Ceriatone Rocket Tweak Thread... Before I Order...

[cdc3jj]

I bought a Robert Hinson Express and I LOVE it... I think that fulfilled my Marshally, higher gain rock craving. But now I'm back to longing for an ac30. It seems like, from what I'm reading, that the Rocket is an ac30 tweaked to Ken's liking with some added gain. I've heard mixed ideas about Nik's transformers, so I know I'm going to order the trannies from somewhere in the US. I'm mainly looking for suggestions to his layout and possible componet changes. I'm not totally sure what I'm looking to change tonally until I hear the complete amp, but if there are any tried and true changes people make, I'd like to hear about them. Thanks

[M Fowler]

I would get the components, chassis and transformers locally.

Two TAG members deal in TW parts:

rjguitars sells complete kits and allynmey sells chassis/transformers and other parts but may also have a complete kit too?

Mark

[Richie]

I bought a Robert Hinson Express and I LOVE it...

Talk to Bob Hinson, he knows transformers,and probably has them too.
He's helped me out on a few amps,when no one else had transformers.
Great guy to deal with.

[Teleguy61]

alleynmey hosts this whole forum.
Not a bad idea to send him some business.
He deserves it.

[sliberty]

Don't change a thing. Rockets kill all on their own. If you need more gain, use a clean boost like the AMZ MOSFET Booster.

[M Fowler]

Or the EH LPB-2 works very well. I built mine but cost me more to build then to go to the local store and buy one at $38.

Mark









Rocket til you drop............

[Richie]

alleynmey hosts this whole forum.
Not a bad idea to send him some business.
He deserves it.

Very true and no problem. Allyn and Bob are friends. Ask both.. Allyn don't really make anything on his transformers or chassis. He just sells them to help others,but buying one from him does help pay for the quanity buy that he does. I don't think Allyn has any transformers at the moment. But should have some soon.

[RJ Guitars]

I offer authentic parts when we can identify them and locate a source for them. Selling parts is a hobby for me and really more about making buying parts easier and cheaper for all of us within TAG. I don't tend to cater to folks outside of TAG. The margin on transformers and chassis offered inside TAG is almost nil. Any time you buy parts from any of the usual vendors inside the forum you are getting the benefit of a quantity discount... keeps the parts costs down for everybody involved. I think of having a few vendors available as an essential part of keeping the supply balance stable, not really as a business competition since it ultimately yields zero profit. I know Allyn has sent buyers my way when he was out of stock on something and I do the same.

TAG offers a forum with informed guys and good friends and it is the learning about amps and watching the development of other builders that keeps me involved. I am really more of an experimenter and in the parts supply world I resonate with the folks who want to get off the beaten path a bit. I keep an inventory of parts, schematics, and layouts that are available to anyone on the forum. I also post and encourage folks to post anything cool they discover.

I'll second the motion that Allyn and Rob are good guys and have made critical contributions to the forum. I have said it before and it bears repeating, thank you Gentlemen for the good work!

rj

[Teleguy61]

I certainly did not mean to say patronize only one of these guys.
Allyn, Rob, RJ, and others all provide invaluable service to
amp builders, because they believe in it.
More power to all of them.
Gentlemen, we are grateful.

[RJ Guitars]

Teleguy,

I think it's all cool.... lots of good guys and plenty of opportunities for buyers and sellers. All the options and perspectives add flavor and experience for all of us to benefit from. For me it's all bout learning and teaching which should make the forum a more valuable place with every build that is out there.

rj

[Big Jim]

I would like to say thanks to guys like rj and Allen. They make it possible for hobbyists such as myself to get in on the action and benefit from their expertise and advice. Jim


p.s. Hey rj, the Express is still dropping jaws on a regular basis! Thanx again.

[M Fowler]

There a some great guys on this Forum that provide invaluable information and have done so long before I joined. Thanks everyone.

Mark

[nickt]

Ok group hug dudes but what about the initial question?

Just sayin'...

[RJ Guitars]

Ok group hug dudes but what about the initial question?

Just sayin'...

Thanks for the prompt --

FWIW - Concerning changes to the Rocket.... I generally believe the fewer deviations the better although some folks including myself have added reverb and found it pleasant. If you read the Z-Wreck Rocket documents you'll find references to a natural sounding reverb in the basic amp. I also heard this same claim from Derek Ferwerda, owner of Trainwreck Rocket #1, close friend of Ken Fischer, and in many ways the official amp tester for Trainwreck. Makes me think that ultimately an ideally made Rocket requires only a good operator.

Having said all that I like what Dr. Z did with the layout and yet believe it maintains the critical elements of the circuit itself.

rj

[M Fowler]

As far as Ceriatone Rockit verses Trainwreck Rocket the biggest things are the transformers and main filter caps.

Ceriatone uses a pair 33uf main filter caps verses a pair of 40uf on TW.

Ceriatone transformers not sure if there is such a big difference. Hard to tell without doing a taste test.

Many people change up the board caps to their own taste/peference as well as some use MF resistors rather than CF.

So subjective so to build a traditional Rocket follow the schematic, layout and BOM in the TW files section.

As far as the power transformer, some run 250-0-250 some run 280-0-280 secondaries, again up to you.

Mark