Ceriatone 'Plexi 50w' amp
- Thread starter wntbtw
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the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Ceriatone 'Plexi 50w' amp
A year or so ago I played a Nik built Ceriatone JTM-45 and was more than just impressed with it.
A year or so ago I played a Nik built Ceriatone JTM-45 and was more than just impressed with it.
wntbtw
New member
Re: Ceriatone 'Plexi 50w' amp
Thanks! Yeah if I order one, I will definitely have Nik build it!
I`m not too familiar w/ the JTM-45--how does it compare 'sonically' to a JMP 50w '1987'?
Thanks! Yeah if I order one, I will definitely have Nik build it!
I`m not too familiar w/ the JTM-45--how does it compare 'sonically' to a JMP 50w '1987'?
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: Ceriatone 'Plexi 50w' amp
A friend of mine has the Dumble clone and the JTM45 clone. I think they are VERY impressive for the money!
A friend of mine has the Dumble clone and the JTM45 clone. I think they are VERY impressive for the money!
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Ceriatone 'Plexi 50w' amp
a JTM-45 will have a more robust bottom as well as a glassier top end, less headroom, more compression where the Plexi 50 will be more aggressive, more mid heavy (mostly in the upper mids) slightly tighter and a little louder.
a JTM-45 will have a more robust bottom as well as a glassier top end, less headroom, more compression where the Plexi 50 will be more aggressive, more mid heavy (mostly in the upper mids) slightly tighter and a little louder.
wntbtw
New member
Re: Ceriatone 'Plexi 50w' amp
Hmmm--interesting! Thanks for your explanation.
How does a JMP 50w ['1987'] compare 'sonically' to a early JCM 800 50w '2204'? I`m thinking that the JCM 800 has more distortion and also a 'different' type of distortion compared to the JMP 50w.
I ask this because I once had a brand new `73 JMP 50w that sounded great and now have the 1x12 combo version of the '2204' [vertical inputs--#4010]--it too is a nice sounding amp, but I think that I`d like another 50w JMP and i`ve heard only great things about Ceriatone`s version of it!
Thanks for your help.
Hmmm--interesting! Thanks for your explanation.
How does a JMP 50w ['1987'] compare 'sonically' to a early JCM 800 50w '2204'? I`m thinking that the JCM 800 has more distortion and also a 'different' type of distortion compared to the JMP 50w.
I ask this because I once had a brand new `73 JMP 50w that sounded great and now have the 1x12 combo version of the '2204' [vertical inputs--#4010]--it too is a nice sounding amp, but I think that I`d like another 50w JMP and i`ve heard only great things about Ceriatone`s version of it!
Thanks for your help.
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Ceriatone 'Plexi 50w' amp
The earliest 2203's and 2204's were more or less JMP 50's and 100's.
Look at it like this, starting wiht the JTM-45's going through Plexi';s, JMP's and then JCM 800...each time the amps got more aggressive, gainer and the EQ shifted more towardds the upper side of the midrange and by the time of the 800's they have the habit of bing a little thin and brittle on the top end but that can be changed.
This is a VERY general statement but as a general rule it gives you the idea.
If you liked the JMP go with the JMP...I think you'll find the Ceriatone version quite nice.
The earliest 2203's and 2204's were more or less JMP 50's and 100's.
Look at it like this, starting wiht the JTM-45's going through Plexi';s, JMP's and then JCM 800...each time the amps got more aggressive, gainer and the EQ shifted more towardds the upper side of the midrange and by the time of the 800's they have the habit of bing a little thin and brittle on the top end but that can be changed.
This is a VERY general statement but as a general rule it gives you the idea.
If you liked the JMP go with the JMP...I think you'll find the Ceriatone version quite nice.
Re: Ceriatone 'Plexi 50w' amp
have owned exactly both amps, a marshall 2204 and a ceriatone plexi 1987 clone (still own the ceriatone plexi 1987) here's my take, ymmv .....the plexi has less gain, a bit brighter , both have been run thru the same cab 4x12 g12-65 ..... the plexi has less gain, ergo , it can maintain a slight edge on the clean sound ....the ceriatone has been upgraded w/ sozo caps and a MM output tranny, the 2204 had the sozo caps ...i kept the ceriatone plexi
have owned exactly both amps, a marshall 2204 and a ceriatone plexi 1987 clone (still own the ceriatone plexi 1987) here's my take, ymmv .....the plexi has less gain, a bit brighter , both have been run thru the same cab 4x12 g12-65 ..... the plexi has less gain, ergo , it can maintain a slight edge on the clean sound ....the ceriatone has been upgraded w/ sozo caps and a MM output tranny, the 2204 had the sozo caps ...i kept the ceriatone plexi
wntbtw
New member
Re: Ceriatone 'Plexi 50w' amp
Thanks very much for your detailed explanations--that sounds like a nice accurate, concise description and comparison of the different eras of classic Marshall amps. My `83 1x12 JCM 800 '2204' combo [#4010] is nice but alittle too distorted compared to the sound and tone of the `73 JMP 50w that i bought brand new in `74 as I remember it. BTW I really miss that amp but it had to be 'turned up' to at least '4' to sound it`s best, but man! did it sound sweet!
