There is a cable that will lock onto the 5 pin DIN jack (available at Mouser electronics).  I used this for awhile but switched to a 5 pin MIDI jack so I could use a right angle cable and leave it plugged in without worrying about it getting bumped and damage to the jack and cable.  In my opinion an XLR cable is even more risky for getting hit and causing damage to the chassis or the jack.

Furthermore, 5 pins are required to properly wire the footswitch with LEDs to indicate if it's on or off.  XLR cables do not include 5 wires - as far as I know.

Wire is included.

There is no reverb on the Overtone.  I use a TC Electronic G Major in the effects loop for reverb and delay.  I'm happy with this - it seems transparent and has a true bypass.

Thanks,  it's a Sunrise pickup that mounts in the sound hole.  So it's not piezo, it's magnetic.  I have a few other guitars with piezo pickups that also sound great in this amp.  The amp's EQ and presence controls accommodate a good variety of pickups in my opinion.  The Sunrise pickup can be used with or without a preamp.  I do not use a preamp and this is where the FET input is nice.  (Website: Sunrisepickups.com).

You've got me thinking a little bit.  Maybe some day I'll move my trimmers to the back also.  I do wonder if the resistance of a potentiometer will be different than the trimmer and thus alter the tone.  Can the trimmer itself be mounted on the chassis back?

Nik just posted a clip on the ceriatone website (sound clips) of my acoustic guitar into the FET channel.  Check it out.

Package #1 is what you are looking for except it comes with the 7 boards assembled.  I've ordered 2 kits (DC30 and the Overtone) from Nik and he was flexible to let me do as much as I wanted.  I would think it's possible to get all parts unassembled.  I ordered the Overtone Package 2 this last December and received it in 3 weeks.  He did comment that the delay was partly due to waiting for a shipment of transformers and partly for time to assemble the boards.  I chose to include the transformers in the kit because I've heard they were good quality and I was uncertain as you are which ones to use.  Consult www.ampgarage.com for another forum with tranny info.

Good luck.

I do use the FET input when playing my acoustic guitar.  I think the tone is rather similar compared with the normal input.  I adjusted the trim pot so that there is not much volume difference between my acoustic in the FET and an electric in the the normal input.  I suppose there would be some benefit in moving this trim pot (and the OD trimmer) to the rear panel.  If you use the FET input for different low output pickups, you could easily adjust it to match an electric in the normal channel.  Regarding the OD trimmer,  I find that the front overdrive controls (level and ratio) enable a wide range of overdrive, so I don't have a need to adjust the OD trimpot.

For me, the trimmers inside are the appropriate place.

That's a very nice looking cabinet.  Did you make it yourself?

(I tried to attach pictures of a couple cabs I built, but the files are too large.  I'll try to scale them down.)

The right speaker(s) for an amp is very important.  But it seems there is often not as much investment in the cabinet woods and how the cabinet is finished. 

I think there is somewhat of a parallel here between amps and guitars.  The strings and the pickups of a guitar are integral to the sound produced, but the wood and the finish on the wood can enhance or cancel certain tones or frequencies.  The character of the woods and how they are joined also contribute to the amount of sustain in a guitar. 

I think the same is true for amplifier cabinets.  The amp components and speaker are integral to the sound produced, but the wood and the finish or covering on the wood of the cabinet also play a significant role.  The speaker is mounted to wood that will add or subtract from the tones the amp and speaker are producing.

I strongly prefer a hardwood cabinet for several reasons:
1) the tone is much better in my opinion.  (This would not apply to a head cabinet of course).
2) I believe there is more natural sustain from this type of cabinet if the woods are joined correctly.
3) Hardwoods are much more beautiful than tolex.
4) Tolex and other coverings absorb tone and sustain.
5) Tolex is not very durable.  It tears easily if you bump your amp into something.  It can be repaired but often there is a blemish remaining.
6) Hardwood (like flooring) is very durable and doesn't dent easily.  It can easily be refinished or touched up if dented. 

What do you think about hardwood vs plywood and tolex?

Yes, on the Ceriatone sound clips page.

Yes, I have a EVM-12L in a combo amp with my Overtone.  This is my preferred speaker.  I've compared it with a Vintage 30, a Greenback, an Eminence Red Fang, and a Celestion G12 Classic Lead.  I did add my own version of a beam blocker in front of the EVM-12L.  You can hear it on my sound clip on the website if you wish.

Greg

I just built this kit and finished a couple months ago.  It's a great amp, but it's a complicated build.  You don't need to know much electrical theory, but it requires good soldering technique and following the layout plans in every detail.  I think it's a rather aggressive project as a first attempt at building an amp. 

The kit includes everything needed for a complete amp.  There are 7 boards that will come assembled.  These and all the components (pots, switches, transformers, etc) need to be installed in the chassis and wired according to the layout.  There are around 20 resistors and capacitors that need to be mounted.  It took me about 15 hours to complete the amp according to the layout, then another 10 hours to make the cabinet (no parts are included for the cabinet).

I've built a couple hollowbody guitars (similar to the PRS hollowbody) with a stereo output that I send to both channels simultaneouly.  With a switch on the guitar I can send the piezo to one channel or the humbuckers to the other channel.  I can also select both channels and blend the piezo and humbuckers and the two channels.  This is a great setup for this amp.  I feel like I'm playing two guitars into two amps with options to play them all at once.  I can easily switch from a clean acoustic sound to a overdriven lead tone or blend the two.  The effects loops add many more options.  This is a great amp for these types of uses.