CeriaTone Marshall Plexi 50 Clone

The stock amp is very basic. Controls for Presence, Bass, Middle, Treble, Volume I & Volume II. Nik and his crew can add custom features like PPIMV (Post-Phase Inverter Master Volume), effects loop, etc. Just ask! The amps are hand-built, hand-wired, custom made to order, so anything you want can probably be done.

If you are considering one of these monsters, you probably already know what a Marshall Plexi sounds like. All I can add is that my CeriaTone sounds AWESOME! Why pay more for a sub-par Marshall reissue when you can get a totally hand wired clone from CeriaTone for less. In my opinion, Nik's amps are much more faithful to the original's than the "reissues" currently sold by Marshall.

As I expected, the 50-watt output is LOUD. You've gotta dime the volume to get the great overdrive tone. I recommend adding a PPIMV (costs around $15 extra). The sound quality is noticeably diminished when using the PPIMV, but the ability to reduce the volume when solo jamming will add years to the life of your ears. For studio or live applications, dime the PPIMV and you will get the full tone of a stock Plexi.

Hard to say since I've only had it about a week, but it seems really solid.

Nik is very responsive to emails and very helpful. He seems like a great guy who really knows his stuff! I was nervous about sending a large amount of money overseas, but have no complaints about the service provided. The amp was professionally packed and arrived very quickly, much quicker than the 4 week turn-around I was expecting.

He does have a service program set up in the US and claims to offer a lifetime warranty on the amps. Beyond that, I don't have much insight here.

It's a one trick pony, but it's the best in the business at generating classic rock tones. Accept no substitute.

This amp is a point-to-point, hand wired clone of a late '60s 1987 50-watt Plexi. Everybody knows the features. This was a new build, assembled by Ceriatone Oct\Nov 2008. I've only gigged out with this amp a few nights, but oooohhhh baby!

I play a bunch of different styles, so I need an amp that will give me nice cleans when I back off on the guitar volume, and still have lots of crunch when the guitar is wide open. This amp delivers in spades.

No FX loop, no channel switching, but I had a PPIMV installed at build time, and it does come in handy. It came stock with JJ ECC83 preamp tubes and JJ E34L power tubes. If you want another brand, just as Nik.

I gig every week, two or three nights on average. At 50 watts, this amp has plenty of power for any venue. Maybe too much for many, which is why it has a PPIMV.

Being a Marshall 1987 clone, it's a bit of a one-trick pony, but it does its one trick very well. I play mostly Gibson Les Pauls of various sub-species (Special, Deluxe, Custom, Studio), I also use a Strat, Tele, and a few others on occasion.

I play mostly rock/top40, but I also do venture into country, soul/Motown and a few other things. Set up properly, this amp is everything I need for any gig, though it really wants to be (and is best at being) a full-on rock machine.

It has planty of gain, except for extreme hardcore metal - that's the domain of Triple Rectos.

I've only had this amp a short time, so can't say for sure, but it is built like a tank. The work is clean, and uses high-quality components. Because of that and Ceriatone's stellar reputation, I have no reason to believe I'll have any problems. I carry spare fuses and tubes with me, just in case, and will continue to bring my other amp as backup until I know the Ceria's stable.

I'll give it a temporary 9 until then

Nik is a great guy, extremely helpful and patient, and will work with you to build the amp that YOU need.

Warranty is sort of vague. The website says that warranty is at their discretion, but their goal is customer satisfaction. There are no warranty service centres in Canada at this time, but the 1987 circuit is a simple one, and the most expensive parts are the transformers. I'd venture to say that any competent amp tech could fix it probably for less than the cost of shipping it to a repair centre.

That said, if a component failed within a reasonable amount of time, it's entirely likely that Nik would send replacements as needed.

I've been playing professionally for over 30 years. I've had literally dozens of amps come and go, and even more guitars. Other amps I currently own are a Fender Supersonic head and matching 2x12, a Line 6 Flextone II, a Line 6 PodXT Live and Tech 21 Power Engine. I own 6 Gibson Les Pauls, a Fender Strat and Tele, a Line 6 Variax, an Epi Sheraton, and a few other guitars. I have a bunck of peadls that get changed around to taste. Most of the time, I use the Ceriatone with a Vintage 30-loaded 4x12, though would use the 2x12, depending on the venue.

I'd definitely replace it if it were lost or stolen. This amp has the golden tone I've been missing since I sold my'70s Marshall 1987 in the late '80s.

The new Marshall 1987's don't even come close to this in terms of tone and build quality.

Very versatile. With the master vol. addition, can do a good variety of sounds. Very, very quiet amp.

I do the classic Amer. Strat, Gibson Les Paul routine and I am hearing things from both I never have heard before. Blues, Hendrix, classic rock: it's got it all. Plenty of volume, never took the clean all the way up, so don't know if it dirtys up. No need with the master vol. Not a metal amp, but great distortion for anything else, and with pedals, forget about it, like Tony Soprano says!

