Cameron CCV transformer

[psychodave]

Dave, you'd be the one to ask I think...is there a huge difference in tone OR feel between the pre Brad, Brad era, and post Brad era CCVs ?

There are slight differences, but not enough to worry. I believe one difference is the Brad CCV's had a little more clipping (saturation) on the mid clipping setting. The other difference is that the Brad era amps have the midi for the loop and I believe a metro loop while Mark used an insert loop. Of course the knob location on the Brad amps are a bit lower, but that's only cosmetic. That's all I know, maybe others can comment?

Like anything else in life, some people prefer Mark CCV's and some prefer Brad CCV's. Both are cool and I'd own either one.

 

[psychodave]

Also, you played the CCM at 2009 NY amp show...what is the difference between the CCM and the CCV ? I know the CCM is a more modern tone, is it just component changes or is there a significant topology change ?

That CCM was cool, but crazy bright. In the room, I preferred the CCV by a lot, but the camera recorded a different, less bright sound. The CCV is basically an Aldrich mod. Not enough were made to get a definitive design.

The CCV and CCM are different designs.

 

[paulyc]

Thanks Dave ! Do you know what's different in the design between the CCV and CCM ? I know you're "tech nerdy" (in a good way lol)

 

[Salos]

Good luck with your KK. I'm sure it's a cool amp. But let me make a suggestion.

Save your money, and bide your time. Wait it out for the real deal.
My experience with amps that are clones, or copies is once you play or hear the real one, the clones just don't add up.

SLO clone<Real SLO.
Chupacabra<Real Cameron Jose.

I know they are rare and expensive but the wait will be worth it.
And yes I've played a Chupa and SLO clone. Good stuff but fall FAR short to the real deal. IMO.
Good luck!

I'd like to counter this. I have played two CCVs, and I've owned both a Ceriatone Yeti and King Kong (both were 100 watters).

I first played a CCV in mid-2015, and I loved it. So I sold a few pieces of gear, and began searching for a CCV for myself. I had cash ready to go, was prepared to spend the $3K+ prices they go for. I received a few "maybe I'll sell" bites, but they never did. After several months, I gave up. Since mid-2015, I've only seen 1 CCV come up for sale. When it did, I didn't have enough cash at the time to meet the seller's asking price, but a buddy of mine snagged it so I got to play it.

Anyway, since I couldn't get a CCV, despite trying pretty hard. I checked out the Ceriatone stuff. The King Kong absolutely 'channels' the CCV. No, they're not identical. But if you're looking for the CCV tone, paying ~$1K for a King Kong is a no-brainer. I wish I hadn't sold my King Kong in fact.

The only three amps I regret selling are my '76 SL, the Ceriatone Yeti 100, and the Ceriatone KK 100. The Yeti even received "great tone" compliments at the shows I used it at.

And BTW, never had any functionality/technical issues with either of my Ceriatones.

 

[Crunchity]

I may have missed it...was the "Jose" clip also through the blackbacks?

 

[paulyc]

Good luck with your KK. I'm sure it's a cool amp. But let me make a suggestion.

Save your money, and bide your time. Wait it out for the real deal.
My experience with amps that are clones, or copies is once you play or hear the real one, the clones just don't add up.

SLO clone<Real SLO.
Chupacabra<Real Cameron Jose.

I know they are rare and expensive but the wait will be worth it.
And yes I've played a Chupa and SLO clone. Good stuff but fall FAR short to the real deal. IMO.
Good luck!

I'd like to counter this. I have played two CCVs, and I've owned both a Ceriatone Yeti and King Kong (both were 100 watters).

I first played a CCV in mid-2015, and I loved it. So I sold a few pieces of gear, and began searching for a CCV for myself. I had cash ready to go, was prepared to spend the $3K+ prices they go for. I received a few "maybe I'll sell" bites, but they never did. After several months, I gave up. Since mid-2015, I've only seen 1 CCV come up for sale. When it did, I didn't have enough cash at the time to meet the seller's asking price, but a buddy of mine snagged it so I got to play it.

Anyway, since I couldn't get a CCV, despite trying pretty hard. I checked out the Ceriatone stuff. The King Kong absolutely 'channels' the CCV. No, they're not identical. But if you're looking for the CCV tone, paying ~$1K for a King Kong is a no-brainer. I wish I hadn't sold my King Kong in fact.