I will probably order the Ceriatone model. I`ve exchanged a few emails with Nik--like everyone says, he`s a very nice guy! i`m just not sure about adding the PPIMV as well as the '1/2 power switch'--both of those options sound really interesting to me!
Thanks again for your help.
Thanks very much for your detailed explanations--that sounds like a nice accurate, concise description and comparison of the different eras of classic Marshall amps. My `83 1x12 JCM 800 '2204' combo [#4010] is nice but alittle too distorted compared to the sound and tone of the `73 JMP 50w that i bought brand new in `74 as I remember it. BTW I really miss that amp but it had to be 'turned up' to at least '4' to sound it`s best, but man! did it sound sweet!
I will probably order the Ceriatone model. I`ve exchanged a few emails with Nik--like everyone says, he`s a very nice guy! i`m just not sure about adding the PPIMV as well as the '1/2 power switch'--both of those options sound really interesting to me!
Thanks again for your help.
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Ceriatone 'Plexi 50w' amp
Im not sure how Nik does his half power switch but I know that it can;t hurt and FWIW, almost everybody I know that buys a 50 or 100 watt NON Master Volume amp wishes it had a master at least once, get both and then you'll know that you'll be able to use the amp in almost all playing situations...
Im not sure how Nik does his half power switch but I know that it can;t hurt and FWIW, almost everybody I know that buys a 50 or 100 watt NON Master Volume amp wishes it had a master at least once, get both and then you'll know that you'll be able to use the amp in almost all playing situations...
wntbtw
New member
Re: Ceriatone 'Plexi 50w' amp
Thanks! Wow--that says alot for the Ceriatone 'Plexi 50'! I have heard nothing but great things about this particular Ceriatone amp, the Ceriatone company and their workmanship, as well as Nik himself.
Thank you very much for your help.
Thanks! Wow--that says alot for the Ceriatone 'Plexi 50'! I have heard nothing but great things about this particular Ceriatone amp, the Ceriatone company and their workmanship, as well as Nik himself.
Thank you very much for your help.
xxxplorer
New member
Re: Ceriatone 'Plexi 50w' amp
I have heard a Ceriatone... very nice amps. Not just for the money either. I have a 'real' JCM800 and I do admit mine is REALLY warm compared to some... and I like mine better than the ceriatone version I played... but I like the ceriatone better than the new 800 if that makes sense?
I have heard a Ceriatone... very nice amps. Not just for the money either. I have a 'real' JCM800 and I do admit mine is REALLY warm compared to some... and I like mine better than the ceriatone version I played... but I like the ceriatone better than the new 800 if that makes sense?
Lake Placid Blues
New member
Re: Ceriatone 'Plexi 50w' amp
Most likely the 1/2 power option is obtained through pentode to triode switching. The good thing about this method is that by reconfiguring the output tubes so that three elements are active instead of five you don't mess with the voltages and the bias. The tone is a little darker but it allows you to nudge those volume knobs just a little bit higher. This can be the difference between being able to get the amp into the "sweet spot" or not at a gig. Pentode to triode switching remains relatively unknown mainly because high quality attenuators are available these days. Just applying a 3db attenuation accomplishes a 1/2 power reduction in effect, and it retains the brighter more aggressive response of pentode operation.
I think I would rather use an attenuator as oppossed to PPIMV on a 4 input amp, but being able to start out in triode before attenuation could be a nice option.
Most likely the 1/2 power option is obtained through pentode to triode switching. The good thing about this method is that by reconfiguring the output tubes so that three elements are active instead of five you don't mess with the voltages and the bias. The tone is a little darker but it allows you to nudge those volume knobs just a little bit higher. This can be the difference between being able to get the amp into the "sweet spot" or not at a gig. Pentode to triode switching remains relatively unknown mainly because high quality attenuators are available these days. Just applying a 3db attenuation accomplishes a 1/2 power reduction in effect, and it retains the brighter more aggressive response of pentode operation.
I think I would rather use an attenuator as oppossed to PPIMV on a 4 input amp, but being able to start out in triode before attenuation could be a nice option.