SOLD! SOLD!!

Thanks

Valid question. $910.00 shipped plus the Duties, Import GST and Brokerage fees I paid at this end. 

I have a Ceriatone Overtone Special for sale. It is NOT in a head cabinet. That is a good thing actually as it makes it much easier to ship. I REALLY like this amp, and I think Nik has done an excellent job on it for his first attempt at a Dumble clone. The cleans on this amp are EXCEPTIONAL, and to my ears, worth the price of the amp alone. There is a stunning array of tones available right from "squeaky" country style cleans, through the thicker Carltonesque tones, and right up to and including the "pushed" edgy blues tones. VERY well done. Add in the mid boost, and the PAB switch, and you pretty much have a complete amp in the clean channel alone. I like the OD channel as well, and the internal OD trimmer is the key to having this channel set up correctly. Although to my ears, it misses the Robben Ford mark a bit on the OD side of the amp, the OD side is still VERY good and Nik deserves full marks for his effort. Besides, MOST of the "D" style amps and clones that are out there these days that do nail the RF mark on the OD side have been tweaked SPECIFICALLY to achieve that particular tonality and vibe. This amp could nail that vibe quite easily with a few small component/value changes, and given the excellent layout and meticulous wiring, that should not be a problem for somebody that is handy with a soldering iron and wants to glean the information from say The Amp Garage.

Basically, Nik has done an excellent job on an amp that goes from clean to rock in a very Dumblesque fashion.

I'm asking $1050.00 shipped and Paypalled to the Continental US or Canada. (not trying to gouge, just trying to break even) Overseas buyers are fine, but I'll have to add $75.00 to that price as the shipping from Canada to Europe or Asia is quite expensive these days. I will most likely NOT send this amp out until the first week in January, unless the buyer insists it goes earlier. IF the buyer wants the amp to go earlier, please bear in mind that due to the holiday season the mail/parcel/express companies are JAMMED right now, and as a result, they are most likely NOT taking the best care of packages marked "fragile", as they are more likely concerned with getting everything to it's destination before Christmas/New Years than they are making sure the packages are handled correctly. Thus my reasoning for waiting until the first week in January to send it.

If you are interested in the amp please e-mail me at chuckberry@shaw.ca for futher details or my PayPal address.

Thanks for your interest

Chuck   

Hi Marin:

There are three internal trimmers inside the chassis. Two blue and one black with a whiter center. If you are looking into the chassis from the front of the amp, the BLUE trimmer on the far left (on a small board actually mounted on the left side of the chassis) is for the FET channel and Nik states that should be left "high" which is at least at 12:00 and that is how mine came set from the factory. (I haven't experimented with the FET input yet by the way) Moving to the right from the first BLUE trimmer, you'll discover another BLUE trimmer that is on the MAIN circuit board and is located just below and slightly to the left of the second pre amp tube socket (V2). This is the OD trimmer. It is very easy to adjust, (small slotted screwdriver will do) and mine came set (stock) from Nik at 9:00. (basically the slot was straight across) The OD trimmer has a HUGE impact on the tone, volume, and overall vibe of the OD channel. Set too low, (I found 9:00 o'clock too low for my ears/tastes) the OD channel sounds thin and anemic, (even with humbuckers), at volume levels that will get you invited back to many a gig, but the OD channel does seem to come to life a bit at that setting if in fact you do CRANK up the amp, but holy crap is it loud when you do that. Set too high, and the OD channel comes ROARING to life at pretty much any volume, but it VERY QUICKLY moves away from Dumblesque heaven and into Marshall mayhem in a big hurry. Don't get me wrong, the amp sounds great a pretty much any OD trimmer setting (VERY versatile) but it does take some time to dial in the OD channel using the OD trimmer, level, ratio, volume and master volume as well as tone contols set to taste obviously. To answer your question about does the amp have to be cranked or not. It does sound pretty spectacular at the higher volumes, and to my ears, it sounds MUCH closer to the RF stuff I'm used to playing with the OD trimmer set just below 10:00 o'clock and the amp "up" a bit, than it does at lower volumes with the OD trimmer set to say 11:00 o'clock or so. VERY fine line on the OD channel between slightly anemic, right on loud, proud, RF stuff with just the perfect amount of Dumble rumble, and over the top fizzy, buzzy Marshall stuff.
The last trimmer is the black one with the white center, and that sets the balance for the phase inverter, (V3) and it's located on the far right of the main board. Nik stated this should be adjusted when only using a scope and is best left at 12:00 so that both sides of the PI are balanced.
I tried the Lexicon PCM-70 VERY briefly in the loop, but I have it all set up for use with my Ulbrick Sound Stadium 80 Special head that has a world class tube buffered effects loop with send and return, so for obvious reasons, it didn't sound very good in the passive effects loop of the Overtone Special. I have a Rodenberg Flexloop 3D (basically a Dumbleator) on the way, and when that arrives I'll revisit the Lexicon. I'm actually quite surprised how good this amp sounds "dry", and that to me is the mark of a good/great sounding amp. It doesn't needs effects to sound good/great. More to come.

