CeriaTone Overtone Special

Going to go a little further with my previous review. Since playing the 2009 OTS S&M version for a few weeks, I've grown to really love the Class "D" tone and OD.... It's a special sound, and is very wild. I liked the S&M so much that I bought an 2008, 50w Overtone Special Combo (NOT the S&M version) on eBay, and I'll be damned if this isn't a better sounding amp than the S&M!!!!

I've done some mods to the S&M. It is quite a bit louder than the OTS combo, even when using the same 12" speaker. I like the OTS much better so I'm modding the S&M the other direction.

What's not to like. I'm NOT a shill for Ceriatone either. It's just the best sounding amp at a ridiculously cheap price I've ever heard or owned. I've got one to use, one for a backup. I sold all my other amps and speakers. I'm using a 12", 100w Scumback spkr. in the combo and a 12" 50w Cannabis Rex in a Bogner Duende Metropolitan cabinet.

They are not amps for metal heads, but will cover everything else with ease.

The amp itself is great, but I'm totally not sold on JJ tubes. Had two of them burn up, and I mean BURN UP in the past month, and they were brand new.

I'd never use a tube amp w/o a backup, and neither should you. That's a surefire way to get burned.

Nik is the man. Answers all questions fairly quickly and really knows what he's doing. He'll also help with modifications if and when you want to do them. I purchased a huge mod kit of parts for only $15 from him. Enough to keep me busy for months!

Been playing for about two weeks now. Learning the Theme from Batman. Tough tune to learn, but gotta start somewhere right?

I would not replace it if stolen because I don't think they let you keep guitars and amps when you're in prison for taking out worthless scum!

Love everything about it, nothing to not like.

I do wish it had the OD trim pot standard on the back panel. I modified my S&M with one and it's a peach!

Manufactured in April of 2009. I have the 50 watt Overtone Special S&M version, which is the clone of the Dumble Overdrive 50. This is the original Overtone model. It is a little brighter and has somewhat more gain than the the "Overtone Special", which is the modded version.

This amp is the real deal when it comes to tone. I'm using it in a Santana tribute band, and it is amazing, truly amazing. I can 100% nail many of the great sounds that I like. Of course, this amp isn't for everyone. If you like Class A or A/B, don't buy this amp. You will be disappointed.

Two channels, FET (for acoustic guitar) and normal. All of the features are covered in other posts in detail.

I wish it had reverb built in though. I had to get a Klein-ulator effects loop buffer to run reverb, a little delay and chorus. It wasn't that expensive, just a hassle to hook up...

I use is in live shows, and this amp really sings. It cuts through the mix like nothing I've ever owned, including my Mesa Boogie Mark I or Lonestar Special, and they cut through very well. The Overtone Special beats the Mesa amps hands down. My bandmates love the tone of this amp, even better than my Lonestar, and they love that tone also.

I give it a 10. Though you have to purchase a reverb (I use a DigiTech Hardwire RV-7) and use an effects loop buffer, some people have complained about the lack of these features, but didn't they know that when they bought it? So why complain?

Using a PRS Santana III and a Music Man Silhouette (HSS/SSS pickup configurations). This amp is a Class D amp, which is a much different sound than the Class A or A/B sounds most guitarists use. I can get that singing Santana sustain, even at low volumes with this amp. It blows me away. I've only used it for 3 gigs now, but it keeps sounding better and better the more hours I put on it. I've practiced with it extensively at home, so I probably only have 30 hours total, but it is breaking in wonderfully.

This is really the quietest amp I've ever owned when on the OD channel. I can get a ton of OD and/or sustain, and very little noise compared to anything else I've ever owned.

It's not a heavy metal amp, that's for certain. It's more of a blues, classic rock amp. Think Santana, Robben Ford, Lowell George, Joe Bonamassa, etc...

The clean channel is not what some purists would call clean when turned up very loud, but it's perfect for me. I don't play surf music or country, so I'm OK with it.

The distortion is very cool. It's not like a Marshall, Mesa, VHT or any of the other mainstream amps. I don't know how to explain it, only different and very pleasing sounding.

The amp itself is great, but I didn't like the tubes that came with it stock (JJ's). I replaced the pre-amps (12AX7's) with TungSol's, the power tubes (6L6's) with S.E.D. Winged "C" tubes, and the rectifier with a CBS NOS JAN-5Y3, and it's much warmer and more touch sensitive now.

I would never gig using a tube amp without a backup, and neither should you. You will get bitten if you do. I also have extra tubes (all of them) with me just in case.

