CeriaTone JTM45 Head

I bought this as an assembled head in 2006. This was my second amp from nik at ceriatone. The first one I bought was an assembled 18 watt tmb which I had planned on modding but when I got the amp it was just right as far as I'm concerned and I didn't make a single change. I have had several players I know offer me cash for that amp. It's that good.

With the JTM45 I just recently purchased, I put in nos mustard caps, a nos mullard Gz34 and the tung sol reproduction 12ax7's, along with a set of nos russian K^66's and all I can say is this thing is a M**F*** beast. It's the best amp I've ever played through hands down. The bottom end is huge and not flabby. The top end is glassy and not ice picky. I play a LP59 historic through it with no effects...just guitar, cord and amp and this thing has infinite glassy sustain on tap. It has controllable feedback and it has the kick of a mule. If you wallop a power chord anyone standing nearby is going to spaz.
I use a marshall 2x12 cab at 16 ohms.

Anyway, to my ears this amp is probably indistinguishable from the real thing. I haven't a/b'ed it but I have played the real thing in the past and this is as good...probably better because it's built like a tank.

Ceriatone has started wax potting their output transformers (the original ones from the 60's used Tar). Anyway, there are no problems with his trensformers. I had planned on swapping in a RS repro output tranny but I'm not changing a thing. It sounds too awesome just the way it is.

The best thing I like about this amp is the way it breaks up...it has an ultra smooth transition between glassy clean and a lot of distortion and it all happens perfectly. If you put both inputs on 6 and jumper the inputs, you can use the guitar volume and picking technique to achieve basically whatever amount of distortion you want. You can easly get the glassy allman brothers sort of infinite sustain and it has plenty of crunch.

I covered a lot of that above. This amp sounds like a JTM45. The JTM45/bassman isn't regarded as one of the greatest amps ever for no reason.

The ceritaone implementation uses the real layout, and top quality parts. It is a very high quality amp built as well as any amp I've ever seen. There are no compromises in quality and that comes through in the sound.

It's built well. Hand wired main board built to the trational JTM specs.
Quality xformers, alpha pots, the jacks look authentic as well as the front and back panel.

This amp should last a long long time.

Although Nik is halfway around the world, dealing with him is easier than dealing with someone a couple of blocks away. For both amps i've bought, I got exactly what I asked for, it was packed well and shipped quickly and all of my questions were thoroughly answered. You really can't ask for more than that.

I don't remember exactly what I paid but it was six something including shipping and it arrived in about a week.

Overall, considering not just the price, but what you get for the price, you have to consider this amp if you're in the market for a JTM45. The assembly work is top notch. I've been building amps for years and I couldn't do it that well. Wires are neatly routed and solder joints are all shiny and perfect.

I'm a perfectionist so a glowing review like this is unusual for me. The bottom line is that this is one excellent JTM45 clone.

2004 - 2005 model. Four input type: bright, normal, hi & lo gain.
No frills. Volume control for each channel. Treble, middle, bass and presence controls affect both channels. Positively the most responsive tone controls I have ever heard on any amp; incredible range of control, very dynamic.
45 - 50 watts from two KT-66 output tubes. Unbelievably loud - with tone from the lowest setting all the way to the loudest.

I have two Tele's (one single coils the other humbuckers), a vintage Strat, a vintage ES-335, two Hamers ( humbuckers ). This amp doesn't care. If you have good pickups ( I like Fralins and Rio Grandes )you will get every bit of tone they can muster and then some. Clean to edgey.
All tube - all tone! My wife is a vocalist and has an incredible ear for harmony. She heard me playing this amp in our studio and said it was the finest tube amp she has ever heard. I have three vintage Fenders and she and I both agree none have the tone of this amp.

I also re-build and repair amps. I could not believe the build quality of this amp. Very neat, clean construction. Nik knows how to do proper layout of wire and components. Absolutely no hum, no buzz. Excellant quality of components. Excellant quality control. Built just like the old Marshalls only better!

When I have a question I just email Nik and he answers right back. Always very helpful and informative. A nice guy selling a great amp at an incredible price - what more could you ask for?

Been playing 40+ years. I've always had tube amps. Now I've got one of the finest I've ever heard.
Nik makes a JMP 50 - that's my next one to buy. So long Fender!Marshall's are getting too pricey along with Top Hat, Matchless, Bogner, etc.

My JTM45 clone was made in December '05. But it features the same electrical design as Marshall did way back in 1962. So it offers 2 input channels (high treble/normal) w/ 2 input jacks (high/low) each. Each channel has individual volume control, the tone & presence control affects both channels, no master volume. It utilises 2 x KT66 for the power stage, 3 x ECC83 in the preamp section and the GZ34 for rectification.
This design of course limits the styles you can play w/ this amp without using effect pedals etc. On the other hand, I originally bought it for playing guitar only, but now I use it additionally for bass playing - it really rocks!
The head comes from the factory w/o cabinet to save transportation costs. You can find very well suitable cabinets at mojomusicalsupply-com or TubeAmpDoctor-com in Germany.
As the JTM45 design does not intend heavy distortion, I rate it 8.

This head offers an unbeleavable clean sound. Very clear, very high dynamic. I use it w/ strats and they sound just brilliant. For playing hard & heavy I use a H&K Tube Factor and get great distortion. It's not noisy at all!
I also run my Ricky 4003 through the amp. What can I say? I will never change that setup anymore.

The amp is new, never had any sign of malfunction, no probs at all.
Great workmanship, aluminium chassis, all handwired, no PCB, check details at ceriatone-com.

These masterpieces are built-to-order, there are no stocks. I had lots of questions and ideas about how to modify the amp prior to its production. I guess I was even a bit of a pain in the ass. But every single e-mail was instantly answered in a very comeptent and friendly way, sometimes even at 2am local time Malaysia. Where else do you get that? Nik won't let you down. Allow 2 weeks to built it + shipping time (air freight).

Never needed any repair.

Troublefree payment through Paypal.

If you need an amp with a great clean sound, buy this one. It's excellent value for money.

- handwired clone of Marshall JTM-45
- top notch caps, resisters, pots and tubes
- transformer is a CeriaTone design (its huge)
- fit & finish is *excellent*

- amp used with PAF equipped Les Paul, straight in, no effects to mess with the signal
- cleans are the best i have heard, clear with great definition, does not sound thin or weak
- absolutely roars at full throttle, no mud in the bass frequencies

- this is a new amp, no issues expected given the superb workmanship

- excellent. although CeriaTone is half a world away, all inquiries were responded to immediately

- this amp has completely exceeded my expectations: sound, fit and finish, customer service...its all there and more
- can't say enought good things about Nik and CeriaTone, this amp is *very* highly recommended