Chuck 
 

Yeah, the clean channel is spectacular. VERY easy to get that Carlton clean that's clean but at the same time is "not" clean. Very cool! I've played around with a few tubes as well. I changed V1 to a NOS smooth plate Telefunken and that really added something special to the cleans as well as taking away a bit of the "grittiness" in channel two. I changed V2 to a NOS Tesla (not JJ) E83CC and that helped smooth things out a bit in the OD channel as well. I also changed the power tubes to TAD 6L6GC's and they sound pretty good, but I'm just about to try the TAD 6L6WGC's and the short bottle JAN Phillips as well. To my ears, and as posted earlier, the internal trimmer is the key to getting the smooth RF tones. Too high and it takes into Marshall territory in a big hurry, and too low, (as mine was set from the factory to my ears anyway) it sounds a little thin and anemic. Not much wiggle room either, as the slightest move makes quite  big difference.

The experimentation continues

 

Never mind.

Nik to the rescue. All is good! Just needed to nudge the OD trimmer up a tad. Holy Crap! Does that make a BIG difference.

Full report to follow once I play around with a few tubes.

Chuck

Okay. My Ceriatone Overtone Special arrived today. Killer looks and wiring! Nice job. Neatly (safely) packed. So far so good. (ha ha)

Questions: Footswitch Yes? No? I didn't get one. Anybody get one? If not, any idea which/what footswitch works with the pin configuration? Does Nik offer one? Needs one in my books.

Internal pots? I count three. Two blue ones (left side of the chassis and center main board) and one black one with a white center. (main board as well). I'm assuming the black pot with the white center is the bias knob? What do the other two do?
Anybody get a manual with the amp? Available online at Ceriatone? Did I miss it?

Clean channel is KILLER. TONS of tones! OD channel seems a little weak. have to dime the level and ratio on the OD channel to get anywhere near the gain that was in the OD of my Fuchs. I'm assuming I need to adjust the internal trimmer for the gain? Again, (sorry) which pot? Is there an internal pot for the gain boost? Does the gain boost bypass the tone stack?

Sorry for all the questions that may seem basic, but the OD channel seems so thin and anemic in comparison to the clean channel, it has kind of thrown me here. (I obviously need to adjust somethiing here, just not sure what to start adjusting) When I first fired up this amp I actually thought I was on the OD channel when in fact I was on the clean channel. (found that out when I went to move the level ratio knobs and nothing happened) When I did switch over to the OD channel PAB not engaged) I had to dime the level and ratio to get a louder, thicker tone than the clean channel. (doesn't seem right) 

Sent the same questions to Nik, just thought I might get a quicker response here.