I'll give it a 9 only because I haven't had it long enough to really know. But I'm sure if something happens Ceriatone will be right there to make it right.

Nik is the best customer support guy bar none. You ask a question, you get an answer. He'll even help you mod the amp as you want. I've ordered parts for most of the common mods, though I haven't done any yet.

There are many service depots for Ceriatone in the US, so no worry.

One year warranty.

Been playing for 40+ years (since I was a kid). I have a Mesa Boogie Lonestar for a backup amp. I would absolutely buy another one if this one was stolen. There is nothing else like it. You can spend 4-6 times as much on a Fuchs, Two Rock, etc. but why when you can get this one for about $1000? Even if I were rich, I would still buy the Ceriatone.

The P to P wiring is superb compared to other hand wired amps I've seen. Have you ever seen a Two Rock? It looks like a high school science project compared to the Ceriatone. The OTS is immaculate and very clean.

This was made in August of 2008. It's the 50W version. The amplifier has plenty of features. FET/Standard Input, Deep & Bright Switches, Rock/Jazz Switch, Clean/Lead Switch, Tone Bypass Switch. Some people would knock off a point for no reverb, but honestly, I knew it didn't have reverb, so why would I judge a point off for something I knew I was getting and wanted!?

I skimped on the transformers and bought Mercury Magnetics. The price, after shipping, would have been the same.

It's a D*Style amp. The question of sound quality is somewhat two-fold. On the one hand, the question is: How does it sound? On the other hand, the question is: How does it sound in comparison to D-Amps or D*Style amps?

First, let me say: the amp is solid. Nic is for real. Anxiety is normal on this deal. But, when I heard about Nic and this amp, I figured that if I lost money buying it, I would have learned a very expensive lesson. To my surprise and, indeed, joy, I was very pleased with Nic's constant communication. Now to the sound.

It sounds fantastic. But, you have to know what sound you are paying for. Calling D-Amps and D*Style amps the "holy grail" of tone is only good if you know what you are getting into. I knew it was based on Fender designs. I knew it was meant for some gain. I knew it was somewhat voiced in the British category, but not to the degree of our British amp friends. In short, I knew I was getting into something that is different. D-Amps are so rare that most wouldn't know it if they heard it. Therefore, you can't approach it like a Marshall where you know you're going for the "Brown Sound," or like a Fender where you are going for "Brownface" "Silverface" or "Blackface" or "Tweed."

My best estimate is that the cleans on this amp are "Blackface" oriented, but that's because D-Amps were based somewhat on Fenders.

The Lead Channel is something else entirely. It is not Mesa. It is not Marshall.

I can't tell you so much what this amp is, as what it isn't.

I've gigged with it somewhat for 6 months now with no issues.

If you aren't receiving responses from Nic, check your spam filter. I've never known an amp builder to be so communicative. Kind, patient. Wow.

You'll see more of these out there, just wait. It's great.

Features are a bit deceptive, as they can't all be seen from the outside. You could say...basic: channel switching, T,M,B, clean volume, O/D controls, master volume and presence. BUT...you have a bright switch, a "deep" switch (actually a mid boost), and "jazz/rock" switch. These three switches create a vast array of tone variants. On the inside, near the input end of the main board is a trim pot that controls the amount of gain on the O/D channel. Set this to point at "12:00" and you have a gain monster! Any higher and you're in heavy territory! Passive effects loop, output impedence selector and an extension speaker out. I play jazz, blues, fusion, clasic rock and pop. It's the all-in-one amp for me. I've gigged it and with my 1x12 cab it's 50watts covers any venue I've played.

This is a direct clone of the elusive D*#ble Overdrive Special #124. If you are not familiar with these amps listen to Larry Carlton, Robben Ford, Bonnie Rait, Stevie Ray Vaughn(he used a Steel String Singer), and Carlos Santana(as of 2001). I use a 335 style guitar and a strat copy, both with upgraded pickups. I can play light and soulful, or, hard and driving, bluesy O/D, and even bright "brit-style" chime. This amp covers all my needs. Clean: fat, thick, blooming chords, kick in the "deep" and get a bit more gain(clean) and really big, flip on th "bright" and jangle to your heart's content, go "jazz" and the gain drops, but, the tone stack becomes more audiophile-like and very interactive. O/D: depends on how you set up the internal gain trimmer, from there the level sets the amount of distortion and the ratio is used to set the balance between the clean and O/D channels. All the same effects with the "deep", "bright" and "jazz/rock" switches as mentioned for clean. Oh yeah, there is also a Preamp boost button on the included footswitch for that over the top push.

