I got my Overtone yesterday.  Nik said it would be about 3 months...no prob.

Of course it didn't work when I fired it up.  Looked for the owners manual...there is none ~sigh~ Checked the obvious fuse...it was fine.  Finally I found a secondary fuse. It was blown.  Changed it. Fired it up again...plug in(with my Telecaster) and hear very unmusical distortion on the "FET" channel(input). It really sounds like a broken amp...sorry that's probably not techincal enough, but that's what it sounded like. After about an hour of frustration. I plugged into the "NOR" channel. That sounded better...at least it didn't sound broken.  It sounded like your garden variety fender amp to me...shrill highs, flabby lows.  The clean sound is excellent, but I have pedals that sound better than the distortion channel.  An hour later I plug in with my Les Paul.  The "FET" channel still sounds broken.  The "NOR" channel actually sounds good! 

I spent the rest of the night playing with all the controls...I still don't understand some of 'em. What is a "Rock/Jazz"switch?  I also noticed that there is no "Mid Boost"...instead there is a "Deep" switch...useless on Fender amps for years so why are we using it on this amp?  The tone controls don't work when the little green light is on(footswitch) but maybe it's supposed to do that. After a few hours the Carlton/Ford sound is still no where to be found.  It's a decent box but so far it seems pretty limited and  it seems completely useless with my main guitar (telecaster).

This is a quote from SRV him self...

"Some Dumbles - like the Overdrive Special - you 've got to know what you 're doing with them, because they'll get away from you and take you with 'em."
(Guitar Player, October 1984)

These amps are not plug and play... you must learn a few things about these amps before you will be able to get that D tone.

Google is your friend.
 

It took me a few days to find the sound for my Strat.  Key---preamp volume must be 5 or more on cleans...6 to7 if using strat for OD.   Gotta get those tubes a dancin' I also keep my mids very low on cleans, but that is a taste thing.  Adjust the master volume and ratio if OD is on to temper actual volume.

Even on an LP the preamp volume needs to be at about 4.5 to 5 for the OD to sing.  And it does. To me I have never heard an OD stompbox even close to the great OD this amp gets and it is really quiet.  My findings have been agreed with by some very seasoned players.

For cleans I use a Klein, EH Holygrail and a little delay...very nice.  Learn to tweak it and there are many rewards for your ears.  I have never used mine without the Kleinulator and reverb...but I never play anything without some reverb...too dry.

If you got it to emulate the sounds you heard on clips I can tell you they are all in there.  Several of them are using a touch of reverb and or delay btw. I get those tones and more.

As the others said, forget the FET...the normal input is made for your tele. Also the OTS has a very good ear.  It will translate what you are sending more accurately than any amp I have ever play through. Each guitar I have is very distinct, more so than with other amps.  It has helped my playing a lot by telling me about my weaknesses. 

Give it a few days before you can it, because those tones you bought it for are in there. Finding your sound in the settings and breaking in some new equipment aren't necessarily things you have to subscribe to, but it does help to know your way around a given piece of equipment.  Mine has actually grown on me more and more these past weeks.  Alot of that is because I learned how to find what my ears wants through knowing the amp. 

Like you I bought mine based on what I heard on sound clips and reviews.  When mine got here I had a learning curve to overcome.  I just hate for you to give up too quickly, I know how satisfied I am with mine.

I have a great AVATAR cab that has 2x12 Celestions.  A Vintage 30 and 12H30 combo.  I think that is part of my satisfaction with my tone.  I wouldn't change a thing. 

like the Beatles said, "It's getting better all the time..."  I've been working with the Overtone, swapping tubes, adjusting trim pots, breaking the faceplate, and shocking the crap out of myself...LOL! I am learning about amps, tubes, caps, resistors, and pot...I mean "pots".  I'm sort of getting into this.  Maybe it was the 120 volt shock I took last night while adjusting the OD trimmer, but I think this amp  has put some kind of mojo on me.  I am getting some very cool sounds...even with my Telecaster!  Yes...you all will say "I told you so..."  I STILL don't hear the carlton/ford tone, but what i am hearing is very sweet...inspiring even!

Hey be careful there, this thing can kill you.
 




and
I TOLD YOU SO.
 
 

Okay,  my two cents worth...for what its worth. I researched D**ble amps for nearly two years and listened to every artist I could find that uses them before I found Ceriatone's web site. Then, I listened to every sound clip I found before I ordered my kit and built my own. I am finding this to be the real deal! I had to play with the OD trimmer and found that a clock position of between 10:45 and 11:15 gets me the real Carlton/ Ford sounds. Also, if you go to www.larrycarlton.com you can find pictures of his gear and see all the knob settings on his amps.  There are a couple of sites that have pics of Ford's set up as well. And as mentioned by another person on this thread...be careful!!!!!! The voltages that can be stored in caps can be DEADLY!!!!! No joke!   I am running my OTS through a 1x12 D-style closed back, ported cab with a Jensen C12K out of a Fender Twin. 100watts, 8ohms, ceramic magnet.  Sounds huge on overdrive and smooth, round and punchy for cleans. I'm running a nice Digitech multi-chorus stomper on the floor and an ART FX-1 in the loop for reverb with great results. Best set up I've ever played with the exception of the D**mble ODS I got to play through for an hour and a half one day when I lived in Las Vegas. It was a 100 watt head through a D**mble 1x12 cab with an Altec speaker. Before that day I had never heard of D**mble amps and after...I had to have one, or, the closest thing I could find to it. Now I have it!   Enjoy!

FET input is for acoustic guitars equipped with a peizo pickup. Dont plug your electic in there.

Cat