The only three amps I regret selling are my '76 SL, the Ceriatone Yeti 100, and the Ceriatone KK 100. The Yeti even received "great tone" compliments at the shows I used it at.

And BTW, never had any functionality/technical issues with either of my Ceriatones.

I agree. I have a Brad run CCV and a KK 50 watt, they're very close...any difference comes down to the 100 vs 50 watt feel I think.

 

[psychodave]

Thanks Dave ! Do you know what's different in the design between the CCV and CCM ? I know you're "tech nerdy" (in a good way lol)

Simply put, the CCV uses diodes/transistors for gain and the CCM uses a cathode follower gain stage. Of course there are more differences, but these are the more prominent differences.

 

[Racerxrated]

sorry for the series of questions, but....

1. is it feasible to implement jose and aldrich in one amp?
of course, completely independent 2 pres in one amp can be possible theoretically.
but is it practically feasible, if the jose & aldrich pres share the 2 * 12AX7 tubes or the T-M-B eqs??

2. are there any amps with jose & aldrich in one amp?
for ex, CH 1 jose + CH 2 aldrich... or... CH 1 clean + CH 2 jose + CH 3 aldrich.

3. what is BE-100's topology?
my guess is...

BE channel : gain stage -> tone stack -> gain -> gain -> CF -> PI (jose with SAT switch on)
HBE channel : gain -> tone -> gain -> gain -> gain -> PI (aldrich?? i am not sure what HBE is...)

4. how much is BE-100's stock B+ voltage??
scottosan should be the expert ^^

The Jose and Aldrich are very different amps. The Jose uses diode/transistor clipping for saturation, while the Aldrich has an addition gain stage in the cathode follower. I have seen an Aldrich mod with an added Jose master volume. It was cool, but overkill. I've never seen an amp with both an Alder ch on one side and Jose on the other. Funny you mention it though... I've always wanted an amp with one side being a Cameron Aldrich and one side being a high gain CCV. It would be badass.

The BE is another Jose-type design. Just a different flavor from other Jose type amps.

I thought that Richard Tull here on RT had one with both mods in it? Not sure how that could be done but pm him and ask. I think he sold it though..
I just remember seeing it in his sig.

 

[FourT6and2]

Dave, is that a specific song at the beginning of that clip or something you wrote? I really like that riff.

 

[psychodave]

Dave, is that a specific song at the beginning of that clip or something you wrote? I really like that riff.

Iced Earth.

 

[paulyc]

Can you give us a total play by play of the other riffs too ? (sorry)

I know the Anthrax tune is Madhouse.

I like your tone WAY better than the tone on this live clip...

 

[psychodave]

Can you give us a total play by play of the other riffs too ? (sorry)

I know the Anthrax tune is Madhouse.

I like your tone WAY better than the tone on this live clip...

Here is the list. I play most of the songs wrong, D'oh.
Iced Earth Burning Times
Iced Earth 1776
Metal Church Beyond the Black.
Anthrax Mad House
Anthrax Medusa

 

[psychodave]

I would be remiss if I didn't say that I'm also running through a wet/dry/wet rig. I'm playing through four 4x12's. Two have Anniversary H30's and two have old blackback H30's with 55hz. I'm using a rocktron intellifex or Korg DL8000R for delay and an HH V800 poweramp. I have BOTH wet and dry signal coming through my "wet" cabs. I'm using an RJM mini mix to mix to the wet cabs.

This was recorded with a simple Sony Handicam sitting on a shelf pointing at the amp.

 

[FourT6and2]

I would be remiss if I didn't say that I'm also running through a wet/dry/wet rig. I'm playing through four 4x12's. Two have Anniversary H30's and two have old blackback H30's with 55hz. I'm using a rocktron intellifex or Korg DL8000R for delay and an HH V800 poweramp. I have BOTH wet and dry signal coming through my "wet" cabs. I'm using an RJM mini mix to mix to the wet cabs.

This was recorded with a simple Sony Handicam sitting on a shelf pointing at the amp.

Well you should use that setup live then lol. Run the Sony Handicom as your "mic" to the board haha. Sounds perfect as is.

 

[rottingcorpse]

Dave knows tone.

 

[Beyond Black]

Good luck with your KK. I'm sure it's a cool amp. But let me make a suggestion.

Save your money, and bide your time. Wait it out for the real deal.
My experience with amps that are clones, or copies is once you play or hear the real one, the clones just don't add up.

