Hey All,

I just ordered a 50 watt FMME with CLator.  It is coming as a kit.  I even asked Nik to make the eyelet boards up as kits instead of assembling them.  I just like putting this stuff together.

So as a Noob to Ceriatone, what resources are available  for the build?  What do I get for instructions (if any) and what do people normally use for their builds?  Ar you going off of the Layout doc only?  Is there a schematic?  (I hope so) and are there in process pics somewhere I can reference? 

Per Nik - as a kit I should have mine in about two weeks.  (I placed the order last Friday.  I am really psyched.  One - to build the amp, and two - to play with that much tone.  I have an AxeFX II that I play through now - I also have a Mark V, but I haven't turned that on in a year.    I plan on using the AxeFX II effects (they are very high end effects in the AxeFX) in the CLator loop.  Any advice?  Anyone doing anything similar?

Thanks folks.  I will take plenty of in-process pics and try to share them here.  I did donate to the board.  I hope it keeps going! 

Joe

Hey SerialToneKiller,

Thanks for the reply.  I agree it seems like you and I are two of the lonely few on this board.  Maybe we need to be patient and see if this Internet fad keeps going.   

I did get the schematic from Nik, as well as some indication of what the wires in the package are to be used for, and some of  what the large variety of screws are used for.  The wires I may be able to determine from the pics - there are a few gut shots on the main web site, and that link you sent on the forum of another user's build is also a great resource.  I had seen it , but thanks so much.  The screws are another issue - it is almost impossible to tell from the pics which screw is used where.  I am going to go with the smallest screw that does the job thinking.  If I make a mistake its not all that difficult to correct.

I started last night by mounting all of the front and back panel components, and then removed most of the components on the rear because its much easier to wire the filaments with them off.  I will start the wiring with the filaments - I think it is best to do it with as little clutter in the amp as possible.  They I can go from there.

Thanks for your help.  What does your name mean BTW?  I don't understand what Serial Tone is?  Am I just old?  And you aren't located in the San Francisco Bay area by any chance are you?

Joe

Sorry Joe : a bigger picture below...



A+!

Hey Joe & thanks !

I think I took pictures of the OD relay configuration and I draw a schematic. Let me retrieve (or redraw it) so I can post it here if you intend to do that little easy mod too.

About the "wheel diodes" (= "diodes de roue libre" in French) : it seems that it's called "flyback diodes" in US/UK. In a few words : a flyback diode is installed in // with the coil of a relay in order to null the flyback current ("extra courant de rupture" in French) due to the coil relay switching. That flyback current is responsible for the annoying to very loud "pop" noises that arises when you switch that relay on and off, and the diode is here to null it by shorting it. As this kind of current is a short but ample impulsion, you need a fast (high speed) diode for best cancellation. Here I used 1n5819 diodes.

You should easily find much complete litterature on flyback diodes in English on the web ! i.e. : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flyback_diode

My Serial Tone Killer is not a Twin, it's a modified OTS100, on which I added :
- a footswitchable digital EHX reverb unit with deported pot.
- a footswitchable integrated FX Loop able to deal directly with guitar FX pedals.
- a 1W "HOME" single ended EL84 switchable output stage.
- an integrated 4x9VDC regulated power supply for in-llop stompboxes.
- an extra filtering on the HV voltage.

I'm facing issues with the 1W facility : the prototype tested on my Boogie MKIIA worked amazingly well, but it sounds awfull on the STK, no matter the attempts that I made to cure the problem. Well... It's a bad wedding, so to speak... I will dismantle it, I think, and replace it by something else : I'm studying the possibilities.

IMHO, If you target to DIY a Twin-Reverb, do not choose the OTS route : the circuit is much different from the TR. Ceriatone probably have an offer in that field.

Also, considering that it's only your 2nd DIY tube amp, I'm really afraid that you would face many other issues by "following exactly my footprints", so to speak, with all my respect. I mean : assemble a kit is not the same as designing mods or a whole amp. If you finish and debug your OTS and C-Lator satisfactorily - not to say perfectly - let me tell you that you'll have taken a big step !

And for more detailed pics about the Serial Tone Killer, you can have a look to my Serial Tone Killer subject on the forum.

And yes, it seems that we are here like two survivors... 

I'm located near the city of Lyon.

Cheers !