The quality construction and simple circuit can pretty much guarantee trouble free service. Would not be suprised to get many yrs. out of it.

Been playing 40 yrs or so, would Definitely replace it, it's got the goods. Love the looks, and style, Marshall-esque. Nik put the master vol. in an indicator light hole, would have preferred it in a speaker jack, minor though. Smokes most of my other amps, but just like you need humbuckers and single coils, you need diff. amps for diff. sounds. A nice reverb would be nice, but simple is good, and if it sounds so good it doesn't need it, cool. Can't believe this is available for this price.

I won't rate this cathegory as everyone knows plexis. I had PPIMV installed on it and it is pretty usefull because this beast is loud as hell. :-) Of course it sounds the best when the master volume is on ten but still you can achieve pretty good sound when it's not. I like music of the 60s/70s era so this amp is really suitable for my playing. Nik built it for me a month ago.

I use this amp with my Gibson Les Paul Custom and I can't be more satisfied. I watched a few videos of Ceriatone on youtube and liked it a lot but the reality is true rock heaven. :-) I had three Marshalls - 1987 Plexi reissue, JCM 2000 and JCM 800. This amp easily beats them all.

Well... I can't say yet. I haven't had it long enough to have an opinion. But everything works fine.

Nik is ok. He answers on every email and he's always trying to help you whatever you want.

I've been playing for eight years and owned a few Marshalls as I wrote before and once again I must say this is by far the best I've had or played. I just love the tone of this amp. If you don't know and hesitate... just don't and get one. :-)

This amp was made just a few weeks ago when I ordered it. It's a no frills 4 input 50 watt lead marshall from the JMP era. It doesn't have a master volume or anything. it's just right, but it's VERY loud. I can't believe you can buy something like this so cheap!

the cleans are ok. they're certainly not the best, but this thing roars when you want it to. It has a great sound for classic rock/blues. It's very thick but raunchy. It has a LOT more gain than my jtm45 - even more than I expected. It sounds natural, though. The bass is pretty tight, too. I mainly use it with a Gibson R8 and a 2x12 with vintage 30's. I don't use any effects, and I keep the volume around 7-9. It cleans up pretty well with the guitar volume also. Very satisfying. this amp sounds really good.

I haven't had it long enough to say, but Nik at CeriaTone (and his associates) do a fantastic job putting these together. I haven't seen soldering like this in a long time.

Nik responds to emails quickly. I don't see communication being a problem, and nothing lasts forever..

It's a fantastic amp. If you can use the volume, you wouldn't be disappointed. It's loud, but it sounds SO good. There's nothing like it. This is what I wish my 76 2204 sounded like! After playing this, I would definitely buy another! It cost less than a Marshall reissue, and it's built MUCH better. I don't even like looking at the guts of the JTM45 RI. Nik told me it would take 2-3 weeks to get it after my order, but it showed up in about 9 days coming all the way from Malaysia!

2x EL34 tubes
3x12AX7 tubes
Had Master volume added for 10 dollars
Also external bias added so I can bias this amp without killing myself.
Other than that eq knobs, 2 volume control, 4 inputs, 2 for one channel. Channel I sounds kinda glassy and sharp, Channel II sounds kinda warm and rock n roll-ish. I use I for cleans and II for dirty, sounds just about right. I just need a AB switch so I can switch between them. You can blend channel with a patch cable. Other than that it's about 50 watts or so of tube power and should be plenty for gigs. It has no channel switching or effect loop but im sure you can ask Nik to add it for you. It is point to point wired inside with everything easily accessible so if anything goes wrong just replace the offending part.

Sounds like what an electric guitar ought to sound like. I play this through some cheap 1x10 cab with a Fostex speaker (who doesn't make good guitar speakers... they make mostly PA/monitor type speakers that are better suited for hi-fi use or other amps that are designed to replicate sound) so I am sure it will be much louder and better sounding with a Marshall 1960A cab. Even now without any effect it sounds so great, forget those Marshall MG series amp, they are utter crap compared to this, and this only cost a little more than a Marshall MG100 type amp anyways so for those contemplating that kind of amp, save a little more and get this and your ears will thank you. You can control distortion on your guitar, just turn the volume to about 5 and its clean, and 10 for distortion, this is assuming the volume on the amp is at 10. Seriously, this amp is very good for the money, will sound better than ones you'd have to pay 1000+ for, and much easier to fix in case something breaks!

Point to point wired... if something breaks just replace the offending part, not like most current production amp that requires complete overhaul to replace one simple resistor. Just build a wooden box over it and take it to whatever gig you play at, people will stop laughing as soon as they hear this thing.

Nik is very patient, answers every question promptly and will do anything you ask if you can pay. Other than that I built it so if something broke I can fix it myself...

