Its gone off to my tech who'll power it up and test it for me. I can't wait to get it fired up. Must remember to give it a good burn in period.

This is the only amp I got which sounded brilliant not even having been burned in.

It is that good..  The most underated amp in the Ceriatone range...

To me in someways it is the best.  Certainly the most versatile.  The best clean I have ever heard and the most musical amp too!

You will enjoy it very much

regards

Richard

It doesn't like my Hotplate. This affects the amp more than it does the OTS. Without it the amp is alive, a small amount of hiss when turned up but nothing too problematic.

Very nice tones esp the EF86, but both channels are really nice. I don't like the master volume though, I think that will have to go as soon as the power scaling is fitted.

One problem, and it might be related to the fact the amp was out of a cab and sat in front of the speaker cab, microphonics when the volume got to 3:00 (EF86 channel naturally). I have got the two rings on the valve but I think I will need to investigate further and maybe try a different valve in there. That was loud though, but nevertheless it needs sorting.

I'm going to burn it in tomorrow and see if anything changes.

There is a reason why the EF86 was quickly abandoned as a guitar tube, they are a very problematic tube.  Everyone seems to find the modern production versions too noisy (especially since the SED isn't made anymore) and the NOS keep climbing in price. 

After  6 hours of burn in I really can hear a difference. Its brighter and more articulate. might be my imagination but I think its louder aswell. Will give it another burn in tomorrow.

I wish someone could quantify this 'burn in' process, whats happening?, why? and how long does it need?

many tube retailers burn tubes in for 24-48 hours to weed out the duds (which there are a lot of in modern tubes) and to get to the point where the bias point stabilizes.  Not so much for tone.

Well after about another 6 hours burnin the hiss has nearly all gone! What was causing that I wonder. Still get some when its on full whack but normal volumes its quiet. Not played it again, leaving it another 6 hours before I do.

Wow this is one fantastic amp. I've just finished the combo (blonde tolex, chrome hardware) all except the grille cloth, got to order that tomorrow. I've paired it up with a G12-65 for now and it sounds so rounded and well balanced. EF86 gets gnarly (nicely of course) when wound up but I can't really do that for long its sooo loud.

It is a very transparent amp, shows up all your playing inadequacies (hence why i won't be posting any clips anytime soon!), but responds so beautifully to picking dynamics. I am going to have to become a better player to do this amp justice I think.

Hywelg-

I totally agree- this is one incredible amp! (thanks for the 'cab' advice hywelg btw- much appreciated)  Just finished building a head cab for mine- from solid maple (thanks Herby660)!  I did originally intend to use it for the trainwreck express I have too - but that ended up in another cab.  Despite my rubbish woodworking skills- it looks kinda ok - even better when I get the 'M*tchless' logo to light up too!  With my 'brand new' 1963 Bravewood Telecaster  ;)  It really has the rhythm sound of doom- ridiculous clean & crunch tones- I'm so gobsmacked it may replace the Overtone in my affections for some styles of music I play .... :o

C'mon Mitch, lets see some pics!

Ok chaps- here 'tis- bit rough around the edges- and sadly no dovetail joints here (I'm rubbish at woodwork!)  But it's tough and does the job- might have to stain it green or something  ;D

or maybe tolex will have to hide the multitude of sins-

No mistaking though- this is one hell of an amp- had the chance to try it in anger at a large venue at the weekend- and I had the curious sensation I was hearing the sound was coming from not just the speakers but 'filling' the room- that was on low power too on the EF86 channel about 12 o'clock volume, maybe that DC30 '3D' effect isn't just an urban myth after all!

anyone else experience this?

Yeah a stain to match the Tele would be nice. Chestnut do a range of high intensity primary colour woodstains, though I guess Maple won't absorb that much so you'd have to spray with lacquer with the stain added to it, then it becomes vulnerable to dings just like  a guitar. Shame to cover the lovely wood grain with tolex though.

Just got the amp back from Shane Dolman. Powerscaling installed. Initial impressions are good. Powerscaling is better than the master volume by a good bit. It does lose some tone when scaling the volume right back but thats not really what I want it to do, just to ease off the volume levels of thios very loud amp.

Some pics

mmmmmm
tasty

 ;)

Wow!  :o

That's some seriously good work there hywelg- in fact I'm now so embarrassed about my own handywork- especially as my drummer described my attempt as a 'converted bread bin'!!!  >:( so much so that I relented and gave Nik a call and he's done me a good deal on an empty Dizzy head cab & Kleinulator package - I have to agree on the choice of G12-65's - that smoother top end really warms up this amp's inherent brightness, and the lower sensitivity tames the ridiculous volume levels of this amp slightly- I still prefer the gold alnico's with the Overtone though...

Thanks. 

Seems like I have to get my hands on a Gold don't I, Just finished a 2x12 for my OTS with an EVM12l and Eminence ToneSpotter. Nice but I'm beginning to see what people mean about the EVM, its a bit clinical, maybe I need something with a bit more 'character'