TWS Cali Sunrise
Plexi. Hotter. Meaner. 40W.
Together with Jon Symons from Sonic Drive Studio, we have developed the TWS Cali Sunset into an amp that not only delivers the classic Hot Rodded Plexi sounds, but also feels more than comfortable in modern sound territories.
40W from 4xEL84 tubes, a very stable power amp, a "Hot Mode" that's now even "Hotter," and a truly wicked "Depth Boost" in the power amp. All in a modern, handy format weighing only 11.5 kg. And of course, we also offer the Cali Sunrise in other colors,
than the "Angry Canary" design. But let's be honest: It looks awesome!
A hot-rodded Plexi on steroids with "bigger balls"... perfect for a new sunrise!
Quality
Handmade in Germany.
Just like the TWS Cali Sunset, every Cali Sunrise Amp is handcrafted in Leingarten, Germany. All audio and power connections are soldered (no connectors) to permanently eliminate loose connections and contact resistance.
The massive (2mm thick) aluminum chassis houses an extremely robust, high-end circuit board with a thick 70 µm copper coating, onto which only select premium components are hand-assembled. The highest quality transformers for maximum durability are a given. Only the best is good enough for us.
A robust housing made of 12mm Baltic Birch plywood gives the amp excellent roadworthiness while keeping its weight low. Weighing less than 12 kg and featuring a generously sized carrying handle, the Cali Sunrise is extremely easy to transport.
Of course, the housing is handcrafted in Germany.
The preamp
Easy to use, yet very flexible.
An original Plexi is a great amp, but it always struggles a bit with the fact that it needs to be cranked all the way up to produce enough gain. Furthermore, you only get a balanced sound if you patch the input jacks of the "Normal" and "Bright" channels and adjust the corresponding volume controls to achieve the desired tone.
You have to really like that!
We prefer things simpler.
The Cali Sunrise features an additional tube stage to provide enough gain and distortion without excessive volume, as well as 4 switches to personally adjust the basic sound and gain level.
Deep & Bright Switches:
We've replaced the four inputs of a Plexi with a single input jack. This includes "Deep" and "Bright" switches, allowing you to configure your favorite basic sound, similar to blending the two input channels of a Plexi.
Boost Switch:
This allows you to switch the additional tube stage to "hotter" while simultaneously cutting some bass to keep the sound "tight". And since the "Boost" is located before the "Hot" stage, you can also use it to push even more signal into the "Hotter" circuit.
Hotter Switch:
Here we've taken inspiration from a mod by a certain "Jose Arredondo," which involves inserting clipping diodes into the signal path to create more distortion. This produces a nice, smooth gain boost that feels very springy when playing. Unlike the original circuit, however, activating "Hotter" doesn't result in any volume loss.
In the Cali Sunrise, we've taken this mod to the extreme and are not just "hot", but even "hotter" compared to the TWS Cali Sunset.
Custom EQ
We are "different"...
An original Plexi is a rather "brutal" instrument and not very flexible. That certainly has its charm, but we were more oriented towards the sounds on the albums from that era.
We have tuned the EQ so that it works significantly more effectively than in a Plexi and also allows for modern sounds.
Setting everything to 12 o'clock is a good starting point for adjusting your basic sound using the "Deep" and "Bright" switches in the preamp.
Bass control:
This controls the bass response of the amp after distortion. If you want a tight yet powerful distortion sound, we recommend turning off "Deep" and turning up the bass control.
Mid control:
This setting determines the character of your amp. Positions below 12 o'clock bring us closer to more modern metal sounds with scooped mids. Positions above 12 o'clock move us more and more towards the classic Plexi sound.
A tip for single-coil guitars:
Turn up the mid control a little, and you'll get a nice definition in the sound without it sounding "awful".
Treble control :
It sounds different from the Bright Switch. Why?
The Bright switch boosts the high frequencies before distortion, while the Treble control adjusts the high frequencies after distortion. For a smoother distortion sound, you'd typically turn Bright off and adjust the treble with the EQ. For a more aggressive sound, turn Bright on and use the Treble control to ensure it doesn't become harsh.
Presence, Master & Depth
Very Powerful... but we can also be "Quiet"
In a classic Plexi, a master volume is always a compromise. Either it's located before the phase inverter and makes the amp "clean" again when turned down, or it's located after the phase inverter (PPIMV) and disables the presence control at low settings.
