Components In Ceriatone Amps

[jackdc100]

How is the quality of the components used in Ceriatone Amplifiers? I have heard people on other forums criticize their transformers and then others say that everything used in these amps is top notch. Nik's stuff seems to get exellent reviews on HC regarless. Thanks,
-Jack

[JohnnyCrash]

I'd trust Nik.

[teleamp]

Even Bogner uses Zicon and Illinois passives, they're in a lot of amps.

MikeY

[jackdc100]

Yeah, the bashing of Nik's amps was by some guys on another forum who have their own amp businesses so I figured I'd ask around elsewhere and try to find some more objective answers. Everyone on most forums seems to love his stuff. Thanks,
-Jack

[fierce_carrot]

Originally Posted by jackdc100

How is the quality of the components used in Ceriatone Amplifiers? I have heard people on other forums criticize their transformers and then others say that everything used in these amps is top notch. Nik's stuff seems to get exellent reviews on HC regarless. Thanks,
-Jack

I've got one of Niks amps, a trainwreck liverpool, and I have a 30+ year career in electronics, and Niks components and hand construction in building these amps is absolutely first rate. One can get very very anal about selecting anything in life from golf balls to tools to electronic components, and far too many in the boutique amp biz fall into this category. THere comes a point to where the accuracy/tolerance/rating of components becomes irrelevant.

Nik has brought global competition to custom amp building and those bedroom builders who have charged insanely high prices for their work up till now, are absolutely furious about it. Most of them were silent and even supportive of Nik right up until the time he began offering Dumble based amps and then they attacked him with everything they have. Case in point, one boutique builder had his Overdrive Special (even copied the name from dumble) recently reviewed by a major guitar magazine and his price for just the head was over FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS....Nik's amp was $800.00 less cabinet! This same builder was part of the gang attack on Nik on another site. It's easy to see why!

Before I bought my Ceriatone, I did a tremendous amount of investigative research on the company, read hundreds of reviews from owners and not ONE of them was negative, not one.

I've built my own amps, and was very happy to have let Nik build my wreck. It's been absolutely bulletproof since it arrived and the tone is to die for.

Have you noticed that NONE of the guitar mags have even mentioned Ceriatone? Thats not by accident....

[PhatTele]

I've seen, heard, and looked inside three of Nik's amps: 2 x Lightnings (one of which I own) and 1 x Expression. All have top notch components, workmanship, and sound. It's the best deal out there and he and his crew are really friendly to deal with both for sales and for support.

[dibber124]

Every example of Ceriatone stuff I have seen has top quality components. Not "exotic" or "ultra-high end", but very, very good. Would have no reservations about either boards or amp kits.
PS: I have been an amp tech for over 30 years. Just my opinion but I've worked long enough to be entitled to it, IMHO.

[teleamp]

Originally Posted by fierce_carrot

I've got one of Niks amps, a trainwreck liverpool, and I have a 30+ year career in electronics, and Niks components and hand construction in building these amps is absolutely first rate. One can get very very anal about selecting anything in life from golf balls to tools to electronic components, and far too many in the boutique amp biz fall into this category. THere comes a point to where the accuracy/tolerance/rating of components becomes irrelevant.

Nik has brought global competition to custom amp building and those bedroom builders who have charged insanely high prices for their work up till now, are absolutely furious about it. Most of them were silent and even supportive of Nik right up until the time he began offering Dumble based amps and then they attacked him with everything they have. Case in point, one boutique builder had his Overdrive Special (even copied the name from dumble) recently reviewed by a major guitar magazine and his price for just the head was over FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS....Nik's amp was $800.00 less cabinet! This same builder was part of the gang attack on Nik on another site. It's easy to see why!

Before I bought my Ceriatone, I did a tremendous amount of investigative research on the company, read hundreds of reviews from owners and not ONE of them was negative, not one.