Thanks for your time

Chuck

I was just notified that my Ceriatone Overtone was shiped out today! Looks like I'm going to get an early Christmas present. I just finished building a 2 x 12 cabinet out of finger jointed pine loaded with 2 Celestion G12-65 speakers to use with the Overtone so the timing couldn't have been better. Looks like my Rodenberg Flexloop 3D is shipping in the next couple of days as well.

I'll post my thoughts once everything arrives and I get a chance to play with it for a day or two.

Chuck

Hi Chris:

THANKS for the great preliminary review. VERY helpful. I'm pretty sure you'll notice quite a difference when you try the amp with the Celestion G12-65's. The Emi RWB's are an OK speaker, but the G12-65's really bring something special to the mix. I'm currently building a 2 x 12 cabinet out of finger jointed pine to house my G12-65's and that will be my main cabinet with the Overtone. I will also, (obviously) build a matching head cabinet for the chassis when it arrives.
I have owned 2 Two-Rock's (Opal and a Custom) as well as a Fuchs, so I'm quite looking forward to putting the Overtone through it's paces when it arrives.
I also have a Rodenberg Flexloop 3D on the way to interface with the passive effects loop in the Overtone and my PCM-70.

You didn't mention any effects in your review. Are you using the loop for any delay or reverb?

WEEEEEEEEEEEEELL??? 

He said waiting patiently for the review and pics........

 

GREAT news!! Can't wait to get mine. Did you try it "dry" or are you using some effects with it? I have a Rodenberg Flexloop 3D on the way to interface with my Lexicon PCM 70 for a bit of reverb and delay.

Hi Scott:

The Ulbrick Sound Venue 30 Verbovibe 1 x 12 combo (6L6, Class A, Cathode Biased) is a kick ass small to large sized club amp that that REALLY sounds and feels spectacular. SWEET, singing mids, perfect highs, and huge lows. NOT a Dumble clone by any stretch of the imagination, yet eerily reminiscent of that tone, feel, and vibe. Very hard in feel, and very articulate, yet quite "easy" to play at the same time. Quite unique as far as amps I've played to date. A keeper for sure. The 12AXE pedal and the Verbovibe are a match made in heaven, and are (obviously) crafted to work hand in hand. I'm also awaiting the arrival of the Stadium 80 Special head (KT77's) and the matching 2 x 12 low profile cab.
BTW, both Larry Carlton and Robben Ford left Australia ealier this year with a Verbovibe and a 12AXE each. RF is also currently waiting delivery of his Stadium 80 Special head as well. BOTH players also have Dave Ulbrick's 212Lp cabs. RF's Stadium 80 Special is a high powered version. Dave Ulbrick stated he was alsmost deaf after spening 5 hours one afternoon with RF testing his Dumble, the Verbovibe, the Stadium 80, a really nice sounding old Twin Reverb, plus numerous speakers. Dave said it was only fitting that Robben ordered the Stadium 80 head in a high powered version after listening to him play that afternoon. He ordered the high powered version to maintain the headroom he (RF) likes at the HIGH volumes he plays at.



PS: Now back to our regular programming and the Ceriatone Overtone Special. Apologies for the commercial break. 

I second that sentiment. REGARDLESS of how everybody feels, enough has been said on both sides of the fence (if there even is one) to last a lifetime.
Forums have been locked, (and now thankfully open again) members on both sides have had their collective pee pee`s whacked by numerous moderators, and now that the dust has settled and decisions have been made, it`s time to accept those decisions for now and move on.

I agree NOT a good idea for this type of amp in the 50 watt (2 x 6L6) version. My Fuchs mod was based on a 1978 Super Reverb, (2 x 6L6) and it came stock with a Pentode/Triode switch on the back. Sounded like crap (REALLY thin and weak) in the Triode mode with a SIGNIFICANT drop in output and volume. (obviously)

GREAT post Scott!

It's my hope as well that all of this is laid to rest and we can all get on with the tonal quest that dirves so many of us.

Take care

Chuck

PS: Great to talk to you on the phone today.