Ceriatone Overtone Special

[tot_Ou_tard]

Your descriptions pretty much match my ideal amph.

Balanced frequency response, dynamic, touch sensitive, individual notes have character & bloom, nuanced, the amp rewards subtle variations played well & punishes poor playing.

I'll pm you my address so you can send it here to see if I agree with your assesments.

 

[Bloozcat]

Your descriptions pretty much match my ideal amph.

Balanced frequency response, dynamic, touch sensitive, individual notes have character & bloom, nuanced, the amp rewards subtle variations played well & punishes poor playing.

I'll pm you my address so you can send it here to see if I agree with your assesments.

"No one's getting my amp..."

He said with the crazed look of a mother grizzly protecting her cub.

These amps are really deserving of the hype that surrounds them. The whole, does it sound like a Dumble or doesn't it, is moot. I'm sure it sounds like one of the Dumbles Howard made, but since they're all purported to be uniquely voiced for the individual client's tonal taste (in true boutique fashion) who knows which one? Or for that matter, who cares? Not me. All I know is, this amp delivers the goods. Sure, it's more than I've ever spent on an amp before, but even at that it's still less than a whole bunch of other "boutique" amps I've seen. They all should sound this good...

Of course, the purchase of an amp like this is a little like actually finding the holy grail. It's the end of the road. The quest is complete. I have found perfection....and quite frankly, it's making me look a little bad right now...

 

[oldguy]

The longer you play it, the more you'll like it. I least I do mine. The even order harmonics and full, fat sound, clean or distorted, are great.
I have amps I like the overdrive side on, and the cleans are good...........
but I love the overdrive on this one, and the cleans are great.
Glad you found the preamp tubes improved the sound. I haven't changed a thing on mine yet. I couldn't imagine it sounding better, but I may give it a go sometime.
I know what you mean about the basic sound of the amp........ I always tweaked my others between guitars. I don't do that much now. If it's set to a sound you like, it'll still be a sound you like when you change guitars.
I'm happy you dig your new amp, Blooz............I'd have felt terrible if you hadn't liked it. I liked my Epi (So Cal) also, as you did your Blues Custom, but the OTS is just so much..............more.

 

[M29]

Thanks Blooz, awesome review:AOK:

 

[Ch0jin]

Wow, awesome review!

If there was ever any remaining doubt that Ceriatone amps are awesome, it's gone now!

All I need is another job to justify the Plexi head, the JCM800 head, the Overtone Special, the Deluxe Reverb.......

All for research reasons of course

 

[tunghaichuan]

I'm jonsing for their Marshall Silver Jubilee head, as I'll not likely be able to ever afford an original.

tung

Wow, awesome review!

If there was ever any remaining doubt that Ceriatone amps are awesome, it's gone now!

All I need is another job to justify the Plexi head, the JCM800 head, the Overtone Special, the Deluxe Reverb.......

All for research reasons of course

 

[Eric]

Hey Blooz,

Now that you've had this amp for a year and a half (provided you still own it -- do you?), I will assume that the honeymoon period is over.

How do you like it at this point? How does it rank with your other amps? How much use does it get? What sort music do you use it for?

I don't actually know what amp(h)s you have, so I can't exactly ask how it compares to specific amps you might own, but in the general sense, what is the character of this amp?

I've been looking at Ceriatone for a while, and while any purchase is a ways off, I'm always interested in collecting more information.

 

[deeaa]

It's funny BTW I haven't touched my Ceria's tone controls in years, literally. At some point I ripped off the knobs and attached them back to show 12 position so I can always dial back my fave tone if they're messed with, and that's how they've stayed ever since.

I _think_ I have cut some trebles on it and added mids.

And yeah, it responds real well to especially V1 tube change. And yes it's a very well balanced amp.

I however think it's also a very 'transparent' amp and if you use a very wide freq speaker with it, it is too bright and such; speakers like the V30's 'reveal' too much. I vastly prefer old, midrangey low wattage speakers.