Haven't had it very long, but, so far so good. I built the amp from a kit and the layout, design and reputation are tops.

As I was building this amp, my FIRST build, I was able to email and get almost immediate responses from Nik. He was most helpful and supportive and patient! I feel that if there were any need for service, or, warranty issue...Nik would be right there!

In my 36 years of playing, performing and tinkering I have not found an amp that does what this does. For the money, and I'm a bargain hunter, this is most likely the last amp I'll need to buy. I own Taylors, epiphones, washburns, takemines, have owned gibson, fender and ibanez. Self contained demo studio in my house with all the fixin's. When compared with all the big name amps in the big name stores and a few boutique amps in a few boutiques, this thing is easily as good, if not better in some categories, especially for the price. It can be purchased as a complete amp, or, kit with, or without a head cab. If it were stolen, or, destroyed I'd order another without hesitation. If you are looking for D*%ble tone without the enormous price tag, or, mind-numbing search of the original, get this amp!

Brand spanking new: 2008
This amps features are all you need. I can't say standard tone controls but it does have Treble, Bass and Midrange. These controls seem to interact with each other and aren't wimpy on adjustment. When you turn them, you hear the change unlke some other amps I've owned. It has a bright switch, deep switch and a rock/jass switch. The channel switching is great because unlike most amps that share the tone controls, this amp get "FATTER" when sitched to lead mode. Then, if you're soloing and by any chance are getting drowned out by the band or you just really want to make it sing, hit the tone stack bypass button and whew!! The amps foot pedal (supplied) has a red light to show you're on lead and a green light top show when you bypass the tone stack, which you can do for either clean or lead channel. The deep switch is awsome!! It also has an effects loop (passive) but I haven't used it yet. I'm not sure as to how many watts it is but if you can't get loud enough with this amp, your ******* DEPH!! The head is very cool looking too, the gril isn't cloth, it's vynal (if that's how you spell it!) Power stitch and standby switch are on the back and it has two speaker outputs with a selector switch for 4, 8, or 16 ohms.

I've been using a Tele Deluxe with SCN pickups. It sounds fat and awsome through this amp. I also use a Tokai Less Paul (stays in tune unlike all my other and late Less Pauls). This guitar sounds just like my recent 87 Paul, thick. The amp is so awsome for Blues it'll make you cry!! I play Souther Rock and Blues ei. Outlaws, Molly hatchet, Blackfoot, Allman Brothers and all the good stuff. The Overtone Special is "PERFECT" for my style. You can ad treble and change things around and add the gain for a more Marshallish sound too but I get the Creamy sound like my 72 with the channel switching option unlike the Marshall. The OT. Special is a little bright but roll off your tone control a number or two and you'r all set. That also makes the sound even out a bit like adding trebel to the front pickup on the Paul.
When you use the power tubes and cut back on the gain, tears roll down your face!! I can't say enought about it. The rock/ jazz switch is a great feature. The juzz can get a different clean to dirty sound and by flipping it to rock, the notes just pour out with more rock tone in a different frequency range. PLEASE NOTE: when you use distortion on this amp, the notes are "ARTICULATE", you hear every note of the chord. No Mush!! No ****!! I had a Musicman Fuchs Mod and a Reinhardt 18 and I'll tell you what...no comparison. The 18's tone controls barely did anything and the amp was so bright, I sold it. It sounded better with a 4x12 but that defeated the combo idea!!
You can adjust the lead volume to corrinate with the clean channel. You're not stuck with a set volume. The dirty channel has a seperate gain and level control system, and the gain can be monsterish if you run it high along with the clean or input gain. Wany allman Bro's lead tone? You got it with this amp. With slight gain and set right, this gets that fat wooding Dwayne Allman sound, great for lead and slide!!

Well, this is hard. I recived my amp with the head box included. Niks guys mad sure it was packed well and they actually put the amp in the box upside down to protect the tubes and to keep the weight of the awsomely heavey transformers on the bottom. They mark the box with "TOP" very openly but DHL did it's best to mess that system up.
My amp came with the chassie's insert nuts that are pressed into the frame, pulled out meaning the chassie dropped on the right side when looking at it from the front. There are Four inserts holding the head in but there are 8 all together. My guess would be for them to just use all 8 so this can't happen. There's an intermitent volume problem and a bad rock/jazz switch. I'm sure this is due to the amp getting "THROWN" in the trucks, ships and air planes or jets, from DHL's employees. (allways in an hurry).