Been playing for a few years... not that good but starting a band right now and hopefully that will make me improve quickly. I wish I could bring this to the practice room, the amp they use are crap compared to this one... If stolen just get another one... they are not that expensive, certainly beats paying 3000 for an amp...

I got the 1987x lead version. This amp was made this year just a few weeks ago. I play chili peppers and clasic rock so Marshall was the obvious choice. It is a pretty straight forward amp, the usual knobs, 4 inputs. I had Nik install a master volume in the back so that it looks stock from the front. I highly suggest this unless you want to get an attenuator. I know they are different things but it really helps. It is 50 watts. and it's the loudest 50 watts I have ever heard louder than my old 100 watt marshall. Right now it's just a bedrom amp but very soon it will be band practices and gigs. not the most versital amp that's why it gets an 8 but, why does it need to be versitle when it sounds this good? I also got Nik to make me a box for it. I highly reccomend this. it's cheaper than I could have found it in the US and amazing quality.

This amp is perfect for what I use it for. I have it set to just barely clean. I use a treble booster to kick it up to just over the edge to dirty, then I have an Fulltone OCD to go balls to the wall distorted tone (Led Zeppelinish). It gets distorted pretty early I think around 3ish on the volume. It has the perfect classic rock tone cranked but, let's face it we can't always crank a 50 watt amp so the OCD sounds similar to it being cranked. I use a Fender 62 Reissue Strat for Chili Peppers and a Gibson Flying V with a Seymour Duncan Custon Custom in the bridge. I couldn't have gotten a better amp for my style. it is a fairly noisey amp but that could be all my pedals (wah, big muff, treble boost, chorus, 2 phasers, flanger, OCD, Guv'nor, and digidelay.)

This amp is built like a tank I would go on tour with it being my only amp. Nik knows how to make amps.

Nik is most likely the nicest guy ever. I talked with him for almost a month about how I wanted the amp and everything. I bought a faceplate for it that went to 11 and Nik worked with me and the maker of the faceplate to get it all working.

I have been playing for like 4 or 5 years, with bands and gigging regularly. I told you what I play most. I sold my JCM900 for this which was a good amp but I found Ceriatone and saw how cheap it was to get my dream amp. I would buy this amp again in a heartbeat. I love that it's a Marshall inside it's got all the Marshall sound you could ever want at a fraction of the cost, and features that Marshall would never think about. it gets a 9 because it's a 1 trick pony, But an amazing 1 trick pony.

Year Made 2007. The amp is 2 channels which I bridge together. no effects loop. you can have a master volume installed if you like. I am sure Nik will do anything you want. This a great clone of the original 50 watt 68 Marshall Plexi. Actually better in my opinion and for much less. The amp is all point to point hand wired, 2 EL34's and 3 12ax7's. Nik does great work. This amp is loud!!! I have been giging with this amp ever since I bought it. I retired my 63 Fender Bassman. Ha!

I had Nik make this amp this year 2007. I have owned 70's and early 80's Marshalls in the past which I had to have modified to make them sound good and The CeriaTone blew them away. The clean sounds are much warmer than any Vintage Fender I have owned and when cranked up sounds awesome!! I use a THD Hotplate. However you can have Nik install a master for about 15 bucks.

No porblems yet with the amp. I have done about 10 gigs with this amp without bringing a backup. It sounds great in every club setting.

Nik is very helpful and always returns emails. I am not sure on the Warranty, but I know Nik would help you out if you ever needed something fixed. as far as authorized service center, I am not sure either on that. Just find a good amp guy...c'mon?

I have been playing for over 20 years. I own a 1963 Fender bassman, a 1958 Gretsch 6120, a 1960 Gretsch Anniversary 6118. THD Hotplate. Marshall 4X12 straight cab made by Mojo Tone with Greenback 25 watt celestions. The amp Nik made for me is far better than any vintage marshall or fender amp I have owned.

Made in 2006 by Nik for me. Straight up clone of a 1968/early 69 1987 circuit. Flawless PTP wiring, excellent transformers. I had a PPIMV (master volume) install which is handy around the house. Afcourse the amp sounds best with the MV on 10. This is the best amp I've ever owned period. Nothing I've ever owned can even compare. My bands covers alot of Zeppelin, AC/DC, Hendrix, Deep Purple and can do all off them. With my 62 Ri Strat/ Lindy Fralin-> Teese Picture Wah-> Fulltone 69-> 1987 Head ->1976 MArshall 4x12 I can get any Hendrix, Eric Johnson tone I want. With Gibson Les Paul w/Lindy Fralin -> Teese Wah-> BEano BOost-> 1987 HEad ->Marshall 4x12 I can get any Zeppelin, AC/DC, ZZ Top, Cream tone I want.

