Ceriatone Centura Teardown! See what's inside!

[@2tallB]

If you'd like to bypass the step of putting test sockets in to try various diodes, just get some that will definitely improve the Centura - ITT germanium diodes. I've done it, sounds much better - less mushy. Analog Man does the same thing, he does an upgrade on the Centura and uses a different diode but said to me that either would work well. (This refers to people watching, not you Joe, because clearly you wanted to test a few)

[@Jimbodiddley1]

Great tear-down. I'd be curious to see a tear-down of the JRAD Archer/Ikon.

[@danielcgomez]

last I heard Ceriatone are north of 8000 Centuras sold. I got mine (as a kit) back in 2017, it is Serial # 317K. I really love the Klon for what it does!

[@koonsickgreen6272]

dude.. I appreciate this vid

[@ivonsmith4255]

I just got an old Ceriatone Centura - from Malaysiaa - I live in Malaysia too, its great. I also got an old 1994 Mesa Boogie V Twin valve OD pedal - have you done a teardown of one of them? BTW Ceriatone is a Malay word for Happy/Joyful tone and is pronounced "Cherry-a-tone" 🙂- you probably know they make amazing affordable amp clones too of all the best amps all by hand in a small workshop

[@petercornell2002]

Great vid, many thanks Joe. Peter

[@graybenchelec]

Thank you!

[@TedSchoenling]

you can push the insides out of the sockets too.. but I prefer doing 2x2... a little painters tape or blue tack holds the sockets still while you solder.. takes no time at all

[@DefconMaster]

I know it's just a Klon clone, but I'll be damned if they didn't go the extra mile with that enclosure! Wish they weren't so expensive though (the enclosures themselves that is, the complete pedals aren't really that pricey in the grand scheme of things but I'd love to get some Klon enclosures to build non-Klon things into if they weren't over $100 each)

[@ileutur6863]

Amazing videos, you deserve thousands more subs. Can you get your hands on a Darkglass pedal in the future? I'm really interested what their drives are based on and what their secret sauce is for making the bass cut and saturate so nicely.

[@graybenchelec]

I'll put it on the list. You might also go look at discussions on the DIY forums (DIYSB, FSB) where you can look at schematics. I don't go too deep into circuit design for the teardowns. Thanks!

[@ileutur6863]

@@graybenchelec I have done some forum diving, but most of the discussion is usually around just cloning the designs or fixing common design flaws. From my limited knowledge all I see is that its some kind of CMOS clipping

[@StompboxMods]

I replaced the original diodes inside the Centura with some black line diodes. Same style that is in my KTR. The gain is now practically identical to what is in my KTR! Much closer to the real Klon tone. One thing I’ve noticed however is that the KTR is a little more compressed and thicker in tone as opposed to the Centura? Just wondered, does the Centura obtain the same op amps as the KTR? Are there any resistor mods perhaps to thicken up the tone?

[@pontiaclemansgt]

where did you source your diodes?

[@CC-te5zf]

698 - yes, learned that in the diode video! Cool! I think I'll include that in some when I build my clone - after all, it'll be based on that schematic.

[@pickledblues]

I’d really love to see some new classics. Fulltone OCD, Timmy, Nobels, Zvex Fuzz Factory.

[@jamesincharlotte]

I cut out the diode on my ocd V4 made its sound so much better !!

[@MiguelHernandez-rb8mm]

Really nice videos, i´ve been learning a couple things...maybe some fulltones?...i´ve got a couple and they are really well made...

[@graybenchelec]

Noted! Thank you

[@the92project]

Love my centura.

[@patrickhealy2008]

698 no clue, S698 (the 698th silver Klon) was the Chittum schematic Klon

[@graybenchelec]

Yep, haha what're the chances?

[@StompboxMods]

As for the original diodes in the Centura, I’m assuming they have different forward voltage than say for example, the ITT diodes? This stuff is fascinating!

[@graybenchelec]

Yes, and also a different Vf curve due to reverse leakage. Check out the google doc link on the curve tracing video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/infOdKemgNaKZpI&

[@StompboxMods]

@@graybenchelec yes I watched that video earlier and I was surprised to see how close the ITT diodes are to the actual diodes in the “real” Klon you tested. Fraction of a fraction apart! Did you test the Ceriatone diodes in that VF curve test? I wasn’t sure if that brand was apart of the test? None the less, these videos have been so fun and valuable to learn from. This all started when my brother sent me a sound comparison video between a real Klon and a modified Ceriatone Klon clone with ITT diodes. After the guy added them into the Ceriatone- it was damn near identical to the real Klon in terms of gain and tone. Wild!

