Hi all I have been a long time lingerer but first time poster.  Since most of you guys have the first version and or/50 watt versions I thought I'd give a review for the new 100 watt HRM.  I preface this with I try to avoid honeymoon reviews for amps/gear so I purposely waited a couple of weeks to do this.  Okay, here we  go....

IT'S AWESOME.

Cleans spank my Twin Reverb RI and vintage '65 Bassman silly, and are to my ears much better than any Fender I have tried.  Add the mid boost and it adds this complex midrange character that sort of reminds me of a 100 watt single channel Marshall. Very nice.  Tons of headroom and can get frightfully loud. I love it!

Now the reason we buy these amps...the gain channel!  At first I had a hard time getting "the tone" from it but after learning how all the different gain knobs/volume knobs interact with each other I was able to get some incredible sounds from it. For those who don't play Ford or Carlton style licks, do not dispair!  I can do anything from Page, Clapton, Beck, SRV, Hendrix, Bonamassa, EJ, as well with this one channel (depending on what axe you use).  It has a TON of clarity but is never really harsh unless you dime the treble and presence but who would do that? I pair it with a 100 watt Marshall DSL and can achieve any tone in my head.  I went with the 100 watter vs. the 50 watter because I love the headroom of 100 watters and there is a certain "explosive" sound that they get that cannot be emulated with the lower wattage options. FANTASTIC amp and service from Ceriatone.  For those in doubt, BITE THE BULLET AND GET ONE ASAP.

No I haven't compared the original OTS circuit to the HRM, but Marin and Sami have both and have done lots of comparisons.  I went HRM because a) many of the gripes (too trebley, buzzy, blah blah blah) have been about the first circuit and b) because many of my favorite tones have been from famous players using the HRM format.  From what I can gather the HRM is suppose to be very articulate and makes your notes jump off the fretboard, and perhaps more midrangey.  I love the articulation.  The HRM makes you really work for it but if you have the chops you will blow minds! Hope this helps.

 IMO I believe if you have the chops you can make the Overtone Special OR Overtone HRM sound like anything you want.  I don't play like Ford or Carlton but I own Larry Carlton's Firewire album. To my ears that is one of his more rocking albums.  The HRM has that tone in spades.  There is an enormous amount of gain in my HRM and the more you gob on the less Dumble/more Marshall sounding it is.  That being said I have been able to get very close to any Dumble tone I have ever heard.  SRV type huge cleans, EJ like soaring overdrive, Ford type polite semi dirty tones with plenty of sustain,  super high gain Santana stuff, etc.  So yes you can get the Ford/Carlton thing with the right settings but I think that is a VERY narrow and overdone thing with these types amps.  I play rock/blues with hints of other styles mixed in and it sounds great for those styles.  These amps really bring out your own sound.  For example I have a buddy who works in a major guitar chain and I brought my HRM for him to check out.  No matter what settings I dialed in he sounded like he was playing through a lit up Marshall JCM800.  That's the tone in his fingers.  I pick up the same guitar and same amp settings and sound completely different (poorly imitated EJ or JB with hints of SRV).  I say you can't go wrong with either, but for me the HRM is it. Good luck!

Hello,

  Thanks, thats great! I am glad you're enjoying the amp.

  The HRM's cleans are indeed not to be underestimated, as well, indeed. I think it's a bit darker than fenders.  The S&M was more on the Fender type of brightness, but with lots of harmonics underneath.

  As for 50W, if you need to convert to 100W, it's mainly trannies and extra tubes, along with new PS board. The rest are pretty much the same thing. If you're inclined for wiring, I think it's a doable project thats not too hard.

Thanks!

Nik