Amplifiers:

Ceriatone Overtone - $1150 + ~$200 shipping (eesh)

Dumble style amplifier with so many things inside it.  Dumbles have a great signature distortion where it has a smooth overdrive.  Right now the Ceriatone is being produced by a guy named Nik in Malaysia, who builds many decent clones ranging from Marshalls to Voxes.  You can buy the components part for part from him and build the amplifier yourself as he has provided a layout of the build.  Relatively cheap for a dumble clone + versatility (Dumbles costs thousands more), and has many mod tweaks as well.  It’s just  hard to find someone who owns one around here to hear it in person.  I’ve been looking after this thing for a while now.  I may pick one up when I get a job…. maybe.

Two Rock Custom Reverb – MSRP: $5500 at 50watts / $6000 at 100watts.  (eeeeeeeeeesh)

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  • Single channel, SS Rectifier, 2 X 6L6, 50 watts or 4 X 6L6, 100 watts.
  • 100 watt-50/100 watt switch
  • 50 watt- class A/AB (22/50 watt)switch
  • Footswitchable FET preamp stage with level control, treble, middle, bass, bright, mid, deep, dual EQ settings, gain and master, contour control. 4, 8, 16 ohm output
  • Triple function LED footswitch for FET, tone bypass and Reverb Defeat
  • 3 way preamp(negative) feedback switch, and 3 way output section(negative) feedback switch
  • Dimensions: 20" L x 10" D x 12" H / Weight: 40 Lbs for 50 watt and 48 Lbs for 100 watt.

Went with a friend to Santa Cruz to check these out.  This thing blew me away.  My presumptions were that it does nice fender cleans.  Well, it’s way more than that.  The distortion channel was fantastic; it was warm and rich with a humbucker guitar, and can punch the fuck out of you.  The overdrive on it was fantastic on a single coil as well.  This amplifier is pretty much the production version of a John Mayer Signature amplifier.  There’s really so many voicings you can get out of this amplifier.  It’s on my dream amplifier list for now.

Fender Super Reverb - MSRP: $1,800.00  (pewp)

Fantastic 45-watt combo holding 4x10 inch speakers. Uses two 6L6 output tubes, four 12AX7  preamp tubes, and Jensen P10R speakers. It sounds very bright and clean.  Pretty much transparent sounding as well.  It sounded incredibly nice with Custom Shop ‘69 pickups.  It also can break up very well.  I’ve been thinking about building this one from scratch with $800 bucks worth of parts.  I have to get going on other little projects first before i consider something of this magnitude.

Acoustic Guitars:

BR-143  - List: $895  My target price: $550

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  • Sitka Spruce top.
  • Mahogany back and sides.
  • Indian Rosewood  fingerboard, bridge, and bridgeplate.
  • “000” auditorium body, joining the neck to the body at the 14th fret. 
  • 1 11/16” nut.
  • Scale Length of 25.5”

According to Maury’s Music, this is a decent comparison to the Martin OM-18V, which lists for $3199 at Ederly Instruments.  Mahogany gives a more “demanding” tone, which jumps out a bit more.  The note separation, or the clarity or distinction of the notes when strumming a chord, is more pronounced than rosewood.   It is brighter, and may sound dry or “woody”.  Good for lead guitar playing. 

BR-163 – List: $995.  My target price: $669

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  • Sitka Spruce top.
  • Indian Rosewood back and sides.
  • Herringbone top inlay and back center stripe.
  • White Binding.
  • Rosewood  fingerboard, bridge, and bridgeplate.
  • “000” auditorium body, joining the neck to the body at the 14th fret. 
  • 1 11/16” nut.
  • Scale Length of 25.5”

This one is a decent comparison to the Martin OM-28V.  Basically the same thing as above, but built with Indian Rosewood and has a really nice binding white and decoration around the body.  It sounds fuller, mellower, and has piano-like overtones.  However, it is darker and could sound “muddy” at times.  Rosewood is good for accompaniment for vocals.

I’m looking forward to getting the acoustic guitar first (after I figure out which one I like most).  As of right now, I still don’t really have an amplifier ( I’m playing off of a small Orange Crush 30r and my computer through an interface similar to this).  Going to keep tone searching.

K brb i’ll bbl.