Ceriatone Dizzy 30

[bcmatt]

I have one of these too; first amp I ever "built". Fantastic amp.

Although, I'm surprised no one has mentioned the MV. It always sounds disappointing when ever it's used. So, in mine, I yanked it and bypassed it. No compromise in tone. Then I put Dana's VVR in it's faceplate position. Works perfectly and most people wonder why the MV works so well and stays sounding so good.

[sharkboy]

I have had one for years and love it. The eF86 with single coils sounds fantastic, though higher gain single coils and humbuckers eat headroom. The 12ax7 channel really would be better if converted to a rocket channel, but i don't use that channel much, so some of its nuances are lost on me.

One more thing- don't give up on the EF86 channel until you've tried different EF86s, and mess around some with the rest of the tubes, too.

[milkyBK370]

I play a PRS and Godin LGX, both loaded with humbuckers. I've never played through a C30 before so I'm not entirely sure what to expect. Plenty of demos on YouTube though and the vast majority sound good to these ears. I'll keep in mind the MV removal option. VVR sounds an attractive mod.

[milkyBK370]

The EF86 has a reputation for being a finicky little tube. A friend of my pointed out a video on YouTube of Gab (soundgaragetales) that has some OTT suggestions for the mounting of said tube.

[M Fowler]

What cabs did you guys end up using for this amp?

The Gabkit cabs are way more expensive for the Matchless then they are for a OTS, not sure why? But anyway I am looking for either a combo cab or head cab for my Dizzy 30 chassis.

Mark

[bcmatt]

I built a large and incredibly heavy 2x12 combo for mine. How did you know we like to post pics of our amps?

[amplifiednation]

I had a hotcat30r and it ripped! It was really hard to dial in though. Is the c30 similar? I'm getting confused with these back to back matchless/badcat threads!

Mark I'm doing Bad Cat style top mount headshells this week and i got some really wild blue sparkle tolex for them. Let me know if you need something. I can also get the ostrich they use in a variety of colors and smoother matchless texture

[dcribbs1412]

Mark
so how is the Dizzy sounding...I see you started this thread earlier this year
great looking build BTW congrats

bcmatt nice looking build you have also love the wood panel on front

I had a hotcat30r and it ripped! It was really hard to dial in though. Is the c30 similar? I'm getting confused with these back to back matchless/badcat threads!

amplifiednation...not sure the C30 is the same design as the Bad Cat
AFAIK the Bad Cat has more gain stages and uses EL34's
the DC30/Dizzy30 in this post is el84 based
I'm looking for the "ripped" side of these designs...

[amplifiednation]

oh, it's the DC30, that makes more sense!

Mark, great looking build, as always, that looks like a lot of wiring!!

[M Fowler]

Nice looking combo you have there thanks for posting the pictures.

Taylor I think I want to go with a 1-12 combo I have so many heads and not enough speaker cabs.

I haven't spent a lot of time with the Dizzy 30 (D30) other then to dial it in with cap changes noted in past post. I didn't mind the MV. I like the EF86 channel the best more grind.

Thanks for the compliments guys,

Mark

[amplifiednation]

No prob Mark.

These cabs are not an easy build and its difficult to tolex those panels. That's probably why they are on the expensive side, oh and they are also huge! This cab is 24.5x11x11

[playonit]

I replaced the 180pf caps on both volume pots to 47pf each. That opened the amp up great.

Then I changed the .0022uf cap on the Cut control circuit to .0047uf.

The only thing I think I might do next is either remove the bypass cap on the V2 bias or lower the value of the plate resistor from 220k to 150k on V1. channel 1.

Channel 2 EF86 circuit sounds good with early break up.

Mark

I finally got around to trying the different value on the bright cap on the ef86 channel 2.... went from 180pf to 100pf.. holy cow did that smooth things out and remove the harshness ..that and a new NOS ef806s Tesla in the channel I haven't changed the cap on channel one yet.. I actually like channel one right now, but want to try the different value in it just the same.

What effect did changing the .0022 to .0047 have on the cut circuit ?? I just ordered the .0047 cap and will try that next.. Thanks for sharing this info.. it made a world of difference.. I can actually play my favorite strat on that channel now...

[M Fowler]

playonit,

Hey great, I am glad lowering the treble cap helped. I sure found it did.

I have had good results using the standard .0047uf cap on the treble cut control not too woofy either.

Man I need to get back to my Dizzy 30 and see what more changes it may need.

Mark

[M Fowler]

milkyBK370,

Instead of running a EF86 you could use a parallel 12AX7.

Mark

[playonit]

milkyBK370,

Instead of running a EF86 you could use a parallel 12AX7.

Mark

I think the tube makes all the difference.... I had been running a NOS Mazda Belvu EF86 since building it.. I picked up a couple of Nos Tesla ef806s made in Czechoslovakia and tried one today.. the tonal difference is astounding and volume increase is significant.. changing the value of the treble cap on ch. 2 topped it off. I am amazed how good this amp has become...

Also tried the .0047 on the cut circuit... I like it so far ..