Ceriatone Lightning vs. Dizzy 30??

[drewdraw]

Howdy folks! Going back and forth between what I should get, so maybe you can help me decide...

Do you know these? What do you like? What do you not like?

I want versatility and need moderate stage volume, but I can't blow the roof off. Would love to use this for smaller gigs, too. Thinking 1/2 power switch and higher impedance speakers. Thinking 2 x 10" combo for portability.

Any input is appreciated.

Best,
Andrew

[NFB]

Bump for a new member. Can anyone assist?

[ScioBro]

30 watts vs the 15 watts is a biggie.
My Lightnings are more than I ever need these days.
dizzy'll have the flexibility of 2 channels, half power, more clean headroom,
it'll get too loud easily

With the DZ-30, I assume you get an EF-86 channel?
hard tube to get (i.e., a good, NOS one) but it has
a cool fat sound....so thats a consideration.

definitely go with a head.
I like 2x12 cab. vs 2x10

portability vs non-small-cab sound.
don't go with a too small of a cab.

I'm using avatar 2x12 with H30 (30 W) and Celestion Blue (15 W)

Do me a big favor, buy a 2x10 cab. and put tone tubby alnico 10's in it (only 'bout $850 all said and done)
be my guinea pig nnn'kay?

all the best

[drewdraw]

thanks for the reply. Dont want this to be too cumbersome to haul around to small/medium gigs. Still want a grab and go amp and the lightning 2x10 size seems to ride that line. DZ30 seems to have more tonal variety, so that is the main draw, otherwise I'd go to the Lightning for its tone and size.

[dumbell78]

I had a Lightning made for me by Nik and cant imagine needing more volume for moderate situations. The Dizzy would be just to loud IMO. Go with the Lightning.

[drewdraw]

Thanks dumbell78. How is the tone coaxing outta the lightning? From what I've read, it sounds like kind of a one trick pony, albeit a great one.

Was thinking about taming the output on the DZ30 with 1/2 power, plus 4 ohms out on the amp into 8 or 16 ohm speaker(s).
Comments?

[khromo231]

The Dizzy is a very, very versatile amp in my opinion. The clean channel kills, the EF86 channel has great overdriven tones and can produce some very respectable cleaner and semi-clean tones as well. I have been using mine a lot, and I think it might be the one if I could only have one amp.

It sure is loud at 30 watts. The half power switch puts it right into the Lightning's range, so I don't consider that a disadvantage for the Dizzy. I think the Lightning is great at what it does, but its limited headroom and overall volume make it a less attractive choice for me.

I almost bought a second Dizzy when Nik had them on sale. I bought a Clark Beaufort Special instead, and for about $1,600 for both, I couldn't believe the coverage and great tone!

[drewdraw]

Thanks Khromo!
What cab/speaker configuration do you use? What do you recommend?

[khromo231]

Originally Posted by drewdraw

Thanks Khromo!
What cab/speaker configuration do you use? What do you recommend?

I built a head box for the chassis because I like using it with different speaker configurations, and it is not light in weight. I thought a combo with anything beyond one 12" would be heavier than I wanted to hump around.

I use it with one Eminence Tonespotter in a sealed cab quite a bit. It is way loud and sounds really sweet. Usually that is enough.

If I think it is going to get really loud, I use a vertically aligned 2x12 loaded with Celestion Vintage 30's or better yet Warehouse Guitar Speakers Veteran 30's. I call that latter rig my "anti-boutique amp". I put a Radial or Voodoo A/B/Y in front of it and it can cover almost anything, to a degree.

If I were going to do it over again, I would consider ordering the amp less the transformers and getting a local tech to install Heyboers or Mercury's. I'd check on how much that would cost first, but it would also reduce the purchase price and the shipping cost. It might be worthwhile to upgrade the power caps as well, but I'm not sure I could hear enough difference from either upgrade to make it worthwhile. The standard issue amps really sound great once you get used to the controls.

Good amps. I've never had a hiccup from any of the three I own. I have found that there are domestic alternatives that work very well for me among the lower powered amps (like the Deluxe), but the higher powered models cost about a third of what a U.S. built equivalent would cost, and since I'm very satisfied with Ceriatone's tone and quality, I don't have any problem when some corksniffer reminds me that my amp was built in Indonesia.

[dumbell78]

I ended up selling mine because I went with the attenuator/head configuration at the end. My Lightning was a 1x12 combo, its a great amp to be honest and think will work great for you. I did use TDS tranny's and a Scumback M75 speaker for the Lightning and it was perfect for a grab and go small/medium type gig setting. I wouldnt call a Lighting clone a one trick pony type of amp. Cleans were great, and cranked its just as good.

Originally Posted by dumbell78

I had a Lightning made for me by Nik and cant imagine needing more volume for moderate situations. The Dizzy would be just to loud IMO. Go with the Lightning.

[NFB]

Andrew,

What is the verdict?

[drewdraw]

Man, tough call here-- thanks for all of the input, guys.
Gonna need to talk to you, Paul, one more time. I think I will soon have the funds freed up for this project....
If y'all have any more thoughts, please keep them coming-- I've valued them all.
Best,
Andrew

[Gasp100]

Someone had a MINT Dizzy 30 on here a few weeks back for less than $950 shipped / paypald. I was looking at that one but determine even with a great MV (does it have one) it would be WAY overkill for my needs.
There is a few great YouTube vids of the Dizzy 30 as well as the Lightning clone, I think you can find links off of the Ceriatone Forum.

[Sigmund]

A head/cab config would be a better choice for portability IMO, a DC-30 with 2x10 would be really, really heavy.

[drewdraw]

Thanks again for all of the input. Now I'm thinking 1x12 combo-- portability, and the option of having a 16 ohm speaker that I can use at 4/8/16 levels.

Any speaker recommendations? I've heard great things about the Scumback 12H75. I also already own a G1265 and a Red Fang.
Thoughts?