Hi
I have not been here for a while. Good to see ceriatone taking off.
Looking at this kit I have a built a OTS so I know the ceriatone kits.

My questions are  how close does the prinzetone come to a 5e3 tweed sound?
I'm tossing up between the 2 kits.
Does it get into the tweed breakup or is it a bit more like a black face breakup?

Also how is the clean head room on these amps compared to a rectified 35watt blackface fender? I have a BF vibrolux so I'm familiar with the window that these amps sound good at before the get too crunchy (which is quite loud) or when they are too quiet and sound thin..
Would it compete with a deluxe when hooked up to a good 12" speaker?

One more question...what are the chassis dimensions... are there any common combo single  12" cabs that would take it ?

I built the amp about 18 months ago.

Now this amp has over 300 shows to it's credit and my main giging amp.
It was used  on a Major Australian musical for 8 shows a week for 3 months.

Tonight power up----> main power fuse is blown????another fuse same. no valves same..... Had to use another amp for the show.

Just got home from the show, had a look does not smell good.  I'll check but I'm tired and not willing to go further after a show.

Anyone experience problems with the PT?
I know not many other users will have put that much mileage on an amp.
But my 1964 Fender has never failed in this area (that is 45 years old).

^
just place the pots switches upside down on the front of the chassis for this.


 

My colour system didn't match the ceriatone diag.  So use it where you need a solid core wire like the the pot buss/ rear jacks.
The heater wires when twisted are supposed to reduce noise. Some solid wire here would also help the build. Also read some post on running the heaters like a fender not the Marshall style that nik does.

A tip is to build the whole pot buss reversed in the chassis then install it.
this link may help you. It's for a d-lite but a similar process.
http://thenormster.com/DumbleLite/BuildersGuide/D-Lite%20Assembly%20Guide.htm

Is the difference caused by the fact that this Sovtek LPS isn't balanced?

No this is because the power tubes are not perfectly matched. They rarely are. You may find they drift around as they age.

817 alnico or SRO EV when the altec became unavailable/cheap he went to EV 12M.

Santana uses Altec 817 Alnico. I think the closest thing would be something from Weber. They don't sound like the 65watt celestion.

The ground switch is not connected.
If you want to check as Nik

The run of the shielded cable from input to v1 was very sensitive on mine. Fine the place for the run where it is quietest and try to get  it to sit there. sometimes just re soldering it into the position will do the trick
nick

lead dress.
these amps are very sensitive. Check the shielded cable  Input - V1 tube and the OD tube to relays and pots.
Nick

Guitar players are always too loud ask any sound guy....

Point the amp at your head, stand in a place were you are getting the full throw of your cab, don't stand over the top of your amp it's not what your audience or a microphone is hearing.
A mic will let you be heard out front. Unless you are playing a bar room jam then turn up a little more, but walk out front and see how loud you really are in the crowd.

I've used a 50watt OTS on many gigs. My experience has been that that the master vol does not need to go over 3-4 to balance with a good drummer (he sets the dynamic level of the band) maybe a max of 5 in a loud band. At that level I'm not enjoying the gig or my sound it's too loud, and if it too loud for me it's too loud for my audience.

Rehearsal rooms are a confined space and with bass and drums and keyboards in there it's sometimes hard to here yourself and how loud you really are.
I've use many higher powered amps, a music man hd 130, fender twins, 100 watt marshalls etc and the OTS is  loud enough on it's cleans.

If you find your cleans are not in the mix ....it's the mid range of your sound were it's at. It can give you presence in the band without volume.

Remember that a guitar is not a bass it does not need to reproduce it's frequencies  so in isolation your sound maybe a bit thin etc... but in a bands mix it will sit.



Nick

I gather that you haven't bought the amp yet...
I'm using the Jensen Blackbirds these sound quite smooth with OTS.  see the brown note discussion on these. So G12-65 are not the only options.
I'd say greenbacks and possibly V30 could sound harsh.
There is high end on tap but it's not ice pick it's the clarity of the amp.
I haven't played a HRM so I can't comment here, I was going for more of the 70-80's dumble sounds when I built mine. So I wanted the OD a bit rawer sounding.
I run a Les Paul with Duncan Antiquities too, it suits the amp nicely so does a Vintage Tele. These amps are not one trick ponies. What you put in you get out.
Nick

There is clarity there, some could find it harsh as it is not a forgiving amp. It will let your technique show. If you you like BF Fender/Vox style amps you will be pleased, if you like a Marshall JCM800s then maybe a different amp is the order.
Speakers will play important role in finding the right top/bottom balance.

Nick

It's a bit hit and miss with FX the loop. Have not used the specific unit but in general.
You could either over load the pedal or not get enough volume on the return eg. your master will not get louder after about 3-4.

Running into the front end you will get distorted reverb...not a good sound in general, if you use the OD section.

The Klein acts a a buffer so the amp and the FX see the correct gain and impedance.

If you have been running this way with out a buffer, it could be the cause of your low volume problem.

Nick

The clean channel is loud. Easily more head room than a BF Vibrolux, you are producing around 40watts with a SS rectifier. Mine would also say cleaner than my AC-30 at a good volume.
With a 2x12 cab you should not be having any problems with clean sounds. unless your drummer and bass player are from one of these. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudest_band_in_the_world
Get your amp checked out something is wrong.
Nick