• Registered: 2009-01-01
  • Posts: 665

Topic: Ceriatone 2550 or 2555? Advise please.

I know a couple of forum members have the Ceriatone 2550 and/or 2555. The OD of my JCM800 2210 is quite good but it sounds a bit sterile. It’s a good amp, mind you, but I just can’t get that fat midrangey honk (I’m sure you know what I mean).
In short, I’ve finally decided to get the Ceriatone clone but I’m not sure whether to go with the 2550 (50 W) or the 2555 (100 W). I’m planning to use the amp with my JCM800 cab loaded with 4x12 Celestion G12H-100 (I guess that’s a total of 400 W). The 2555 seems to make more sense and I know it’s only 3db difference between 50W and 100W. But will I get sustain and overtones even at lower volume with the 2555? And will it clean up with the guitar volume knob? This works great with my Ceriatone OTS.
Is the output master a master volume? I’ve never played a Silver Jubilee, so excuse these dumb questions. How is the effects loop? Joe says the Jubilee has the best FX loop he’s seen (if I remember correctly). How about the one in the Ceriatone?
Could somebody please also educate me about the rhythm clip switch? And is the diode clipping on in the boost channel? That’s the one I’m most likely going to use. I don’t care too much about the clean channel and channel switching – I want a great sounding one-trick pony.

  • From: Was NY now FL/GA line
  • Registered: 2007-12-16
  • Posts: 2,855

Re: Ceriatone 2550 or 2555? Advise please.

There are a couple of 1988 Marshall 2555's on ebay for $1500

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Ceriatone 2550 or 2555? Advise please.

Bluesbreaker wrote:

The 2555 seems to make more sense and I know it’s only 3db difference between 50W and 100W. But will I get sustain and overtones even at lower volume with the 2555? And will it clean up with the guitar volume knob?


are you choosing between the 50w and the 100w?
The 100 watt is going to be cleaner when it's almost all the way up, whereas the 50 watt will likely start to break up at the same volume... so it depends if you want natural breakup (50watt) or more clean headroom (100 watt) and have to use a pedal. IMO

The nice thing about these is you can cut the wattage, so if you get the 100, i think it can cut down to 50, and the 50 also cuts to half wattage too.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • Registered: 2009-01-01
  • Posts: 665

Re: Ceriatone 2550 or 2555? Advise please.

The 2555 on ebay are from American seller. Alas, I need 230V amps.

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:

are you choosing between the 50w and the 100w?

I contacted Nik about this. He thinks I should go for the 2550 because the 100 watter is really loud. I have a couple of Ceriatone amps and they are loud beasts. I know Joe insists on the 100 watts but he's obviously in a rather different league. The few gigs I have are the usual small clubs and tiny venues amateur bands get to play.
So it's most likely the2550. You know it makes sense, as Delboy used to say.
Still undecided about the cab, though. 4x12 or 2x12? Which speakers?
I think Alex has a Ceriatone 2550 but I haven't seen him posting in a while.

Does anyone know which channel Joe uses on the Jub? Clean or boost? Rhythm switch on or off?

  • From: Was NY now FL/GA line
  • Registered: 2007-12-16
  • Posts: 2,855

Re: Ceriatone 2550 or 2555? Advise please.

change the mains setting to 240

  • Registered: 2008-10-10
  • Posts: 180

Re: Ceriatone 2550 or 2555? Advise please.

Hey i was lurking on those 2555s on the bay!   mad   lol Looks like a great deal at $1500, had my finger over the buy it now a couple times now.  Weighing the sonic goodness vs the **** beating via the spouse.  I have the 25/50 combo and really don't like the sound at 25 watts...anyone feel the same and would the function be just as useless on the 100 watter?

Where the hell does one get a black-backed gold top anyway?
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Ceriatone 2550 or 2555? Advise please.

There was nothing MORE annoying than having a 100 watt amp (i had a 100 watt rivera knucklehead) and not being allowed to put it past the master not even halfway to "1"..... I downsized to a 55 watt amp, and now I can get the amp close to "2"  before getting yelled at from venues. hmm

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: Was NY now FL/GA line
  • Registered: 2007-12-16
  • Posts: 2,855

Re: Ceriatone 2550 or 2555? Advise please.

Partial2Marshall wrote:

Hey i was lurking on those 2555s on the bay!   mad   lol Looks like a great deal at $1500, had my finger over the buy it now a couple times now.  Weighing the sonic goodness vs the **** beating via the spouse.  I have the 25/50 combo and really don't like the sound at 25 watts...anyone feel the same and would the function be just as useless on the 100 watter?

Someone grabbed the one that had a "Buy it Now" price of $1500. Whomever grabbed it I hope they enjoy it! No it's wasn't me selling. I wish I had the money or I would of scooped that up in a heartbeat!!

Stay Safe Y'all

  • Registered: 2008-03-07
  • Posts: 508

Re: Ceriatone 2550 or 2555? Advise please.

Both the 2550 and 2555 will do the trick given the choice I would take the 2555 100ws just sound bigger and fatter , dont worry too much about the volume I have the 2553 and it sounds good at low volumes in the same way an Ceriatone ots sounds good

but trust me on the speakers EVM12L is the best for this amp it takes the fizzy sound out of the amp. let us know how you do   big_smile

Joe uses the amp on lead channel  this is the biggest fattest sound , (diodes engaged) the rhythm clip is not as good IMO and still has diodes engaged . clean channel has no diodes engaged .

it is a serial effects loop and works really well. Output master is a master volume that effects both lead and clean channel , for the best lead sound the output master has to be full up then set lead master to desired setting and input gain to 12.00clock  the downside to this is the clean channel becomes mega loud , but I think Nik at ceriatone has a mod to overcome this.

I get by this by switching on a boss graphic eq when i change to clean channel the added benifit is you can voice the clean channel with the eq as well as setting the volume on the pedal     cool

"Everybody's entitled to my opinion. wink
  • Registered: 2009-01-01
  • Posts: 665

Re: Ceriatone 2550 or 2555? Advise please.

Thanks for the good advice everyone. I finally listened to reason and will go for the 2550. I'll hardly ever be in a position to crank a 100 watt amp.


SOFTMC wrote:

Joe uses the amp on lead channel  this is the biggest fattest sound , (diodes engaged) the rhythm clip is not as good IMO and still has diodes engaged . clean channel has no diodes engaged .

The Ceriatone has the two small toggle switches. One for the clean/OD channel and one for the rhythm clip. So to get Joe's tone I obviously need to engage OD channel but is the Rhythm clip switch on or off?

  • Registered: 2008-03-07
  • Posts: 508

Re: Ceriatone 2550 or 2555? Advise please.

Bluesbreaker wrote:

Thanks for the good advice everyone. I finally listened to reason and will go for the 2550. I'll hardly ever be in a position to crank a 100 watt amp.


SOFTMC wrote:

Joe uses the amp on lead channel  this is the biggest fattest sound , (diodes engaged) the rhythm clip is not as good IMO and still has diodes engaged . clean channel has no diodes engaged .

The Ceriatone has the two small toggle switches. One for the clean/OD channel and one for the rhythm clip. So to get Joe's tone I obviously need to engage OD channel but is the Rhythm clip switch on or off?


off ! neutral

"Everybody's entitled to my opinion. wink