Nik and his guys kept and are keeping in great touch with me about these concerns. He's sending extra crews and matching washers and screw cups so I can use all eight screws to support the heavey chassie. He is also sending three new switches to replace any bad ones. Personaly I've never had better support. I do my own repairs so I'll be putting the new switches in. This will be hairy due to the very close wire tolerences in the build of this amp (This is a big PLUS guys). If I can't or don't want to do it, it will probably be sent to his USA repair center for the work to be done and the amp to be checked out.

I'm 54. I've been playing since I was 12. My new band just played with the Outlwas and Pure Prairie League in West Virginia and played PA's biggest biker Rally in Hazen Pa about a month ago, the state A.B.A.T.E. rally. IMy trusty companion, my hand wired 72 Marshall 50 watt head, goes to every gig as my main amp or untill recently, the back up for my Ceriatone Overtone Special. Afetr many many years of tying things like pedals effect rack gear and everything under the sun, you can't beat a standard great amp using pedals to suit your style. A couple months ago I bought a George Dennis King Bee pedal on ebay for a 49 dollars, like new. I fell in love with it. It sounds like the ceriatone in a pedal. I questioned the guy I bought it from about his Mind Bending Blues George Dennis Pedal. He said it was voiced different than the King Bee, so I bought that too.
People!! If you have a great standard amp ei: Old marshall, Fender ect with great tone. You gotta try these pedals!! After I ordered the Ceriatone, I found these. Everyone including my biggest crittic, my wife, said that amp better be really good because it'll be hard to beat this sound!! They are THAT GOOD!!! Fortunately, the amp sounds that great but it tripples my sound by still using the G. Dennis pedals! And I wanted to get away from pedals but they sound that great, I can't do it! Really!! I replaced the Celestion 75's in my Marshall cab with non other than Music Warehouse Clone Speakers. The Classic and Vintage (2x2). These speaker Rock, and the price is great but I got them when they were 21 dollars. The sound is just incrdible with these replacements. They're really "beefy", not too bright and have a ton of bottom end. My band is louse and these sound geat clean, dirty or balls to the wall saturated with sustain and volume. Haven't blown one yet!!
The price tag on the Overtone Special is well woth the amplifier. This amp would be selling for thousands if Nik didn't want to give us rockers a break. Every penny is in the sound for you to droul over. Listen to the clips on You Tube. Also, Nik will tweek your amp for your needs but at the end, I gave up and just asked him to build me a stock amp. Whew! There's no need for anything else! Oh, one last thing. I use a Multivox tape echo as my echo/reverb unit. It can't be beat! I even have a Rolland SRE-555 (rack version of the 501) tape echo and I haven't use the Rolland yet on stage!! The Multivox doesn't thin out like the Rolland does and has more head options.
If my ceriatone amp was Stolen? I'd look for the bastard and Gun him Down!! If I couldn'r find the guy or guys, I'd no other choice than to sell things off to order another Overtone Special. When you play this amp and get the tones I found in it, like the ones you hear when you listen to John Mayer play blues, you won't want anything else. Southern Rockers! You're missing out if you don't have one of these. Nuf said? Good! My fingers are tired from typing!!

Most information on this model has been covered in rewiew below.
It`s a cloned amp of a 50 watt overdrive soecial Dumble amplifier.
The internals are very tidy and all perts are high quality as stated.It is all tube and has been hand wired with point to point circuit.
Clean & overdrive modes sharing the same EQ section.
Ithink it is very versatile for many styles of music.

It`s important for a new owner to realise that you have to find your own sweet spots for your style of playing and guitar type. The tone controls are very interactive and the 3 mini switches add yet another sonic adjustment to play with.
I have tried several guitars through this amp using a 2x12 THD cab.
Humbuckers sound beautiful! Even a gibson es175 produced sublime tones for a clean jazz gig.
My fav is the Les Paul for both clean rhythms and overdrive tones.
Strats sound very cool with the trebles rolled back a couple of notches on the amp and for the first time ever in my experience the front pickup on a Tele sounds totally usable and very very good.
I like using reverb and a Lee Jackson Mr Spring does the job just perfect for my taste.
I also prefer the internal gain trim pot turned down a bit as this helps retain a warm and singing dumble type lead tone. With the trimmer turned up past the 11 o`clock mark ,you start to enter marshall teritory.
This is an amp to cherish if you like good tube amps.
Ive owned and played many tube amps over the years and feel this is the only model to totally impress me.
This one is a keeper.

