which kit is better

[stanb]

any opinions which kit is better to build or which sound better ect.

stanb

[benoit]

any opinions which kit is better to build or which sound better ect.

stanb

The d-clones I know of are the Brown-note ones and the Ceriatone ones. The brown note ones are slightly simplified but they look like they're a little higher quality (bear in mind that I've not built either) and are very well documented.

[stanb]

brown-note or maybe ceriatone ?
D'lite vs Overtone

[ChrisM]

Read this forum everyday, and try to slowly read through all the old pages of threads. Then source the parts and build your own. If you do the reading it is easy and in the end you ll get a better amp than some kit build.

[Mark]

The Ceriatone kit will reach you faster than the Brown Note Kit. The Brown Note kit is a nice sounding amp, BUT make sure you know what you want when ordering a kit.

I have built an 18 watter with a chassis kit from Nik at Ceriatone, it all worked out fine.

Have a look at the kits and see what you want, and can they provide what you are after.

Also consider if you are skilled enough to build the amp?

[wjdunham]

I have built the Brown Note kit (DLite 44) and my own scratch built 100W amp. Both sound great. I felt I had to educate myself quite a bit even to build the DLite. You should do the same as it seems that these amps all need to be tweaked a bit to get them to really sing. You might save a little money sourcing all the parts yourself, but I would recommend starting with a kit, I'm glad I did anyway. It's tough to find a suitable chassis and the one I used needed a lot of small modifications to get everything to work. You'll have plenty of time to read between the order and ship date of the brown note kits if things haven't changed there. Just my $.02.
Bill

[bluesfendermanblues]

I've build a Ceriatone Overtone special.

A fine kit indeed. However, mine was version '26th may 2008' and I have tweaked it a lot in order to get the good sounds. I read all the post on this forum , and still do, to learn how to get the goods. The kit was way too bright for my taste.

Along the way I realised, that the best setup for my strat, was a 100K, skyliner amp (a la #124), but prior to that configuration, it have had several different amp lifes.

The real challange for me was, not having a real reference. I didn't know how a good amp felt and played. And I did not know which design (Classic, Skyliner, Bluesmaster - Standard OD or HRM) I should use for my taste. So you must find you own way in the dark - be prepared to do a lot of reading on this forum and a lot of trial and error.

I have received a lot of tips, hints and help from the experienced guys at this forum, who build great amps and know the real deal first hand.

I would recommend using a kit for your first build. I can recommend the Ceriatone kit. I don't know the brown note kit first hand, so can't comment on that.

[Tonegeek]

I have no experience with Ceriatone. I would want to know more about their transformers though.

My experience with BN: high quality, friendly service, but slow to ship or respond to email (as of 2/09). Check directly with Moss before you order to see how long it will take. Hopefully ship time has improved.

[angelodp]

The Brown Note kit is a fine item. The support, components and ultimate product are all top notch.

Ange

[hairyandy]

The Brown Note kit is a fine item. The support, components and ultimate product are all top notch.

Ange

I'll second that. I've built a D'Lite44 and it was a breeze. The resulting amp rocks. I didn't have any trouble with the shipping being slow either. Just talk to Moss and he'll let you know everything you need.

Andy

[Mark]

The D'Lite will sound great built as it is.

However you do have to consider what options you want, the relay boards are a must , and then you have consider if you want the typical Dumble switches (Jazz/Rock etc) as the D'Lite doesn't have these in it's stock form.

Then there is the output tube options, two 6V6's, two 6L6's, or four 6V6's?

As far as the D'Lite super mod kit goes I wouldn't recommend it as there isn't enough documentation of the mods, typically all the Brown Note stuff is well written out and easy to understand, so I don't understand the omission here?

I have a post on the Brown Note forum about what should be included in the Super Mod. Again, it needs to be documented, the purchase value of the parts alone isn't enough reason to buy this kit.

I wouldn't describe the D'Lite as sounding bright, it has quite a thick sound especially with the Skyliner mid pot. I haven't heard a Ceriatone so I can't comment.

The thing going for the Ceriatone amp is it does come with all stuff you'd expect on a Dumble amp.

[angelodp]

+ 1 on that. The three button pedal w/ relays has been very useful on my rig. PAB, OD, Mid-boost. Ampdoc relay board and the three button kit will work out pretty well. I would add a loop to the equation as well. Then there is the off-board D-lator....... great for adding verb & other wet effects.

[bluesfendermanblues]

I have no experience with Ceriatone. I would want to know more about their transformers though.

My experience with BN: high quality, friendly service, but slow to ship or respond to email (as of 2/09). Check directly with Moss before you order to see how long it will take. Hopefully ship time has improved.

Ups, forgot about the transformers.
I bought the kit without transformers, and went for Hammond (fender) PT and Choke instead. OT is a Mercury Magnetics.

[Structo]

I built the D'Lite 44 as well.
When I bought mine it came with the dual primary OT so you could run 6V6's, or 6L6's, EL34's, and other similar impedance tubes.
But I wasn't really interested in the little brothers, I wanted the full meal deal so I stuck with 6L6's.

One thing you have to keep in mind, as it stands, that amp was designed around 6V6 power tubes.
If you want to stick 6L6's in it and rock, the least you have to do is swap the primaries on the OT or put a DPDT switch on them and rebias the power tubes.

That said, the tone stack, couplers and bypass circuits are all optimised for the 6V6.
So through the advice from the more knowledgable members here, especially Dogears, Gil, Tony there is a tweaked layout with most of those mods employed on it.

The Ceriatone amps mostly get good reviews. There is a little bad blood here because the owner said one thing and did another, no need to dredge that all up again.

The smarter guys that order Ceriatone amps, order them sans transformers to save on weight and shipping costs.
Then you can use that money to buy the transformers of your choice.
Be that Mercury's, Heyboer or Hammond, are some examples.

If you are a newcomer to amp building you should also be aware that none of the kits mentioned come with any instructions.
You can download a schematic and a layout. If you are familiar with amp components, it isn't too hard to build it from the layout.
Sort of paint by numbers, if you will.

The folks here have been kind and patient for the most part with newcomers as long as you do the leg work first before you ask questions that are easily found on the internet.
I try to help noobies myself because it wasn't that long ago that I didn't know much about tube amps. I had a good basic understanding about electronics, but tube theory isn't something that is really taught anymore.
In other words, do some learning on your own and read a lot of threads here before asking and don't expect these kind folks to spoon feed you. You have to be willing and want to learn this stuff.
Most of us don't stop at building just one amp.

So, if you need to ask, what is a resistor and what does it do or what is a capacitor or what is a orange drop, perhaps some more learning is in order before you take the expensive leap to an amp kit.

But, it sure is a lot of fun, at least to me it is.
And if you happen to build your own guitars (Fenders are easy ) you just can't beat plugging a guitar you made into an amp you made for sweet harmonic bliss!

Disclaimer:
I don't speak for this forum.
This is all IMHO
YMMV
2¢

Another disclaimer:
There is high voltage lurking in tube amplifiers.
It is more than enough to kill you dead.
Before working on an amp be sure to learn safe working practices around high voltage and for god's sake, learn how to discharge power supply filter capacitors before servicing an amp.
Not a bad idea to have the wife learn CPR.

[angelodp]

Brown Note does have an assembly guide and there are quite a few detailed journals on the bit by bit process, such as Doveman's extensive coverage.

ange