I've built my own amps, and was very happy to have let Nik build my wreck. It's been absolutely bulletproof since it arrived and the tone is to die for.

Have you noticed that NONE of the guitar mags have even mentioned Ceriatone? Thats not by accident....

+1 Great post, Nik offers a tremendous value to musicians.

MikeY

[Poppatwang]

I'm not qualified to rate the component quality. But I know a good build when I see it.
My Ceriatone 18 watt is first rate. Love the sound (that's important too)
and have had no problems to date. I asked for metal film resistors for less
noise as I play through single coils. No hassle or extra charge.

[jackdc100]

Ok cool. I feel more confident about buying his stuff then. I was only able to find negative stuff about him on one site and, as I said, it was all by the same two guys who happen to be owners of smaller amplifier copanies that sell D-style amps.

[candh]

I'll jump in here and give a +1 to what everyone else has said. For me living in Japan and building amps here it is a no-brainer from a cost/performance perspective to order from Nik. He uses quality components, great layouts with fabulous attention to detail considering the number of amps he's pumping out. It's actually a pain to tweak his amps as the components aren't just soldered but "connected"...lol.
I know Nik's trannies are great but there is always a question in the back of my mind about the OT's. It's not a question of quality but rather tonal flavour. Especially, as I tweak the Overtone another OT is the only component I don't have available to swap and test. The guys selling those high dollar D-clones have put in the time, money and effort on the testing and are dialed in....with the only unknown factor being the individual player.

[11 Gauge]

Originally Posted by candh

It's actually a pain to tweak his amps as the components aren't just soldered but "connected"...lol.

This is an understatement! I honestly feel that I could throw my amp out of the back of a truck, and the turretboard would be fine.

I think that folks tend to go a little overboard with "grail quality" components. That said, Nik's stuff is above average. My 2204 board is loaded with Mal 150's - I've found them to work great in every application (I've put them in about 10 amps since Tim Swartz turned me on to them). I'm not sure where Nik gets his silver mica caps, but they sound great, too. Everything has the proper voltage rating, sometimes well in excess (bias supply caps are rated at 150 VDC).

I've just wrapped up a few amps with surplus parts. My latest conclusions? Good ones (components) just plain sound good, and bad ones are typically in a state of failure (leaking caps, overstressed carbon comps, etc.). I've even gone back to ceramics for some signal cap applications - they still sound great!

Bottom line - the Ceriatone products are built to A-1 standards, no shortcuts. My board even came with teflon leads - truly bulletproof wire!

If you want further reassurance, just go to the website and check out the pics of the different amps. The proof is in the visuals. The sockets are also nice stuff, and the Ceriatone crew really knows how to work heat shrink tubing!

As far as trannies go, you'll get a hundred different opinions from a hundred different amp tweakers. Many tone freaks will swap out an OT on a brand new amp, presuming that different iron will make it sound X% better. I won't argue with that, but I've gotten great results with iron from Hammond, New Sensor, Drake, and Heyboer. YMMV.

[Puerco]

Reading this makes me very happy
I just ordered a JTM45 from Ceriatone, complete with head cabinet, impedance switch, effects loop, PPIMV and external bias. Nik is indeed a very nice guy and if you want some mods included like I did he will do it.
I wouldn't send my money to some overseas country (I'm from the Netherlands) if I didn't trust the guy 100% to deliver a great product that is well worth the money.
Emailing Nik is almost like chatting: most of the time he will respond right away even at times he should be asleep...
Can't wait till delivery, right now I feel like a little kid waiting for a birthday..

[JohnnyCrash]

Originally Posted by Puerco

Reading this makes me very happy
I just ordered a JTM45 from Ceriatone, complete with head cabinet, impedance switch, effects loop, PPIMV and external bias. Nik is indeed a very nice guy and if you want some mods included like I did he will do it.
I wouldn't send my money to some overseas country (I'm from the Netherlands) if I didn't trust the guy 100% to deliver a great product that is well worth the money.
Emailing Nik is almost like chatting: most of the time he will respond right away even at times he should be asleep...
Can't wait till delivery, right now I feel like a little kid waiting for a birthday..