Only had this for 8 months now. I purchased it brand spanking new and it has been totally reliable to date. I have played around with a few different preamp tubes just for fun, but it`s perfect as it comes stock for my needs.

Very good as Ceriatone respond to emails promptly and are great to deal with.

I think Ceriatone has done a top job with this model. It`s built very nicely and the tones are like no other amp i`ve ever played and that`s alot.
I have not played a Dumble for obvious reasons as they are as scarce as hens teeth and apparently cost enormous amounts of money.
If you like tube amps and dig high grade tones with smoldering harmonic overtones you should look out for one of these beauties to audition. And it won`t break the bank either.
Gets a 10 from me.

Overtone Special amp head from Ceriatone amplification.
Clone of the Dumble overdrive special.
50 watts of pure tube output.
This is a hand wired point to point quality amp.
The overall quality of build is exceptional both internally and externally.
12AX7 x3 pretubes and Tung sol 6L6s x2.
Footswitch for channel selection and an additional boost mode for both the clean and overdrive channels.
Non reverb amp and a passive effects loop.
additional mini toggle switches for the tone stack using rock or jazz modes, bright and deep options.
Very versatile.

After reading the review from Casken below I had to laugh in recognition of his enthusiasm for this amp.
This is a seriously awesome amp with tones that could be considered Fender like, but the overtone special delivers a special kind of tone that no Fender amp has, and ive owned many Fenders over the years including a vintage model Tweed Bandmaster, 1964 Super reverb and a Vibroking.
The best way to describe the tones of this is, take a quality Fender type tone and add alot more harmonic content that smolders under each single note played in O/D mode. Kind of like the complexity of the Vox AC30 amps but warmer and fatter. You really feel this amp when you play and it`s like an extension of your personal musical expression.
In clean mode the harmonic content is very good for colourful chord sounds.
I run a Boss RV2 reverb through the effects loop and that sounds very good for my needs.

Built like a tank.
Has been good for the last 6 months without any problems at all.
Time will tell, but judging by the quality of build it will out last many other amps.

My first introduction to Dumble amp tones was the singing lead guitar of Christopher Cross through an Overdrive Special Dumble.
I thought, man that amp really sings beautifully. Then i had read that SRV had recorded his first two albums with a Dumble Steel string Singer and i thought it was a vibroverb or super reverb..!
No wonder SRV had the chimming harmonic tone he did on those first two albums.
The Super Reverb is a truly great amp with alot of character and tone, but not the same league as the Dumble.
I love this Ceriatone and am greatful these amps are available for those of us who know what a true tone generator is.
It would be nice to see a Ceriatone Steel string Singer 100watt model available.
Thankyou Ceriatone I love this amp and i`m sure my playing has now taken on a tone awareness.

Bought New from Ceriatone. Waited nearly thirteen weeks to get it, worth every minute. Tremendous quality. Other reviewers detail the features quite well. Amp has quite a few options most of which are fantastic and useful. The jazz setting is enemic compared to the other features, otherwise I would offer a 10 here.

I use a Strat, Les Paul and es335 with this amp. I play mostly classic rock, blues, smooth jazz. The amp is very versitale and can go from Fendery clean with the mids turned low with great clean tones. It has the best gain tone I have ever heard and clean rivals if not bests the depth of a very good Fender tube amp. The only effect I use is a Holy Grail reverb. The amp does all the rest. The okly reason I am giving this category a 10 is that 12s are not available. After owning 4 Fender amps. 2 Boogies, 2 Peaveys and a few off brands...this is hands down the best amp sound wise I have ever heard. Ever!

The Kleinulator, the Ceriatone version of a Dumblelator has a bad connection to the 9v supply and is twitchy. It is a minor issue, all else is great and pristine in condition and so far so good.

Could not imagine it being any better. Nik is first class to deal with and his service follows the sale.

I've played about twenty years over the last thirty, with a sabbatical in there. This is the amp I have sought all my years of playing it simply is better than any amp I have ever owned. It does get some great tones like R.Ford and L.Carlton but does a nice Marshall sound when the gain trim is cranked.

Other than the loose connection I have no complaints and am thrilled with this amp. I cannot imagine playing a mere mortal amp again, this is a companion for life.

If stolen, I am afraid I would be finished playing as I would hunt the thief down and exact some frontier justice. I imagine my prison wouldn't allow me to play where I'd be going. This si my amp from here on out.