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Average Price: $209

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Description

Discover the Ceriatone 18 watt TMB, a guitar amplifier head that delivers vintage British tone with modern reliability. This amp head is perfect for musicians who crave the classic sound of the 60s British invasion but with the flexibility needed for today's diverse musical landscape. The TMB in the name stands for Treble, Middle, and Bass controls, which allow for detailed tonal shaping, giving you the ability to craft your perfect sound with precision.

The 18-watt power output provides ample volume for small to medium-sized venues, while maintaining a manageable size for home use or studio recording. Its point-to-point hand-wired construction ensures durability and superior sound quality, making it a reliable choice for both gigging musicians and studio professionals. The amp's two channels offer a range of tones from sparkling cleans to saturated overdrive, ensuring versatility for any style of play. Additionally, the inclusion of a master volume control allows you to achieve cranked-amp tones at lower volumes, perfect for both practice and performance settings.

Whether you're channeling the raw energy of classic rock riffs or the nuanced melodies of blues, the Ceriatone 18 watt TMB stands ready to deliver. Embrace the fusion of vintage and modern with this meticulously crafted amp head, designed to meet the needs of discerning guitarists.

Key Features:

  • 18-watt power output for a balance of volume and portability
  • Treble, Middle, Bass (TMB) controls for precise tonal shaping
  • Hand-wired, point-to-point construction for superior sound quality
  • Two channels offering a range of clean and overdriven tones
  • Master volume control for achieving cranked tones at lower volumes

Product specs

Brand Ceriatone
Model 18W TMB
Finish Black
Year 2000s
Categories Guitar Heads
Color Family Black
Electronics Tube
Impedance 4 ohms
Number of Channels 2 Channels
Number of Inputs 1 Input
Output Power (Watts) 18
Power Tube Type EL84
Reverb None

FAQs

What kind of tones can I expect from the Ceriatone 18 watt TMB?

The Ceriatone 18 watt TMB delivers classic British tones reminiscent of vintage Marshall amps, offering a rich, warm sound with excellent articulation. It's known for its JTM-45-like tones in a compact, manageable format.

Is the Ceriatone 18 watt TMB suitable for gigging with a drummer?

With its 18 watts of power, the Ceriatone 18 watt TMB is suitable for small to medium gigs, especially when mic'd. It provides enough volume to keep up with a drummer in most settings.

Does the Ceriatone 18 watt TMB take pedals well?

Yes, the Ceriatone 18 watt TMB is known for handling pedals effectively, making it a versatile choice for guitarists who use effects to shape their sound.

What are the core tonal characteristics of the Ceriatone 18 watt TMB?

The Ceriatone 18 watt TMB features a rich, dynamic sound with a strong midrange presence, ideal for classic rock, blues, and vintage tones. Its EL84 power tubes contribute to its warm and harmonically rich output.

Is the Ceriatone 18 watt TMB handwired?

Yes, the Ceriatone 18 watt TMB is handwired using high-quality components, ensuring durability and superior sound quality. This craftsmanship is a hallmark of Ceriatone amplifiers.

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Ceriatone 18 watt TMB.

Features and functionality

  • The TMB mod on the Ceriatone 18 watt replaces single-band tone control with treble/middle/bass controls, offering more tonal flexibility similar to larger Marshall amps.

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  • The Ceriatone 18 watt TMB often incorporates VRM (Voltage Regulation Module) and a Master Volume for greater control over the TMB channel's output.

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Mods and upgrades

  • EF86 tubes in the Ceriatone 18 watt may increase clean headroom compared to typical ECC83 tubes, though significant circuit modifications are required for compatibility.

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  • Owners discuss channel jumping for tonal variety, noting it doesn't add gain stages but can offer new sonic possibilities when channels are in phase.

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  • There’s interest in a cascade mod to increase gain at lower volumes by feeding the normal channel into the TMB channel, requiring minimal components like resistors.

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User experience

  • Ceriatone's customer service is responsive and personable, making it easy to clarify product details directly with them.

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  • A builder credits the Ceriatone community and support for providing detailed wiring diagrams, which were easier to follow than schematics during their first build.

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Use cases and applications

  • Ceriatone amps, including the 18 watt TMB, are noted for sounding massive, potentially suiting players who seek a powerful tone in a smaller package.

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  • The Ceriatone 18 watt TMB is known for its touch-sensitive bluesy tones, suitable for blues and classic rock, though exact tone stacks can vary widely in DIY builds.

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  • Apartment dwellers seek ways to maximize crunch at lower volumes, suggesting potential interest in mods or external load dumps despite mixed results on tone.

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Comparisons

  • Ceriatone's 18 watt TMB mod offers similar tonal shaping as 1960s Marshall amps, though some users find the simpler single tone control more enjoyable.

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  • The 18 watt TMB format diverges from the original Marshall 1974 circuit, often integrating TMB tonestacks from models like the JTM45 or JCM800.

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Build quality

  • Some DIY builds of the Ceriatone 18 watt TMB show sloppy construction with exposed, dangling bare wires and inadequate strain relief on power cables.

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Setup and maintenance

  • For optimal safety and performance, ensure the power cable uses a proper strain relief rather than makeshift solutions like grommets and zip ties.

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  • A user mentions needing to fix an input jack that became unmounted due to a missing plastic nut, highlighting a common maintenance issue.

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4.0 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 1 Rating

5 star
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1 star
jimmarchi1

exceptional tone, flimsy transformers

I dock ceriatone's 18 watt a star for the transformers. I blew the OTs in my friends and in mine and I wasn't abusing them in anyway, just playing them all the way up as god intended. These amps are really some of the finest 18 att based amps going. The TMB channel is fun but I always just played a strat or LP jr into the normal input with the tone and volume wide open. If you want clean headroom try the 20 watt head. These amps have voxiness and plexiness in one box and can win the folgers taste test against any ac15 made since the JMI era. I really think the ceriatone is the best sounding 18 watt I've played, but you might as well buy a classic tone output transformer right out of the gate and put that in because the stock one is going to melt down, it sounds fine, but its a piece of shit.

From Gear Setup

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Ceriatone 18 watt TMB, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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jimmarchi1

jimmarchi1

Gear IQ 41029

jimmarchi1

jimmarchi1

Gear IQ 41029

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