"Like chatting" HAHAHA... it is uncanny how he responded to my eMails. Its as if time zones and sleep do not exist for the guy.

As it is, I simply have way too many amps, but I'd still love a Ceriatone kit for a JCM800 2204...

[poipounder57]

I own 3 Ceriatone amps...a Lightning, Expression and a JTM45. Nik and his crew does excellent work!!! Can't beat the prices too:-) Nik makes it affordable for a wanna be musician like me to own and play a bunch of great amps:-) Thanks Nik!!!
I have another one on order should be here in 6-7 weeks...I promised my wife that this would be the last one for the year:-)

[OzDoug64]

Does Nick do an amp that replicates a Vibro-King?

[candh]

Originally Posted by OzDoug64

Does Nick do an amp that replicates a Vibro-King?

No.....not yet.

[poipounder57]

Hi Oz...you can email him at this address nik@ceriatone.com and ask him.
Here's the web-site address www.ceriatone.com check it out. Lot's of Kool clones are offered there

[Puerco]

I got my JTM45
First thing I noticed was how beautifull it was, really well built with great attention for detail.
I had to wait a couple more days for the cabinet to arrive but when it finally arrived and I could play it, I was in heaven...
I can go from clean by gently touching the strings to shaking the ground by digging in.
Clean is very clear and sweet, almost like a fender amp and when pushed hard, think of clapton in his better days, I love it!
I did miss a little something in the sound though and after closer inspection I found that the company I ordered the speaker cabinet from send me the wrong one, not with celestion v30 speakers but with some ****ty "noname" crap in it
No amp in the world would sound it's best on that cabinet, I sent it back and still waiting for the replacement to arrive.
The amp itself was perfect, and Nik is a great guy. If you buy an amp from him he wants to know how you liked it after you received it, I don't see many company's care for that. If I ever have to buy another amp, Ceriatone would be the first place to look. But right now I think this baby will keep me happy for a lifetime.

[Scottone]

Originally Posted by 11 Gauge

This is an understatement! I honestly feel that I could throw my amp out of the back of a truck, and the turretboard would be fine.

I think that folks tend to go a little overboard with "grail quality" components. That said, Nik's stuff is above average. My 2204 board is loaded with Mal 150's - I've found them to work great in every application (I've put them in about 10 amps since Tim Swartz turned me on to them). I'm not sure where Nik gets his silver mica caps, but they sound great, too. Everything has the proper voltage rating, sometimes well in excess (bias supply caps are rated at 150 VDC).

I've just wrapped up a few amps with surplus parts. My latest conclusions? Good ones (components) just plain sound good, and bad ones are typically in a state of failure (leaking caps, overstressed carbon comps, etc.). I've even gone back to ceramics for some signal cap applications - they still sound great!

Bottom line - the Ceriatone products are built to A-1 standards, no shortcuts. My board even came with teflon leads - truly bulletproof wire!

If you want further reassurance, just go to the website and check out the pics of the different amps. The proof is in the visuals. The sockets are also nice stuff, and the Ceriatone crew really knows how to work heat shrink tubing!

As far as trannies go, you'll get a hundred different opinions from a hundred different amp tweakers. Many tone freaks will swap out an OT on a brand new amp, presuming that different iron will make it sound X% better. I won't argue with that, but I've gotten great results with iron from Hammond, New Sensor, Drake, and Heyboer. YMMV.

Great post. Let's face it, the circuit design is by far the most important element to how an amp will sound. Assuming the values are the same, parts upgrades have only a minor impact (if any).

[teleamp]

Originally Posted by Scottone

......Let's face it, the circuit design is by far the most important element to how an amp will sound.......

Truth!!!