Ceriatone Express tranny question

[telewacker]

I'm getting ready to but a Ceriatone Trainwreck Express (assembled) and I need advice about transfomers. Should I get the amp sans trannies and install Tonesluts, or are the new trannies from Ceriatone as good? How much of a job is it to install the trannies? From what I gather the wiring orientation is critical in these amps.

I used to build DynaKits back in the day and have basic skills.

Thanks in advance!

[castor]

I bought a kit from Nik... everything is in high quality.
then I mount everything in about 4 hours (complete assembling).
I spent then 2/3 days due to a small cap that does not work, but no one can check them so I have to check every signle component. In every case if you buy a complete preassembled you have only to put tubes.. if you want to assemble it.. it's not difficult.. you have to follow exactly the ceriatone layout (downlodable from ceriatone site) and be able to solder. In fact if you buy the kit (chassis included) all holes are drilled so you can not mount transf in a wrong way.

stefano

[guitonit]

I just got a fully assembled Express from Nik (sans tubes) with his new transformers. I haven't compared them to Moose's, but the amp flat out rocks!! I played a real Express a while back, and as far as I remember, this thing sounds just as good.

[telewacker]

Thanks for the replies. Nik says his trannies are now similar to the Tonesluts, so I ordered an assembled Express sans tubes. Can't wait to play it!

Anybody know of a place to get a plain old plywood and tolex head cab? I'm not much into the oiled hardwood look and the amp will be subjected to typical road/gig use/abuse.

[Tubetwang]

you may want to try www.reasonamps.com

[Tube_S_Cream]

I also have a TWExpress Kit from Ceriatone. I use it with a Dynacord trannie set. I had some mail conversation with Nik about necessary transformer moddings, an he told me that his power transformer has a center tap for the heater, which is connected to ground. Tonesluts may not have this. My PT has also a single 6.3V winding, so i had to make a virtual ground with 2x 100 Ohms to ground to avoid hum. Grounding one side to GND is not sufficient, it helps, but the hum is too loud. No ground connection causes a terrific buzz.
To optimize hum cancelling i've tweaked the virtual ground tap with a 20R cermet pot between the two 100R. The wiper is connected to ground. So i can adjust it to the best results. Other amps use a 1W 100 Ohm Pot for hum cancelling (both ends to 6,3V AC, wiper to ground)

[Darkbluemurder]

I bought a kit from Nik... everything is in high quality.
then I mount everything in about 4 hours (complete assembling).
I spent then 2/3 days due to a small cap that does not work, but no one can check them so I have to check every signle component. In every case if you buy a complete preassembled you have only to put tubes.. if you want to assemble it.. it's not difficult.. you have to follow exactly the ceriatone layout (downlodable from ceriatone site) and be able to solder. In fact if you buy the kit (chassis included) all holes are drilled so you can not mount transf in a wrong way.

stefano

Stefano,

Are you saying that no mechanical work was required (i.e. nothing beyond soldering and screwing)? That would be really great because that is not my experience with other kits.

Cheers Stephan

[gearhead]

I had some mail conversation with Nik about necessary transformer moddings, an he told me that his power transformer has a center tap for the heater, which is connected to ground. Tonesluts may not have this.

I believe the TS Transformers do have a ground: http://www.toneslut.com/transformers/tr ... agrams.gif