It's no wonder I guess, it's the 18W design which IS an old design...so maybe that's why my 60's-70's Celestion 25W speakers work so wonderfully with it.

I would REALLY love to get me a JCM800 clone as well from Ceria.

 

[oldguy]

Hey Blooz,

Now that you've had this amp for a year and a half (provided you still own it -- do you?), I will assume that the honeymoon period is over.

How do you like it at this point? How does it rank with your other amps? How much use does it get? What sort music do you use it for?

I don't actually know what amp(h)s you have, so I can't exactly ask how it compares to specific amps you might own, but in the general sense, what is the character of this amp?

I've been looking at Ceriatone for a while, and while any purchase is a ways off, I'm always interested in collecting more information.

Eric,
I'm in no way trying to answer for Bloozcat, although I can explain a couple points for you, as I also own the Overtone. It is a clone of Alexander Dumble's Overdrive Special, Nik @ Ceriatone builds several versions nowadays, 40w, 100w, Blues Special, etc. It is my main go-to amp always, and I love pairing it w/ the Jet City 20w head for a big sound.
Blooz hopefully will check in w/ a better, more detailed account of his experience w/ his Overtone.

 

[Bloozcat]

Well, it's still one of my main go to amps whenever I sit down to play. And that's considering that I own a 65' Fender black face Band Master, an Epiphone BC 30, a Crate Vintage Club 30 and Vintage Club 20, and a modded Epi VJ.

My version is the straight 50 watt, not one of the HRM's ("hot rubber monkey") or otherwise modded versions. I play mainly blues and blues based rock and this amp easily does that in several different modes. One of the things that sets these Dumble clones apart from other amps I think is their versatility and sensitivity. Subtle EQ changes can make big differences in the tone as well as the touch sensitivity.

I like the tone of humbucker guitars through this amp more so than single coils, and my favorite guitar to play through this amp is my Ibanez AS-73 with the Guitarforce Vintage 57 pickups. The combination does everything from a warm, clean, BB King through a fatter, more overdriven blues/rock tone. I haven't specifically tried to dial in a Robben Ford Dumble tone as many who've bought this amp have.

As Dee said, it is a very transparent amp which requires you to concentrate on your playing. Every nuance of your instrument comes through...but so does every mistake in your playing. Not a bad thing at all as it forces you to concentrate more on your playing.

Of the speakers I have the 2X12 G12H30's and the 2X12 G12H30/WGS Veteran 30 (Celestion Vintage 30 clone) both sound very good. The Celestion 2X12 G12-65 is one combo that seems to be very popular for those trying to get that Robben Ford Dumble tone. I think part of this is due to the G12-65 being a less efficient speaker compared to the other Celestions mentioned (and most of the Eminence Redcoat/Patriot line). This allows the amp to be cranked up without the deafening volumes that a 50W tube amp can deliver. I'd consider trying them if I wasn't up to my ears in speakers already.

If I had to give a short, concise description of this amp it would be: Versatility, sensitivity, and high-fidelity.

 

[Eric]

Thanks for the input, guys. I appreciate it.

 

[oldguy]

Here's a rather long, boring jam I did to a BT with mine.......not the most inventive instrumental, but a fair idea of the sound with my Agile AL3000.

 

[Katastrophe]

I swear, oldguy, you could play through a stringed cheese grater and make it sound good.

I've heard you through several amphs and guitars now, and am always impressed with the quality of your tone. You, sir, have good hands. Or, it could be the overalls.:happy

 

[oldguy]

Thanks, Kat, and I do believe you're on to something.............. my theory is the overalls cause me to set all the amphs and guitfiddles to sound the same no matter what they should sound like..........and the end result you either like or you don't.

Thanks again for the compliment.

 

[Ch0jin]

Nice demo OG. I can see why you love that amp!