CRATE V18

[evol04gt]

anyone use the 5watt version? those are selling for like 86 bucks.

[longbow]

After messing with it again this a.m., I am thinking that I just had sound overload yesterday. With the gain at between 4-5 and the level at 5, treb. and mid at 5 and bass at 1, rev. at almost 1 it doesn't sound half bad. With the gain at 6 it is distortion time any higher than that and it is a metal freak show. I'll tell ya though my LP absolutely loves this amp. It has Alnico V humbuckers in it and I just seem to get the sound I want out of it. Turn the knobs on the guitar and it goes from a nice creamy sound to a dirty crunch that is pretty nice for playing John Lee's Boom Boom. The tele is somewhere in between. Pretty nice though. All is well in my world. thanks

[The O.K.]

Originally Posted by studio1087

I prefer the Blues Junior but I'm thrilled to have a fun alternative; especially at the low price.

I'll be the odd duck and say that I like the reverb on the Crate. I only use a hint of reverb and the real spring reverb sounds much better than the Marshall Reflector Pedal that I used o use with my Epi Valve Junior. The Reflector pedal cost $119 (almost the price of the entire Crate amp).

Last night, I used pedals with the Crate for the first time. Nashville Tele > Boss Compressor > BBE Green Screamer > Boss Trem > Carl martin Red Repeat > Crate. It was very nice. The Crate would have been a deal at twice the price.

I was down to one Blues Junior and one tiny VOX DA5. I have two larger amps again....cost me $149.

Happy!

John

I agree. I have been having some fun with the Crate V18, but I just dig the B.J. more. They produce different sounds, and I suppose it depends on what you are going for. I have only begun to throw pedals in front of the B.j. while practicing in the garage this week. I have not tried any with the Crate. It cannot be said enough that $150 is a steal for the Crate. I believe that as soon as they are not being produced or sold at such a low price, I will turn around and sell the Crate. I can see myself playing through the BJ for a while to come. The only thing I might change is tubes and a matching extension cab.

Has anyone tried the Crate with an extension cab?

[iowa]

Has anyone tried the v50? I have a dealer in the area that has the v-50 1-12 for $199. Seems like a steal, but I haven't heard it.

[rangercaster]

my review of the V50 that arrived 9/15. My V50 112 arrived via Roadway Freight Monday at my workplace. As stated earlier, i went for the 50 because I wanted more Fender vibe than Vox or Marshall, and lean toward single coil axes although I have some humbucker guitars. If you are looking for a comparison point, feature-wise, it is very similar to a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, and the manual states that this series are attempting to recreate a hot-rodded tube amp. My first impressions are of nice solid construction, not too heavy (48 lb) w/ Ruby 6L6 output tubes. The amp is very quiet at idle. The cleans are nice and warm and the distortion channel, is darker, but that may have been the guitar. I haven't plugged a tele in yet. Haven't tested the effects loop and the reverb is fine when used with a light touch. The gain channel is nicely touch sensitive so by hitting the strings harder you get more dirt in the sound. I expect it to sound better after burn-in/break-in of the electronics and speaker. Not boutique contruction. For $200 delivered to your door, do the math... 12" Crate speaker, 3x12AX7, 2xRuby 6L6, generic reverb tank, oversized cab w/ metal corner protectors. Delivered well packed from China to your door.

[rangercaster]

the V50 reverb sounds like it has a similar problem ... maybe one of you tinkerer guys might try the reverb mod suggested in Guitar Player magazine last month which entails putting (wood or bamboo) shims in the transducers at the end of the springs. http://www.surfguitar101.com/modules...asc&highlight=

[longbow]

Talked to a tech a CRATE today and the story I got is that the amps are shipped with the tubes in them which promotes wear and tear on the tubes somehow. So the tech explained to me that it is probably tube harmonics happening. Bottom line is that she agreed to send me a whole new set of the pre amp tubes. Pretty simple to change and they won't have to be biased. The amps they have tested in the lab exhibit none of these attributes. She went into alot more detail on the why's and where of's etc but didn't really get it. Anyways I'll let ya know if they work to cure the problems I have been seeing with the base, gain and reverb. Also in Guitar Mag last month they had a couple of mods for the reverb tanks, that I might try too. thanks

PS they are sending tested Groove tubes, whatever they are

[Chris Leger]

Jeez. Wish I had called!

Anyhow, don't get your hopes up... I've already tried a set of known-good 12AX7A Groove Tubes. These are old ones, marked "U.S.A." Made a subtle difference in tone, but that's about it.

I'd like a new set of tubes though. All 5 of mine have bent pins. Especially the EL84s. They're bent at about 30 degrees. Still work though.

[Chris Leger]

Linking to the "Reverb Mod" thread. Solved...

[Maggot]

To me it sounds like a great....$200 amp. It's got lots of volume and a good presence. There are no real cleans to speak of at any volume. It gets real hissy with the master above 6. Supposedly both the hissiness and lack of cleans clear up with a tube change.

I'm not complaining because the competition at the price, new or used, is....nothing. It'll serve my needs quite nicely, because I seldom need real clean. Also, many of the cheap amps of eras past are now expensive and this amp sounds like some of them!

It also weighs a ton!

[johnandkristy]

I'm still loving this amp. It really is amazing what $150.00 can get you these days. :)

[SimpleOne]

yeah a keeper...what the hey...do manage to get cleans with the gain down low...not too much hiss, maybe not cranking it up high enough?
better go crank away then, later

[DaBender]

You fellows that are swapping tubes - are you using a mirror, or taking the chassis out to get at them?

[Chris Leger]

I took the chassis out. Too easy to screw up a tube or socket the other way.

Simply remove the 4 screws at the top rear of the cabinet, and the chassis will slide right out.

Unplug the speakers and reverb first. Also, hold onto the chassis with one hand as you remove the screws with the other since the screws are the only thing holding it and it could fall if you simply pull all 4 screws.

[RussBert]

Originally Posted by Rob DiStefano

Overall, the Crate V18 is a steal of a deal. If you were sitting on a fence over this amp, just plop down the $150 and get it over with - it's a value.

Done and Done! :)

It will be interesting to compare it to my Weber 18 watt TMB

[goldtopper]

Originally Posted by taco jeff

Can anyone tell me how closely related this V18 is to a Palomino 16? I have a new Palomino 16 on hold at GC for $200 and I wonder if I should order a V18 instead. Any idea about MF's supply of these?

I guess it depends. My Palomino V16 is American made and has a celestion speaker. I think the newer Crate V16 Palo and the V18 are both made in Vietnam. I believe they both have the crummy reverb.
I love my V16. The biggest problem is the gold knobs with the amber teeeeeny jewel in them. You can't see them at all in dim light. Once I figure out a push-on type 1/4" shaft knob that fits, I will change them. Because the pot shafts are close together, I don't think chicken heads'll work. Probably go with the red fender pointer knobs.

[johnandkristy]

If you take out the top screw on each side of the amp, the chassis will rotate back (unplug the reverb tank RCA plugs so they won't pinch against the speaker magnet first) where you can easily access the tubes. Check out the attached pic.

John

[Chris Leger]

Hey... wow!

Now why didn't I think of that?

[longbow]

Rec. my new tank today and put it in and I have to say that is the ticket for this amp and a reverb sound. This is the accutronix model. Way way bigger than the stock unit and is actually well made where as the stock unit is way passed cheaply made. I can't belive they would put a unit like this in such a fine amp. Now to work on getting the bass thing squared away. Sweet sweet reverb sound now. many thanks to all who suggested this unit.

[Chris Leger]

Yay!