Ceriatone Overtone Special gut pics

[Rob Livesey]

Hi Chaps,

I recieved this amp last week and took some pics of the internals. I know there are pics on the Ceriatone site too, but these are biggies, be patient while they load. I must say that the build quality does look astoundingly good and the parts are high quality too.

Nik emailed me almost as soon as the amp arrived to advise me that one resistor was the wrong value and 6 amps were affected, 22k instead of 2.2k. He told me exactly where it was and I changed the part, no problem.

I've had the amp out twice now to a local jam and whilst it's still in the getting to know it period and breaking in, I think it does sounds very nice indeed.

Anyway, the pics are here:

http://www.roblivesey.com/amps/overtone

Cheers,
Rob.

[ic-racer]

Thanks for posting the pictures. I will be using some of Niki's pre-built boards in my #124 clone (supposedly the boards shipped Monday!). I was curious to see if Niki had changed the OD input since he drew up the Overtone Layout graphic. Looks like there is still a 150k leading to a (probably) 100k trimmer.

Glad to hear that it sounds good. Mine will have a copy of #124's power supply and be 100W, so we will see if it sounds any different.

[pamaz67]

Really a nice build, especially for the money.
Although i would rather prefer a silkscreened chassis like the one made from Funk, that is gorgeous.
For sure a great platform for tweakings and fine tunings of various kind.
Rob, can you comment on the quality of the irons?
thanks

paolo

[candh]

Good looking amp Rob.

Looks familiar...

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r107 ... rtone3.jpg

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r107 ... rtone2.jpg

Does require a bit of tweaking though IMHO.

[Rob Livesey]

Thanks for posting the pictures. I will be using some of Niki's pre-built boards in my #124 clone (supposedly the boards shipped Monday!). I was curious to see if Niki had changed the OD input since he drew up the Overtone Layout graphic. Looks like there is still a 150k leading to a (probably) 100k trimmer.

Glad to hear that it sounds good. Mine will have a copy of #124's power supply and be 100W, so we will see if it sounds any different.

Interesting about the OD input, #124 had a 220k into a 500k trimmer (measured at 350k according to the schematic).

Theoretically comparing the two, 150k+100k trimmer and 220k+500k trimmer, what effect do you think this is likely to have ?

I've played it live twice now, just at a jam and I think I have too much gain on tap in the OD and have found myself backing it off below 3 and still having a bit much. Is this the result of the 150k+100k trimmer?

I did ask Nik about changes in his amp vs #124 and did say there were some in the plates, the cathode resistors, and cathode cap values and the OD trimmer value. He also alluded to the fact that a lot was do do with voicing it for a 50w platform rather than 100w.

Cheers,
Rob.

[groovtubin]

Thanks for posting the pictures. I will be using some of Niki's pre-built boards in my #124 clone (supposedly the boards shipped Monday!). I was curious to see if Niki had changed the OD input since he drew up the Overtone Layout graphic. Looks like there is still a 150k leading to a (probably) 100k trimmer.

Glad to hear that it sounds good. Mine will have a copy of #124's power supply and be 100W, so we will see if it sounds any different.

Interesting about the OD input, #124 had a 220k into a 500k trimmer (measured at 350k according to the schematic).

Theoretically comparing the two, 150k+100k trimmer and 220k+500k trimmer, what effect do you think this is likely to have ?

I've played it live twice now, just at a jam and I think I have too much gain on tap in the OD and have found myself backing it off below 3 and still having a bit much. Is this the result of the 150k+100k trimmer?

I did ask Nik about changes in his amp vs #124 and did say there were some in the plates, the cathode resistors, and cathode cap values and the OD trimmer value. He also alluded to the fact that a lot was do do with voicing it for a 50w platform rather than 100w.

Cheers,
Rob.

Robm try curving the OD preamp pot w/100K, jim@Omegaamps, that should slow down the gain just a tad, i did a HRM version of this wired like he does ( PAB) , it would BLOOM at VERY low volumes! LOTSA gain! lol!

[ic-racer]

I did ask Nik about changes in his amp vs #124 and did say there were some in the plates, the cathode resistors, and cathode cap values and the OD trimmer value. He also alluded to the fact that a lot was do do with voicing it for a 50w platform rather than 100w.

Cheers,
Rob.

I have both Niki's and #124's values in my schematic, so I can see where I am and where I am going during tweaking. I have collected the extra parts to make the main board exactly like #124 if I need to (except for the 300k trimmer I still need to get from funk...)

Still waiting for the box from overseas to show up on the doorstep...

[mcinku]

Hi all,

new guy here, trying to learn about these amps all I can, just in case I want to tweak my Overtone when it comes.
BTW, I'm not really an amp tech, just a player who wants to know how to make my amps sound even better.


I thought this might help...

[Funkalicousgroove]

You should really have 220K in front of that 100K trimmer, not 120 K.

[mcinku]

You should really have 220K in front of that 100K trimmer, not 120 K.

Fixed

[ayan]

You should really have 220K in front of that 100K trimmer, not 120 K.

Fixed

Another consideration. While 124 had a 250K Level control, I tried it and much prefer the more traditional 100KL control instead. S/N 124 was a great sounding amp, but there was nothing refined about it, the amp was pretty brown sounding throughout. The 100KL pot brings some of that refinement back to the sound.

Also, I toyed with and didn't like the 220K + 350K trimmer deal. Obviously Dumble was going for something prretty specific on that amp (think Keith Richards tone, maybe).

Gil

[candh]

You should really have 220K in front of that 100K trimmer, not 120 K.

Fixed

Another consideration. While 124 had a 250K Level control, I tried it and much prefer the more traditional 100KL control instead. S/N 124 was a great sounding amp, but there was nothing refined about it, the amp was pretty brown sounding throughout. The 100KL pot brings some of that refinement back to the sound.

Also, I toyed with and didn't like the 220K + 350K trimmer deal. Obviously Dumble was going for something prretty specific on that amp (think Keith Richards tone, maybe).

Gil

So, what did you settle on? I have a 220K with the 100K trimmer.

[ayan]

So, what did you settle on? I have a 220K with the 100K trimmer.

Yep, that's what I've been using in my amps for 9 years now; I have tried other stuff, but always go back to the same thing. In some amps, I precede that network with a .005uF//4.7Meg, which shaves off the bass some more for a bit of a smoother lead sound. In the 100K plate amp, like S/N 124, I did NOT put the extra cap//resistor before the overdrive. My 124 "clone" (with some differences, as already noted) is my most aggressive amp -- while still being smooth -- if that helps as reference.

Gil

[Rob Livesey]

Hi Chaps,

great info here for me to start tweaking this amp.

Regarding the type of resistors, do you guys go for overkill - 2w / 3w types, what do you use? I have a small stock of 1w carbon films, is carbon film what you guys are using?

Cheers,
Rob.

[Funkalicousgroove]

1/2w carbon film is fine, really