New to the forum and the OTS

[electra blue]

Hello all, I picked-up an 8 month old OTS with 1/2 power switch of The Bay and its paired up with a G12-65 clone. Dialing this baby in will be a challenge. But so far, as you know, the tones are great! Having difficulty understanding the relationship of the clean and overdrive knobs especially keeping levels consistent when switching them in and out.

There is an overdrive knob on the rear of the amp; does this control the flavor of the OD or simply raise the level of OD?

Also curious about the effects loop. I've read some of the threads on the C-lator and Klein, but what I don't understand is, are one of these is required to run effects in the loop?

Apologies for my ignorance, and thanks for your help!

[bluesfendermanblues]

Hi great,

To 'see' a new face.

Perhaps you should download the manual from ceriatones homepage.
It pretty much explains the basics about the amp and how to set it up properly.

Regards

[electra blue]

Perhaps you should download the manual from ceriatones homepage.
It pretty much explains the basics about the amp and how to set it up properly./quote]

Thanks, I'll check it out

[Homebelly]

Also curious about the effects loop. I've read some of the threads on the C-lator and Klein, but what I don't understand is, are one of these is required to run effects in the loop?

Apologies for my ignorance, and thanks for your help!

Short answer in, no.
However, if you want to run pedals in the loop then either the C-lator or the Klien can help with tone loss or volume drops.
You can also use either of them with out FX to get some cool tonal changes and a slight over drive boost on the clean channel.   

[Teleguy61]

The main thing to remember is don't set the trim control on the back panel too high. About 10 o'clock,
with the tip of the knob just over the E in OPERATE on the standby switch, seems a good place to start.
That OD gives you a good lead sound, not too dirty. The real sustain comes in with OD and PAB switched in.
Takes some getting used to. It's worth the work.

[bluesfendermanblues]

Also curious about the effects loop. I've read some of the threads on the C-lator and Klein, but what I don't understand is, are one of these is required to run effects in the loop?

The dumblelator should be regarded as an integrated part of the sound system/amp. Yes, you can run effects without it, but thats not really the point of the dumblelator.

Robben Ford's sound is created with the Dumble #102 amp PLUS a dumblelator PLUS a TC2290. The dumblelator adds a little compression and smoothen the sound of the amp. This is the main reason you NEED a C-lator/Dumblelator. Period.

[axiology]

Also curious about the effects loop. I've read some of the threads on the C-lator and Klein, but what I don't understand is, are one of these is required to run effects in the loop?

The dumblelator should be regarded as an integrated part of the sound system/amp. Yes, you can run effects without it, but thats not really the point of the dumblelator.

Robben Ford's sound is created with the Dumble #102 amp PLUS a dumblelator PLUS a TC2290. The dumblelator adds a little compression and smoothen the sound of the amp. This is the main reason you NEED a C-lator/Dumblelator. Period.

IMHO I don't think it's necessary, not everyone wants to emulate the Robben Ford sound, the amp sounds great without it. I'm running an OTS without C/D-lator, though I have a very simple FX setup; a  Strymon Blue Sky Reverb pedal. No degradation of amp sound quality here....

[electra blue]

Appreciate the input guys.

I downloaded the manual, it was helpful and a good foundation to build from, although there is no reference to the trim pot on the back. I will try the 10:00 suggestion as a starting point. I know that as I was experimenting, (you know, jacking the dials to extremes just to see what happens) sometimes the OD would be very harsh. I read on another site that setting up the clean channel first was critical to dialing in the OD tone and ultimately balancing the channels.

One thing I struggled with yesterday was kicking in the boost and OD. I don't remember where the knobs were set, but at one point if the OD was on and I kicked on the Boost the volume dropped.

Also glad to know the true purpose of the "D-C-K-lators" is compression, smoothing and tonal enrichment.

Thought I might try one of these Wet reverbs from Neunaber, http://www.neunabertechnology.com/wet-reverb

Thanks again for the insights!

[sduck]

You may not have downloaded the right manual. OR you may have a modded amp. There are several flavors of OTS amps - some have the gain pot on the back stock, some don't but the owners have added them on. The bluesmaster versions have the external gain pot, but the plain ots and the hrm's don't.

Also, the pab footswitch is going to work differently depending on what kind of amp you're talking about. I think. I'm still a little vague about the way the pab works in the different varieties of these amps - this is something the manuals are unclear about.