In the Cali Sunrise, we were able to integrate a master volume (due to the additional tube stage in the preamp) in such a way that it has very little influence on the set gain sound and allows the presence control to be used to its full extent.
Presence:
This control is best used in combination with the treble control to determine how aggressive the Cali Sunrise sounds.
Master:
We've also integrated our TWS "WonderVol" into the Cali Sunrise, allowing you to achieve a vibrant sound even at very low volumes. This lets you enjoy your favorite distortion sound from the Cali Sunrise's powerful preamp, even at low volumes. Nevertheless, we say: "Crank your amp! Life is too short to be quiet."
Depth (Pull Presence):
Hidden within the Presence control is a "Pull-Depth" function that gives the Cali Sunrise a powerful, clean depth boost. Perfect for modern sounds with down-tuned guitars and baritones.
FX Loop
Yes, there is an FX loop!
Why are we telling this explicitly?
Well, in an original Plexi, most of the distortion comes from the phase inverter in the power amp. An effects loop would therefore be placed "before" it and wouldn't make much sense. This is the case, for example, in a TWS 2864-S or a Friedman "The Plex".
The Cali Sunrise already has sufficient gain and isn't necessarily dependent on the distortion from the phase inverter. "Happy days" for an extremely high-quality FX loop!
We can place this in the Cali Sunrise so that all effects are behind the distortion (important for reverb and delay, for example), but the master volume still controls the overall sound including effects.
World Tour Ready
thanks to switchable mains voltage.
Like all TWS Amps , the Cali Sunrise can be switched between the mains voltage ranges of 110-120 V and 220-240 V and is therefore almost "usable worldwide".
In Japan, with its 100V power grid, the Cali Sunrise can be operated in the 115V setting with a slight reduction in performance. However, we recommend using a Variac to boost the mains voltage to 120V in Japan.
Important NOTE:
When changing the voltage range, it is essential to check whether the voltage set on the amp corresponds to the mains voltage and whether the correct value of the mains fuse is inserted.
Technical data
and special features.
-
Handmade in Germany
-
1-channel, hot rodded Plexi amp
-
40 W (RMS), Cathode Biased
-
3x 12AX7, 4x EL84, 1x GZ34
-
Bright/Deep Switches
-
Gain control
-
Boost/Hotter Switches
-
Custom 3-band EQ
-
Presence control
-
Depth boost integrated into the presence control
-
WonderVol Master Volume
-
Lossless serial FX loop
-
4/8/16 Ohm speaker connections
-
Mains voltage switchable between EU/USA
-
Dimensions: WxHxD = 510 x 205 x 210 mm
-
Weight: 11.5 kg
2x12 Vertical XL-Cab
How about a bit more?
For optimal sound quality, we recommend our 2x12 Vertical XL-Cab from the Cali Sunset. We'd be happy to customize it to match the color of your Cali Sunrise.
-
Handbuilt in Germany
-
1x 12" Celestion G12M-65 Creamback
-
1x 12" Celestion Vintage 30
-
Closed back wall
-
Power rating: 250 W
-
Impedance: 8 ohms
-
Cabinet and baffle made of 18 mm Baltic birch
-
Connection panel with parallel output
-
Removable front cover
-
Large, side-mounted handle scales
-
Dimensions: WxHxD = 600 x 760 x 370 mm
Custom TWS amp-covers
for long-lasting fun...
The best thing for your pet would of course be a flight case. But those usually make things big and heavy. And unless you're on a world tour, a good amp cover is the perfect and affordable everyday companion.
-
Handmade in Germany
-
Tailor-made to fit the Cali Sunrise Top
-
Custom-made to fit the 2x12 Vertical XL-Cab
-
Perfectly stitched leatherette protective cover with sewn-on TWS logo
-
The amp cover is padded and splash-proof. It protects against impacts during transport, as well as against fading (UV protection) and dust.
-
Thanks to the neatly integrated handle recesses, the amp and box can still be transported without any problems.
Price of Cali Sunrise Top cover: RRP €80
Price of cover for 2x12 Vertical XL Cab: RRP €125
Sound Samples
let's stop talking. Just listen...
Pictures, pictures, pictures
tell more than 1000 words.
