Does the lead channel pack enough gain to approach Santana vibe? I've been copying and pasting quotes. Several folks lean towards the OTS Special. I live in Wyoming so there is little chance of me getting to try one. I've listened to everything on Youtube but its still not clear to me.

I'm trying to figure out all the variations of the D-style Ceriatones. My Mesa does a great job in outside venues but in a small club, it's a bull in a china shop. I don't like using attenuators and I am not liking the lead tone unless all pre-amp volumes are on seven. Thus I would be interested in a D-style amp that sustains with less overdrive when I want it and gives me the Santana tone when I need it.

Also I want an amp that has good channel balance, i.e. I get a good fender clean and footswitch to the D-style/Mesa Mk series sound without changing settings.

Here is a Youtube of me to give you an audio example: http://www.youtube.com/user/garysmallband?feature=mhee#p/u/2/PVkEaeKayi0

Hi there, new to the Ceriatone Forum. This is my first post. I recently bought the Santana SE model as well. I have an original Santana III and I was looking around for a string breaker/seedy bar replacement. I am quite pleased with the SE over all.

I did replace the pickups with a pair of Santana III pickups as I want it to match my more expensive version as much as possible. They were very hard to find. If you see a pair for sale you had better buy them. PRS told me they are out of them but that the Dragon II's are almost the same pickup. I had Dragon II's in a PRS Custom 22 and since I had both guitars at the same time I respectfully disagree. The Custom II's did not clean up with the guitars volume knob like the Santana III's.

I also put on Schaller locking tuners. PRS locking tuners won't retrofit without redrilling. They work great. They still sound a bit diff but all and all I'm happy.