I will pull the trigger on a Ceriatone FM 100 Modern Eagle Mod (likely) or a Ceriatone HRM Bluesmaster this Friday.
I just wanted to get any thoughts on the amps (I have read a lot here) first hand from you guys. I have heard that you can ask Nik to put in a PAD Trimmer and a OD trimmer pot as well and some of you say this is good to add.
The OTS does not have the Post OD tone stack/trimmers like the HRM. I hear from Nik that the OD on the FM is a little lighter and less harsh? than the OTS?. I have also heard that with the "Modern Eagle Mod" it is less bright.
Now I know that the Robben Ford Mod OTHERS talk about is the removal of the Choke and adding in a resistive one for more sag. Is this what is in the FM 100 Modern Eagle?
That said, I do love the Robben Ford tone a lot! Has anyone played, owned or heard a FM 100 ?
The closest I have ever seen anyone get to THE Robben Ford tone (besides Robben live) is with a Mesa Mark I reissue with an EVM-12L, Tubescreamer TS9, Ibanez AD99, Boss Chorus and a Les Paul w/57 Classics. This combo NAILED the Politician, Worried Life blues...etc tone. Robben would have done a double take!
I bought a Mark I and am in the process of getting an EV put in it to try it. STILL I want a D-style amp and GAS calls.
Sooooo... I need advice, any advice from you guys to make sure I am getting what I need!!

Hello Mr. Powers
I am the proud new owner/builder of an OTS FM50 mod eagle. It is fairly new to me ( less than a month old ) so I wont comment too much on the tone other than saying I have not 1 complaint. Until I A/B the amp with a few other amps I wont have anything to compare with.
That being said, the FM modern eagle uses a choke just the same as the other OTS's. I dont know if Robben  Fords uses a choke or not.
I dont believe any OTS are exact clones but they are very close
I have not attempted to achieve RF's tone either, Im really not RF's biggest fan although respect his ability to play the guitar.
I can say that whatever guitar you play through this amp will make a huge tonal difference as well as pup selection and the guitar volume.
As soon as I have more experience with this amp I will post an honest review.
All that said, you could pick any OTS HRM or not and you wont be dissapointed.
Good luck
Be careful these amps are addicting

The modern eagle mod is the same exact amp as the regular FM 50 or 100watt, except about 6 components values are changed a little.
It adds a LNFB switch which I am finding very useful. It changes the whole character of the amp tone
I took the layout from the reg FM and compared with the modern eagle and highlighted the changes, they are very minimal.
Oh it also adds a 3 way switch instead of 2 way for the bright switch for 2 different bright settings. I have not used the bright switch much yet, but when engaged there is a noticeable change in tone.
If you are building this amp you could ask Nik for some extra components that would allow you change from say standard OTS to FM by just resoldering in a few differnent components.
When comparing these different models your not comparing apples to oranges, its more like red apples to green apples they are still apples just taste a little different.
But HRM to non HRM is a different story.
Hope this helps

I use that metal tape that is used for sticking along the seams of those metal-faced insulated panels for house building (Hard foam in sheets several inches thick, Kingspan is the major UK manufacturer).
Score it a little after application to get all the sheets to connect, and make sure a chassis bolt goes through it