Ceriatone Forum

After listening to many soundclips I couldn't take it anymore and put my order in to Nik. I'd never ordered like this overseas and all but all the reviews I read said Nik is a pretty stand up guy. I must admit, he answered all of my questions and promptly to boot!! So I went for it! All I have to do now is :'( wait 11 or 12 weeks. So much for instant gratification!

Right now I use a Marshall 1987x reissue which in it's own right is a great amp. But this special just has the sweetest singing tone That I've heard in a long time!! I am really looking forward to it!

Anyway just thought I'd chime in and say hello!!

you won't be sorry.  I felt the same way when I ordered.  He is a stand up guy.  I had a freak deal with mine.  A few weeks after I got it the power transformer died.  He had another on the way the next business day.  It'll be  long wait but you can relax as far as doing business from afar.  He runs a tight ship.  As far as the OTS, it is the best amp I have ever owned and produces OD to die for.  It loves an LP.

Regards,
Casken 

Thanks! 11 weeks and counting!! I have probably listened to all of the clips, particularly marinblues ( nice phrasing!) and it is an overdrive like none I have ever heard. I t just has that nice bite! Have you, like some other members taken down the internal gain pot a notch? I will probably end up playing with that a little. What are your favorite settings so far?

Jim

My OD trim has an external adjustment knob.  Nik does those for very reasonable rates.  I usually keep it around 10ish, but treat yourself with some Marshall growl and drive it to 1 or 2 o'clock sometime.  Another element that brings out that singing sustain is the preamp volume.  Around 4.5 for humbuckers and 6 or more for a strat.  Then that singing sustain really comes out.  You can then temper the overall volume level with the master and ratio.

I know there are a lot of electronic amp masters on here, I am not.  I am an eq tweaker.  This amp is great for that.  I use a Klein, a little reverb (EH Holygrail) and a little delay.  The result is tone for days. 

I know a guy that can hook you up within a week with a brand new Overtone Special if you are interested.  Shoot me an email.  He is ordering in the kits, having them built by pro (Certified by Ceriatone) shops here in the good old U.S.A., and selling them for a very good price.

On that note, keep in mind that you will definitely have to "dial in" the amp, it WILL NOT sound like those clips right out of the box.  Primarily, finding the sweet spot on the internal trim pot for your playing style and attack, for V2 is very important. 

And since this amp is built so well with such great fidelity, you will find that it is very easy to hear the difference of quality in preamp tubes.  I think I have found a special combination of the right preamp tubes and the internal pot setting for best tone from this amp.

Also, you might want to get that Kleinulator ordered for the loop, it really does make a HUGE difference and worth every penny.

Thanks,

I kinda figured the trim pot would have a big impact on the gain structure. That's ok, I love to tweak. I usually have my wife shaking her head because she'll see me toying with the rig that I had just claimed to be the "ultimate sound" the night before! ;D.

Does the kleinulator really make a difference? I generally use quite a bit of effects, both up front and in a loop but thinking of the special as more minimal, just a little reverb and delay. It seems that an amp like this that responds so well to picking dynamics wouldn't need much enhancement.

Jim

It makes a difference with or without using effects.  Definitely adds more punch to the circuit, and as many have said, a "3-d" tone to single line notes.  You will definitely want it to tame the output of the loop (it's pretty hot) so you won't clip your effects into distortion.  Smooths out highs a bit, but also has 2 bright switches between send/receive and between receive/recovery.  I think it's needed and worth it to make the amp even better.

about the Klein, what he said.  Do it, it is part of that great tone.

New here, and about to order an overtone, have any of you guys ab'd one with other D*mble clones or maybe an original? And which speakers match up well? Greg.

Check out www.tubenexus -There is an article comparing 5 D-style amp speaker. As for me -I like the celestion G12-65 reissue. ;D

I have the Kleinulator too. It does change the tone. For the better. Warms and smoothens the sound without cutting the highs. (3 more volumes to deal with though)

The G12-65 Heritage works well with the OTS. I was afraid it would kill the sparkly high but it doesn't.

I've heard a brand new OTS (read my thread about burn in time) against a TR Custom Reverb Sig and the TR sounds 'bigger'. Can't define 'bigger' but I think you'll get what I mean.

I've bought an EVM12l for mine but I'm going to pair it with a Celestion Vintage30 I think for a bit of a raw edge.

Well, it sounds like the kleinulator is a pretty essential unit! From the descriptions here of smoothing the tone and even adding a little more bite with the recovery control, I guess I'll add it to my order.

Anyone try this with other amps with a serial loop? Any Marshall owners?



Jim

I just ordered mine today, been using a 64 Vibroverb for years and wanted something different. Can't wait. Greg. ;D

hey needmore ,where can we get hooked up stateside within a week? im ready to order.

I just added a mod to my order. I'm having the internal gain trim pot externally mounted.

10 weeks and counting!!!     :P