Ceriatone Molecular

[lespaul6]

Have you guys heard this new Atomica based model? I had two plexi reissues that Dave modded for me to the Atomica specs and they sounded really good... not sure why I sold them but whatever.

The only cons for me with ceriatone is the generic headbox and those transformers they use (I'm told they are OK but still, suspect to me)

Clip captures some things I like and could use:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhsz_48d-MU&t=818s

 

[legend71]

Amp sounds great. I wish Nic would clone a Bogner XTC ha

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

I think it sounds amazing.. always liked the sound of the atomica limited runs they did a few years back. Really had that Marshall bark and crunch plus edgier gain. Ceriatone as usual doing some great stuff.

 

[DeathbyButterslax]

Video sounds great, for 1200 a molecular 50 sounds like a wicked deal. I also like sound of the added “girth” knob. I think I found my next amp purchase

 

[FourT6and2]

Sounds good. From the looks of the layout diagram it's solid.

 

[DeathbyButterslax]

Sounds good. From the looks of the layout diagram it's solid.

Glad to have your opinion on it, actually makes me more assured

 

[Racerxrated]

Have you guys heard this new Atomica based model? I had two plexi reissues that Dave modded for me to the Atomica specs and they sounded really good... not sure why I sold them but whatever.

The only cons for me with ceriatone is the generic headbox and those transformers they use (I'm told they are OK but still, suspect to me)

Clip captures some things I like and could use:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhsz_48d-MU&t=818s

Martin, make sure you order one WITHOUT the transformers..they are shit. Played one gig with one and the next day POOF blowing fuses. PT went south. Put a pair of classic tones in, better tone and better mids.

 

[lespaul6]

Have you guys heard this new Atomica based model? I had two plexi reissues that Dave modded for me to the Atomica specs and they sounded really good... not sure why I sold them but whatever.

The only cons for me with ceriatone is the generic headbox and those transformers they use (I'm told they are OK but still, suspect to me)

Clip captures some things I like and could use:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhsz_48d-MU&t=818s

Martin, make sure you order one WITHOUT the transformers..they are shit. Played one gig with one and the next day POOF blowing fuses. PT went south. Put a pair of classic tones in, better tone and better mids.

Good info... thanks for the heads up. I have not placed an order.... might wait for a used one to show up going forward. I honestly dont need another amp... but hey

 

[Red_Label]

Had three Ceris and gigged at least two of them. No blown trannies and they sounded great. Still kinda miss my Chup.

In regards to the wish that Nick would clone an XTC... does anyone know why he hasn't? Too complicated? He seems to have been able to clone most other great amps. Wonder if there's a Friedman Deluxe BE in the works? There's more going-on there than there ever was with the XTC. Though I guess there was a lot going-on with the XTCs -- took me weeks to dial the tones in that I was looking for. As opposed to the Friedman stuff which was always just set it on ANY setting and forget it because it sounded awesome no matter what you I with the knobs.

 

[paulyc]

I have a King Kong, no transformer issues here either. But my REAL Atomica has Classic Tones in it and it’s noisy.

 

[FourT6and2]

In regards to the wish that Nick would clone an XTC... does anyone know why he hasn't? Too complicated?

Because nobody has posted a good XTC schematic to the forums on which he lurks.

 

[RedB4Black]

I had a Chupacabra with upgraded Merren transformers. Sounded really good

http://www.merrenaudio.com/

 

[scottosan]

Even though the entire schematics are out there, the first stage is not correct. Also looks like he lifted the depth and NFB from the BE50 deluxe with some variable cap values. Being that the Brad era Atomica (fine amp) is not a Cameron, but rather Dave's take on the Cameron, this is simply one person's take of another person's take of an amp. Don't expect Cameron tones. This looks like an amp that we'd have to watch the next Jerry Springer show to see who the father is.

 

[lespaul6]

Even though the entire schematics are out there, the first stage is not correct. Also looks like he lifted the depth and NFB from the BE50 deluxe with some variable cap values. Being that the Brad era Atomica (fine amp) is not a Cameron, but rather Dave's take on the Cameron, this is simply one person's take of another person's take of an amp. Don't expect Cameron tones. This looks like an amp that we'd have to watch the next Jerry Springer show to see who the father is.

Hey could you point out the first stage differences more specifically and how these differences might affect what you hear? would love to nail that down a little closer

 

[Racerxrated]

I have a King Kong, no transformer issues here either. But my REAL Atomica has Classic Tones in it and it’s noisy.

The amp I had was a new Ceriatone 800 that the owner(former RTer that doesn't post anymore, he was one of the originals from way back) bought new and sent it to Fortin for a Cali mod. It did sound good until it died. Once the Classictones were in it was LESS noisy and had real Marshall mids, unlike the Ceriatone mids that were just not the same...not bad but missing something. This amp was the first transaction I ever did related to Rigtalk, as I was Ebaying a lot with amps and found it there...chatted with the seller and started stalking this site. This was way back in 2010. I sold the amp soon after I replaced both transformers and the buyer friggin LOVED it.
There are a few more examples of Ceriatone transformers dying; I seem to remember finding some posts over on TGP long ago. Either way Nik builds a nice amp at a nice price; you can save some cash by ordering them without transformers and upgrading for a better tone/reliability.

 

[napalmdeath]

I have a King Kong, no transformer issues here either. But my REAL Atomica has Classic Tones in it and it’s noisy.