[@graybenchelec]

​@@StompboxMods I didn't test the ceriatone diodes in the video, but I did test them afterward and added their data sets to the spreadsheet.

[@StompboxMods]

@@graybenchelec where do I get the spreadsheet? Just out of curiosity.

[@graybenchelec]

@@StompboxMods Here you go docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1t3mn81IjbXSiTY3boMftn1eXdgcMHT4lpY00tbsXAaE/edit#gid=365975510

[@markblance9639]

Klon 698 was the pedal traced and "kloned" by all the other pedal manufacturers including Ceriatone. So all klones are"voiced" as per the 698 and may not be true to all the other actual Klons.

[@graybenchelec]

True! although S698 was verified against KTRs, so anything based off Martin's schematic is also indirectly based on KTRs, at least up until recently.

[@markblance9639]

@@graybenchelec Cool, that I wasnt aware of. Thank you. 👍

[@josephkatusich2551]

Hello! Great mod! Would you be willing to do this mod on my Centura? Wouldvlove to get it as close to a Klon as possible. Thoughts?

[@graybenchelec]

Ah sorry, I'm not taking any outside work right now. I would reach out to a repairperson in your area, it's a relatively simple job. Good luck!

[@deaner6944]

You ROCK!! :-)

[@mca1960]

Buy a Maxon OD820, and you have a really good clone.

[@jimismith6648]

Can you do an episode on the new Death By Audio unit, Germanium Filter? I’d love to see what they’ve done with the Russian transistors to give it the DBA flavour

[@graybenchelec]

Stay tuned ;)

[@jimismith6648]

@@graybenchelec omg :D

[@MYGAS21]

Cool! .....I ΤΗΙΝΚ it would be interesting to tear down one of those cheap Chinese KLON clones.

[@kierenmoore3236]

Malaysian

[@ToneCraftFX]

Great video and mod ideas. How popular is this mod? FYI - I just purchased this pedal from you… so stoked!

[@graybenchelec]

Putting in sockets for fragile components is almost always a good idea. Thank you!

[@fraenkiboii]

What are you using to keep comps in place while soldering? blue tack? rodico?

[@graybenchelec]

yep poster tack!

[@CannonPedalCo]

@@graybenchelecthis is genius

[@Stu66orn]

Hi! What are the nippers you used on socket pin removal?

[@graybenchelec]

They're generally referred to as "end cutters". These specifically are Xcelite 166SEB, they were my dad's from his days working for Lockeed Martin.

[@Stu66orn]

@@graybenchelec Could you please find something very similar in your online shop like amazon? With that name I don't find exatclt like theese that look like fret puller

[@graybenchelec]

@@Stu66orn I don't see anything either with a quick search. You can probably use regular nippers as long as the jaws are slim enough.

[@Stu66orn]

@@graybenchelec I found a name for this it's a transverse end cutter. Can be used as fret puller!😁

[@geezberry8889]

Nik shoulda gooped it that woulda been hysterical

[@w1zard0f0h]

I think it would be funny if the Centura had all that black goo in it.

[@worldwide_will]

Awesome video! It'll be great if you could do the Cornerstone Gladio.

[@bigstick5278]

Not much to do mods with as it 98% surface mounted components.

[@mca1960]

Did I see right ? No rubber feet for a sure stand ? And a 1/8" connector for voltage supply ? Bad, bad, bad, I would say.

[@GriffinJenningsMusic]

the original klon had an 8th inch jack

[@sportyrider72]

I bet that enclosure is milled!

[@Wolf_K]

Klon Klowns like to pretend that Klones aren’t real Klons. ;) PSA: Joe didn’t install the Russian diodes backwards, the Russians mark them backwards compared to the US.

[@ToneCraftFX]

I believe as long as one diode is in one direction and the other the opposite direction, it should t matter.

[@Wolf_K]

@@ToneCraftFX With a pair, you would be correct.

[@vl292]

Can you please share the calculation to show your time is more precious than the part you were talking about? It's not too much hassle to solder on just one of those so I think that just sounds arrogant.

[@hekakain4108]

Hi, where can I get those base plate screws from and what size are they? I only ask as I've just received my Centura which is perfect except for the machine screw...the ones that it came with are pozi screws. Cheers.

[@graybenchelec]

No idea, you'd have to ask ceriatone

[@2tallB]

2 screws on back: Flat head machine screw, length = 1/2”, thread =1/4”-20 (course), I would get stainless, and I think a Philips screw looks better.