Ceriatone Forum

I've had my amp at one rehearsal with my 4x10 cab and love the clean side of it, I just wish the'd let me turn it UP!!!. I have the OD trimmer on the back panel so have had chance to fiddle with it a lot and I am finding I prefer it low, about 8 o'clock. I still have plenty of scope at that position to vary the amount of overdrive with the level control, but generally prefer this low aswell to give a mildly overdriven sound and I then use a pedal and the PAB to generate some additional OD.

Now my problem is that with the trimmer set very low and the level set low aswell, there is virtually no scope for a volume boost with the ratio pot. Even with this on max I don't get much increase in volume and I do want some more. So I'm wondering if there is a possibility of changing some components to alter the range of the ratio pot?

Thanks guys.

Oh BTW my OD trimmer is the 100k version and the preOD resistor is 220k. I haven't done JackZ's mods yet but am in the process of assembling the components to get them done. I've decided not to wait until I've built a 2x12 (G12-65's) on the basis that I can always change back.

This might be a dumb remark, but what about starting out with the OD channel and setting  a higher overall Volume and then using the ratio pot to turn down the clean channel.

Isn't the Ratio control only for the OD channel? How could you use it to turn down the clean channel?

I'd be tempted to try a different preamp tube in V2 to try and lower the gain that way so that you can run the controls slightly higher....just a thought, but I did similar in a Fender amp when I wanted to reduce the overall gain, but increase the usefullness of the drive control.

Yes the Ratio only applies to the OD 'channel' . I've used 5751's in critical OD and indeed V1 positions in my other Fender amps to good effect so I might try that but, with lower gain in both sides of V2 the Ratio will still have a lower range which is what I'd like to change.

That's what you get when you don't have the amp yet and still try to give advise.

Sorry!

The basic problem is that you've reduced the input signal to the gain stage (with the trimmer)so much that you can't make it up at the output to match the volume of the clean channel. It's a balancing act. You really need to set it up so that you get at least the OD vol you need with the ratio all the way up. The only other way to get a clean/OD balance is to reduce the clean vol. You could possibly increase the gain of the second stage of V2, but you risk changing the character of the OD more than the change you get with the trimmer.

BTW: I also like the trimmer set lower....it really changes the character of the OD in a very nice way, but too low doesn't sound as good to me either. There seems to be a sweet spot.

Where would you reckon the sweet spot is? I like it a 8o'clock but could tolerate anything up to 10o'clock I think, and might have to compromise to get the ratio where I need it.

For me, it's between 9 and 10 o'clock....YMMV. IMHO, this is one of the first things to establish when someone gets the amp, along with getting the right speakers and tubes.

What FP said.
Trimmer, tubes, and spkrs, usually get you where you need to go.

I've played a dozen gigs now with the OT- & it works GREAT for me- mostly I use a single G12-65 cab mic'd through the PA - I've set OD trimmer around 10 o'clock- input gain around 6-7 (this seems to thicken OD tones nicely) all tone switches up & tone controls 12 o'clock with bass reduced to around 10 o'clock, Master around 3-5 depending on venue, presence again depends on venue, but mostly around 10 o'clock.  I use a custom shop Strat mostly with a  Les Paul with P90's that maybe needs a little more treble. This works for me- but I have a thing about 'spiky' top end frequencies- some of you guys might find these setting a little dark- but I can honestly say I've never had sweeter tones from any amp- period! (I've been playing 30 years)  :o :D ;)