SLO clone<Real SLO.
Chupacabra<Real Cameron Jose.

I know they are rare and expensive but the wait will be worth it.
And yes I've played a Chupa and SLO clone. Good stuff but fall FAR short to the real deal. IMO.
Good luck!

I'd like to counter this. I have played two CCVs, and I've owned both a Ceriatone Yeti and King Kong (both were 100 watters).

I first played a CCV in mid-2015, and I loved it. So I sold a few pieces of gear, and began searching for a CCV for myself. I had cash ready to go, was prepared to spend the $3K+ prices they go for. I received a few "maybe I'll sell" bites, but they never did. After several months, I gave up. Since mid-2015, I've only seen 1 CCV come up for sale. When it did, I didn't have enough cash at the time to meet the seller's asking price, but a buddy of mine snagged it so I got to play it.

Anyway, since I couldn't get a CCV, despite trying pretty hard. I checked out the Ceriatone stuff. The King Kong absolutely 'channels' the CCV. No, they're not identical. But if you're looking for the CCV tone, paying ~$1K for a King Kong is a no-brainer. I wish I hadn't sold my King Kong in fact.

The only three amps I regret selling are my '76 SL, the Ceriatone Yeti 100, and the Ceriatone KK 100. The Yeti even received "great tone" compliments at the shows I used it at.

And BTW, never had any functionality/technical issues with either of my Ceriatones.

What are the differences in tone between the Yeti 100 and the KK 100? Are they very different? Is the KK just a two channel Yeti?

 

[sg guy]

-hmmmm,... So, as I scroll up, I see some of the very same name's that made it more than clear that CAMERON AMPS aren't that special, meh circiuts-(-WTF!!!- who the hell cares about circiuts?... How's it sound!!!)-transformers dont make a difference,hype, -UN-OBTANIUM- -(love this word, and use it as often as it fit's)- AND NOW!!!.. guess its Dave!

 

[Salos]

What are the differences in tone between the Yeti 100 and the KK 100? Are they very different? Is the KK just a two channel Yeti?

Yeti is more "Marshall," and the KK is a bit tighter and smoother, more saturated, and more modern. They are different enough that I wouldn't be opposed to owning both at the same time (if I had unlimited cash).

IMO, the KK is not a two-channel Yeti, but I haven't reviewed schematics side-by-side.

 

[Deanmachine]

Sounds amazing ...

 

[CrazyNutz]

sorry for the series of questions, but....

1. is it feasible to implement jose and aldrich in one amp?
of course, completely independent 2 pres in one amp can be possible theoretically.
but is it practically feasible, if the jose & aldrich pres share the 2 * 12AX7 tubes or the T-M-B eqs??

2. are there any amps with jose & aldrich in one amp?
for ex, CH 1 jose + CH 2 aldrich... or... CH 1 clean + CH 2 jose + CH 3 aldrich.

3. what is BE-100's topology?
my guess is...

BE channel : gain stage -> tone stack -> gain -> gain -> CF -> PI (jose with SAT switch on)
HBE channel : gain -> tone -> gain -> gain -> gain -> PI (aldrich?? i am not sure what HBE is...)

4. how much is BE-100's stock B+ voltage??
scottosan should be the expert ^^

1) Probably if you're willing to put in the effort

2) Don't know

3)
BE is: Gain stage -> Gain stage -> Gain pot -> Cathode Follower -> Tone stack -> Master Volume -> PI

HBE is: Gain Stage -> Gain stage -> Gain stage -> Gain pot -> Cathode Follower -> Tone stack -> Master Volume -> PI

The key to the BE is it has a 320k plate resistor on the first gain stage, however it it partially snubbed with a 500pf cap. So its plate -> 100k bypassed with 500pf -> 220k

This makes that gain stage get gnarly, but that 500pf snubber smooths out the highs.

There is also a 500pf bypassing the 100k plate resistor on the first part of the CF

The coupling between gain stages is 0.0022uf

4) The BE plate voltage is in the 470 to 480vdc area. It would be 500vdc but it uses UF4007 diodes in the rectifier and that causes a we bit of voltage drop.
the pre gets fed much like any classic 100w marshall (through a 8.2k and a 10k resistor in series) However Dave subbed the 8.2k with a 4.7k to compensate for the lower B+, and to probably make is sound less dull from all the snubbing.