Ceriatone 36WRP

tbguitar55 · Post by **tbguitar55** » Sun 08/19/07 9:14 am

Hi, I'm new to this forum, and new to the Ceriatone 36W RP. I bought one recently used through TGP, and have some questios about the amp that I hope you'll be able to enlighten me on.

Nik referenced the 18W Forums and told me the RP was a design of one of the forumites here, Richie.

I'd like to know if there are any schematics for the amp here, and if there's any specific areas I should look at or search for info specific to this Nik-built amp.

Also, I'd like some recommendations on how to tuse the amplifier - eg. I can only seem to use it in 18W configuration with the HALF W switch, as it's just too loud, and then it's still too loud, and only seems to get the Marshall sound when the Master Volume is cranked all the way, and the Main Gain is set to about 2 O'clock! I'm considering a THD Hot Plate, but it seems like the Master volume alone should allow me to get decent gain/od/distrortion at somewhat reasonable bedroom levels? I'm driving a Mojo 2x12 loaded with Celestion VIntage 30's. I've been using Mesa amps since 1979, so maybe I'm way off on that last assumption?

I'd also like to find more information specific to mods, changes, setup, etc.. regarding this particular Ceriatone amp. It seems very well made, and souds great LOUD, but I need to reel it in quite a bit for normal everyday use... any suggestions?

Thanks for all of your help in advance, and my apologies if all of these issues have been addressed elsewhere - chalk it up to newbie syndrome!

Boo · Post by **Boo** » Sun 08/19/07 10:06 am

TBG55,

18 and 36watt amps are definitely not bedroom type amps. MV's and attenuators are of great help in taming the volume. The price you pay for using either is that some tone is sacrificed/changed. Some have smaller effect on tone change than others. My 18/36 is indeed Loud as hell on either 18 or 36 setting. However, I am in a position that I can open it up at will so I barely use my MV and never use an attenuater. Maybe some of the guys on here with actual attenuator experience use will chime in and help you out with their recommendations. Good luck....

dartanion · Post by **dartanion** » Sun 08/19/07 11:59 am

Get at attenuator if you want to use it a lower volumes yet still get the Marshall crunch out of it. I use am attenuator almost all the time with my 18watters as they are PLENTY loud for most situations.

blaren · Post by **blaren** » Sat 09/01/07 5:21 pm

as was said...these are NOT bedroom amps. One reason the 18s are popular is because they're just the right volume for smaller clubs and bars. In 36W they have more headroom and woomph and can handle all but the largest venues. I mean I can use mine in whatever size venue...I mic it but it IS nice to have it in 36W and cranked. Not gonna happen in a small bar....OR my bedroom.
I usually always keep mine in 36W and hit it with a tube screamer.....EXCEPT in tiny bars, where it's in 18W with the TS.

tbguitar55 · Post by **tbguitar55** » Sat 09/01/07 7:15 pm

I've settled in a bot more with the amp, and have spoken with Nik a few times to get some more background on it. It appears to be only a year old (June 2006) and I'm the third owner. I did have some further questions though, and hope that some of you can pitch in?

What can you guys tell me about revisions to the circuit, or updates that might make a difference?

And, yeah, I did buy a THD 4ohm Hot Plate and LOVE what it allows me to donow - can' twait to take this out and open her up without the attenuator...

Thanks for the feedback!

Post by **zaphod_phil** » Mon 09/03/07 6:51 am

Richie is one of the founding members of the 18W group and also an admin on this site, who posts under the handle of Plexi. He came up with the original TMB preamp design, which has a higher gain Plexi-ish preamp channel, plus a regular 18Wish channel, on an 18W power stage - or a 36W power stage in this case. However, there are so many variations of Richie's TMB preamp around, that it's hard to know what exactly you've got there and how best to tweak it. If there's a schematic for this particular version that Nik could share, we might be able to take it further.

tbguitar55 · Post by **tbguitar55** » Mon 09/03/07 8:58 am

I've asked Nik several times for a schematic, and he insists that there is only the layout from his site. I could probably reverse-engineer the thing, but figure in the interest of saving that effort, I'd ask around.

I did contact Richie directly, and he's been kind enough to respond. I'll be working with him a bit to deduce which version I have and he's also going to try to help me figure out what exactly I'm looking for, which is great!

Since this is all new to me, had I known that Richie designs AND builds these amps, I may have been better buying it directly - I only foud out this after the fact, having had no experience with the 18W or knwoing about Richie's expertise. I will say that the amp seesm very well bult and designed, and Nik was genereous enough to name the model RP (Richie Plexi), which I had to ask about and only then was able to make the connection to Plexi and Richie here!

I'm not convinced that the 36W LAYOUT that Nik has on hi site is the proper or most current layout for my build (factory) but that's all that I have to go on per Nik. I'm also not convinced that he doesn't have a schematic, but that's his official response so I have to accept it at face-value. Nik's been great in responding otherwise, and his work looks top notch!

cb108 · Post by **cb108** » Mon 09/03/07 9:29 am

I have the 18watt TMB from Nik and it is amazing!
If you want to have the Marshall grind with less volume, try a Greenback or a V12-60, coz they are less efficient and are not as midrange pronounced than the V30. The perceived Volume is about a half less.
Another advantage is, that you don´t have to attenuate so much with a hotplate, so that the tone is more unchanged.

Donations

Links

Welcome

Ceriatone 36WRP

Ceriatone 36WRP