True Vintage EL-34 TONE like you won't believe. Any guitar will sound amazing with any EQ settings. Takes pedals great but you probably stop using them after a while. The amp has almost everything you need inside of it.

Owned for a Month. No problems so far. Wiring is near pergfect. Nik is the coolest guy I've ever met and would do anything to make you happy with your purchase.

I asked Nik a billion questions via e-mail and he always got back to me super fast. Totally awesome guy to talk with.

Don't waste your time.... go buy one 1 now. I'll be ordering a JTM-45 from Nik soon.

This is a class-A amp with two channels; 3x EQ, 1x presence and 2xvolume is everything you would ever expect from a Marshall clone. Since there are 4 inputs you can bridge the two channels and mix the different sounds (one bright/one not so bright). Off course, there are no features like effect loops, master volume. You can adjust the amp to 4, 8 or 16 Ohm.

First of all - this amp is loud as hell! But with this equipment I can totally get a straight and perfect rock sound. I mainly use an Epiphone Les Paul and no extra distortion but some additional effects. Put a good mic in front of the speaker and you?ll get all the guitar sounds from Pearl Jam?s "Yield", many recordings of the Chili Peppers up to modern rock bands like Turbonegro... It doesn?t matter how much volume or EQ you use, this amp never sounds bad.
I?ve bought it in May 2006 and I?ve been playing live a lot. For playing at home or band practice I got me a Weber Mass Lite; it works quite well and I can reduce the volume to any level I want at full distortion. I will sell my JCM 800 Lead Series because it sounds like crap when standing next to this amp. The only amp that I still use besides this one is the Marshall silver jubilee 25/50.

No problems so far (ok, it?s only 2 months old). But I think this one will last forever if I take care on it - it?s manufactured on a very high standard.

Customer support A+! Send an e-mail and you?ll get a detailed answer within hours! That?s unbelievable. Also they were very friendly and always paying respect to component options.

For the first time I?m happy with my guitar sound - other guitar players keep asking me for the amp which "sounded so rock" after concerts. Of course you could also buy an original Marshall, but this way it?s much cheaper and you have new one! No worn out capacitors or transformers.

dominik (Germany)

2006 fresh build. You all know what this amp does, it really is the standard all other amps are judged on. 4 Channels bridgable, no effects loop, plug in your guitar and play , very responsive. It is a one trick pony that can also juggle, stand on its head etc, depends what you do with it in terms of effects, or even just the way you play. You have to cab it up yourself, but for the $ who cares.

I use a 95 gretsch sparkle jet with powertrons, straight in (sometimes a blackstone od),
breaks up beautifully , and if you wind it up its all ya need.

I don't know how reliable it is, havent had it long enough, but it looks the business, and those old Marshall plexis are still kicking, heres hoping. I will not use any other amp now.

Nik answered every email very promptly, I'm sure if there are problems he will help me. Great service.

I own a Taylor 410, and a gretsch sparkle jet, I am a simple player, with (i hope) some feel.
In a heartbeat I would buy this amp again. It is a perfect plexi clone at a reasonable price.
The best my guitar ever sounded was with an anniversary Marshall and a 2 12, until now.
I have no affilition with Ceriatone, but when I receive such good service I want to share it.
If you want a decent guitar sound, and a quality rig for a good price, this is it.

It's a clone of the famous 50W Marshall 'plexi' head...
All features are identical to the original.. limited in features:
(jumpable high and normal channel (4 inputs) .. > presence > bass > middle > treble > volume I (high) > volume II (normal)...)
but the tone is unmistakeable.. and thats what it was purchased for..
(hence only the 8 rating)

62 strat for normal playing ... LP standard for slide (D tuning)
I play in a blues rock band so the styles vary from 50s electric blues.. (muddy waters.. elmore james) thru to 70s rock.. (Lynyrd Skynyrd.. Hendrix... ZZ Top.. etc) .. Only things I use on the floor is a TS808 ..
A Vox wah.. a Danelectro chorus... and a line 6 delay modeller.
The tone is perfect... being a clone of a 1968 Marshall it it remarkably quiet!! .. more than likely the use of newer components and the craftsmanship of Nik Azam at Ceriatone..

Haven't had it long enough...(hence only the 8 rating).. but it is not a complex amp and one look at Niks work and I know it is going to be VERY reliable..
Excellent workmanship!!

Very helpful.. (being located in Malaysia I could only deal over internet) Communication was excellent!! ..
I corresponded regularly during the build and reply was always prompt and to the point..

I've been playing around 30 years.. I would definitely replace this amp!!
It cost me just under $1000 Australian including postage and handling..
very reasonable considering the original..
I am now thinking about my next purchase from Nik.. (a JTM 45 Bluesbreaker combo)..
If you trying to locate a vintage Marshall but can't afford 5-10 grand
this is definitely the only way to go..

*** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ***