OTS shipped on Wednesday. Arrived on Friday morning. TWO days from Malaysia. It took 8 days to get an amp from GC in Phoenix to Salt Lake City!

Great shipping and everything was packed EXTREMEMLY well and arrived in perfect condition.

But having to pull 1st repair on amp and it was only on for about 10 hours in the burn in period. Bummer....

I received my OTS S&M on Friday. I turned it on and let it sit "idling"
Power = ON
Standby = ON
All controls at 12 o'clock

I'd go over and play it every hour or so for a few minutes. I turned it off after about 8 hours, when I went to bed. No problem.

Next morning turned it back on. Same routine, playing it every hour or so.

After being on about 4 hours on Saturday morning, I was playing and it went all distorted/breaking up, started smelling bad and just quit, in a about a 10 second span.

Did some logical procedures and found that one of the 6L6's had a big burn hole in the bottom and was charred between pins 5 and 6 pretty severely. Also the related tube socket was charred rather badly. The fuse in the holder next to the output tubes was also burnt/open.

Talked to Nik and we basically determined that (hopefully) it was just a defective tube? Nik is sending new tubes, tube socket and related resistors that are in that circuit and we'll try again.

The output Xformer was ok. Checked out the windings and all were normal ohm readings.

It was just a bummer because for my next gig tomorrow night I'll still be using my Mesa Lonestar Special (well, that's not really a BAD thing now is it?) 

But, I was so looking forward to the OTS. It was sounding really good...until!!!

Arrived at work this morning and had an email from Ceriatone. My OTS S&M has been shipped!

It's been exactly 30 days since I ordered/paid for it. I was told it would be 6-8 weeks (possibly longer) so I am very happy!

Early in the week, the fun begins!

Kudos to Ceriatone!

Re: Marinblues:

Seeing as how you have quite a lot of clips up on YouTube, and the tone is most excellent, I believe you may have a handle on it. Of course, the other players have their points of view (and hearing) which makes it a very personal thing.

I have a 2x12 Cabinet with a Greenback and a GT-65 in it. This will probably be a good starting point I believe. Of course, my amp is still 3-5 weeks out according to Nik (a couple of days ago). This has been the longest 3½ weeks of my life so far!

Thanks for the input.

This is basically what Nik told me when I was trying to decide which to get (The OTS or the OTS S&M).

The OTS S&M is "wild" compared to the OTS. It has more sustain/gain and feeds back easier than the OTS.

I've only heard them, haven't played mine yet (it's on order) but I ordered the S&M for the extra sustain and feedback.

He also said the clean channel was the same in both.

Hope so!

That is what I was told, that he paid $14K for the D***** ODS, 50 watt. They (evidently) were taking orders almost 2 years ago when he ordered it, as far as delivering? Who knows.

I do know that the two amps he is using he loves and now is only concerned with the $$$ he spent for something he may or may not receive at some undetermined point in the future. I'm sure he still would like to eventually take possession of the D*****, but if not, he just wants his money back. He may have to get the "L" word involved, but that would cost him more than the amp did! Where is the honor in companies these days?

Nik has a stellar reputation and does deliver. That is written in stone. Plus if you email him he doesn't get pissed off. He answers you, period. THAT is customer service.

Besides, why pay $14K for something you can get for $1100 - $1300??? And the sound is phenomenal. What's to worry?

Question: Why does this thread scare the shit out of you?

You are so right. A Cream colored faceplate with the Brown chickenheads....  Maybe if the faceplate becomes available in other colors. I may change to red chicken heads for better viewing in the dark... I'll try it and see how it looks... maybe not so good? maybe good? Time will tell. First, I have to wait for the amp to show up first.  I had a Rivera Duarte that had a Palomino two tone cabinet with brown faceplate and cream colored knobs... Very nice looking.... What about it Nik? can we "custom" order different color faceplates?

I ordered my OTS S&M on March 30, 2009 and it's probably still another 6 weeks out. Bummer.... But I received my new cabinets for it already. Croc tolex. The cabinet has an ET-65 speaker (Celestion GT-65 clone) and a Green Beret (Celestion Greenback clone) from Ware House Speakers. I'm breaking in the speakers today with a 7VAC signal directly to the speakers. 10-15 hours (with an hour between each hour) should burn them in nicely. They actually sounded good last night hooked up to a Peavey 50 amp. They were a little tight. I've never used Ware House speakers but I have friends that use them and they say that are every bit as good as Celestions/Eminence are.

I have a friend (currently on tour in Europe) that is a major player, opening (at various times) for Steve Vai, Clapton, The Allman Bros. Band, B.B. King among others that has been screwed after ordering the D***** ODS. He made the fateful mistake of calling to inquire about when he might receive it. He called 8 months AFTER ordering and paying for it. This is now 15 months later and he still doesn't have it. The D***** company is notorious for this behavior. If you call them to ask about what you paid $14,000 up front for, they put it totally on the back burner evidently, and make sure it's a cold day in hell before you get it.

My friend ended up purchasing 2 Overtone S&M's (just like I did a couple of weeks ago) and he is ecstatic with them. He uses a 4x12 cabinet and says the amps literally screams.

I'm just wondering which speaker to use with the Ceriatone OTS. I'm looking for that "Santana" singing lead, not too bright... You guys know what I mean.

Do I want the OTS or the OTS S&M? What speakers in your opinion(s) would be best suited to this sound? Please don't tell me Vintage 30's!!! LOL....

I've just ordered my OTS, so I'd like to get a head start. I still haven't decided whether to order a Head or a Combo setup. Opinions?

thanks.....