FWIW I have my gain knob straight up at 12 oclock. And run the preamp volume at 7, and the drive knob at about 8. But I like a really hairy overdrive sound - old school hard rocker here.

[electra blue]

Thanks for the heads up sduck -- so I checked with the seller, apparently the trim pot was added by Nik as an option, it also has the half power option. I'll keep messin' with the PAB and settings, feel some OCD setting in with all these knobs and switches.

[Teleguy61]

Remember also that the clean and OD sections are not separate. They cascade into each other.
Therefore, the tone on your clean section affects the OD tone.
You don't say if your model is an HRM, which adds a tone stack in the OD section.
Keep working at it. It took me a while to start getting OD sounds I was happy with.
Extreme settings don't seem to work out well with the OTS amps.
They also seem very sensitive-minor adjustments in control settings produce
big tonal and feel changes.
Shoot for a clean tone you are happy with, and then work on the OD. Start low,
small adjustments.
Good luck! I think it's a great amp.

[sduck]

Remember also that the clean and OD sections are not separate. They cascade into each other.
Therefore, the tone on your clean section affects the OD tone.

On my HRM BM this is true until I engage the PAB - then the tone stack is bypassed. This is one of those things that I'm not sure is true for all models or not - maybe someone knows? It's not mentioned in the manual. I was getting a bit frustrated with my drive channel until I discovered this - without the PAB engaged, I just couldn't find a really clear sounding overdrive - now I never use the drive channel without the PAB engaged.

[exocet]

Remember also that the clean and OD sections are not separate. They cascade into each other.
Therefore, the tone on your clean section affects the OD tone.

On my HRM BM this is true until I engage the PAB - then the tone stack is bypassed. This is one of those things that I'm not sure is true for all models or not - maybe someone knows? It's not mentioned in the manual. I was getting a bit frustrated with my drive channel until I discovered this - without the PAB engaged, I just couldn't find a really clear sounding overdrive - now I never use the drive channel without the PAB engaged.

All of the HRM type amps have 2 tonestacks, with the OD engaged your signal will pass through both unless you engage the PAB which bypasses the 1st tonestack giving you more gain but then allowing the 2nd stack to shape the sound.

[electra blue]

Remember also that the clean and OD sections are not separate. They cascade into each other.
Therefore, the tone on your clean section affects the OD tone.
You don't say if your model is an HRM, which adds a tone stack in the OD section.
Keep working at it. It took me a while to start getting OD sounds I was happy with.
Extreme settings don't seem to work out well with the OTS amps.
They also seem very sensitive-minor adjustments in control settings produce
big tonal and feel changes.
Shoot for a clean tone you are happy with, and then work on the OD. Start low,
small adjustments.
Good luck! I think it's a great amp.

Mine is a "standard" 50w OTS with an external OD pot on the back and a half power switch, I'm running it thru an Avatar, open back, 1x12 with a WGS G1265 clone which needs more time on it to break in. Some of the cleans I'm getting out of the amp, especially in 1/2 power mode, are stellar -- clear and very articulate with some hair around the edges that can be controlled with attack or guitar volume (lovvvvve that), the only thing missing is some reverb.

So probably safe to assume that in 1/2 power mode the OD will be more sensitive than in full power?

Ill keep working on the OD thing, I know the right mix is in there, the problem is the user. 

All of the HRM type amps have 2 tonestacks, with the OD engaged your signal will pass through both unless you engage the PAB which bypasses the 1st tonestack giving you more gain but then allowing the 2nd stack to shape the sound.

OK, to further demonstrate my ignorance, are both tones tacks wired into the tone dials? Man that would be confusing for the uninitiated, sounds like I great feature tho'. Also, do the tone dials add gain like a Dr. Z Galaxie?

[Teleguy61]

OK, to further demonstrate my ignorance, are both tones tacks wired into the tone dials? Man that would be confusing for the uninitiated, sounds like I great feature tho'. Also, do the tone dials add gain like a Dr. Z Galaxie?
[/quote]

Only the HRM models have the second tone stack. The HRM OD tone stack is adjusted with a set
of internal trimmers. As the post above says, the HRM tone stack provides tonal control of the OD
sound, and was added to provide tonal control of the PAB sound. AS poster said, PAB disconnects most
of the regular tone stack, providing a gain and midrange boost.
A "regular" OTS does not have the HRM internal tone stack.
The tone controls do not "add" gain. They are of the passive type, based on Fender style tone controls.

By the way, keep asking questions. It is a complex amp, and other users input is very helpful.