The amp I had was a new Ceriatone 800 that the owner(former RTer that doesn't post anymore, he was one of the originals from way back) bought new and sent it to Fortin for a Cali mod. It did sound good until it died. Once the Classictones were in it was LESS noisy and had real Marshall mids, unlike the Ceriatone mids that were just not the same...not bad but missing something. This amp was the first transaction I ever did related to Rigtalk, as I was Ebaying a lot with amps and found it there...chatted with the seller and started stalking this site. This was way back in 2010. I sold the amp soon after I replaced both transformers and the buyer friggin LOVED it.
There are a few more examples of Ceriatone transformers dying; I seem to remember finding some posts over on TGP long ago. Either way Nik builds a nice amp at a nice price; you can save some cash by ordering them without transformers and upgrading for a better tone/reliability.

There's posts of transformers dying on every amp's forum, if you look hard enough.

I had no issues with the Yeti I had. No qualms with gigging wit it. Are there better transformers out there? Sure. But, everyone acts like buying a Ceriatone will have transformer trouble, and its simply not the case.

 

[Racerxrated]

I have a King Kong, no transformer issues here either. But my REAL Atomica has Classic Tones in it and it’s noisy.

The amp I had was a new Ceriatone 800 that the owner(former RTer that doesn't post anymore, he was one of the originals from way back) bought new and sent it to Fortin for a Cali mod. It did sound good until it died. Once the Classictones were in it was LESS noisy and had real Marshall mids, unlike the Ceriatone mids that were just not the same...not bad but missing something. This amp was the first transaction I ever did related to Rigtalk, as I was Ebaying a lot with amps and found it there...chatted with the seller and started stalking this site. This was way back in 2010. I sold the amp soon after I replaced both transformers and the buyer friggin LOVED it.
There are a few more examples of Ceriatone transformers dying; I seem to remember finding some posts over on TGP long ago. Either way Nik builds a nice amp at a nice price; you can save some cash by ordering them without transformers and upgrading for a better tone/reliability.

There's posts of transformers dying on every amp's forum, if you look hard enough.

I had no issues with the Yeti I had. No qualms with gigging wit it. Are there better transformers out there? Sure. But, everyone acts like buying a Ceriatone will have transformer trouble, and its simply not the case.

Sure, there are many Ceriatone transformers going strong today after years of use. I'm not saying they are ALL bad; but my experience wasn't good. I honestly can't think of any other amp manufacturer that has had a transformer go bad so soon though. I think it's important to post this as it might save someone else some cash and trouble. But even a Honda/Toyota can be a lemon from time to time. It happens.

 

[Zado]

I have a King Kong, no transformer issues here either. But my REAL Atomica has Classic Tones in it and it’s noisy.

The amp I had was a new Ceriatone 800 that the owner(former RTer that doesn't post anymore, he was one of the originals from way back) bought new and sent it to Fortin for a Cali mod. It did sound good until it died. Once the Classictones were in it was LESS noisy and had real Marshall mids, unlike the Ceriatone mids that were just not the same...not bad but missing something. This amp was the first transaction I ever did related to Rigtalk, as I was Ebaying a lot with amps and found it there...chatted with the seller and started stalking this site. This was way back in 2010. I sold the amp soon after I replaced both transformers and the buyer friggin LOVED it.
There are a few more examples of Ceriatone transformers dying; I seem to remember finding some posts over on TGP long ago. Either way Nik builds a nice amp at a nice price; you can save some cash by ordering them without transformers and upgrading for a better tone/reliability.

There's posts of transformers dying on every amp's forum, if you look hard enough.

I had no issues with the Yeti I had. No qualms with gigging wit it. Are there better transformers out there? Sure. But, everyone acts like buying a Ceriatone will have transformer trouble, and its simply not the case.

Iirc It was a rumor born some years ago in a certain forum (likely boutique builder forum) which spread such rumor and in a couple of years everyone with a Ceriatone had their trafos failing with no exception, according to sources Tunguska event was caused by a Ceriatone amp.

 

[fusedbrain]

There's posts of transformers dying on every amp's forum, if you look hard enough.

I had no issues with the Yeti I had. No qualms with gigging wit it. Are there better transformers out there? Sure. But, everyone acts like buying a Ceriatone will have transformer trouble, and its simply not the case.

I've recommended people buy the Ceriatone amps from Nik without the transformers, but the reasons are 1) I think the ClassicTone 50watt OPT is the best sounding 50watt OPT I've heard for a Marshall-style build, and 2) you will save a pile of money on the shipping from Malaysia that offsets the cost of the transformers. I also feel like the lighter chassis package sans the iron has a better chance of making it to my house in one piece and not get destroyed by the shipping gorillas.
I've never personally had any issues with Ceriatone iron reliability.
And here's the breakdown on the costs:
Molecular amp - Full working chassis without tubes and head cabinet - $920USD 21kg ( to keep this apples to apples, I'm using this option for the full working amp, which is also the cheapest option for a full working amp) .
Package 1 with assembly - $720USD 8kg. same as above without the iron.
ClassicTone Plexi Transformer package with upgraded laydown power transformer - $208 USD
So far, you've spent an extra $8 for the Classictone iron, but now lets look at shipping:
Cheapest option for 21kg from Malaysia to Canada - $202 USD
Cheapest option for 8kg = $73 USD
So my net cost is $121 USD LESS with the Classictone iron, with the understanding I have to do the instal of the iron. That's a big win for me personally. If ya can't do the work yourself, then factor that in to the equation.
YMMV

 

[FourT6and2]

If you're gonna install iron yourself, you might as well buy it as a kit and just build the entire amp. More fun that way and you learn more in the process.