Crate V-Series Amps

[bender72]

I've got to say that I'm a loyal Fender man, probably till the day I die, but I tried out a Crate V-Series amp over the weekend and it gave me some serious gas. I tried the 50 watter with the built in effects and it was sounding sweet. I believe they run on a pair of el34's and I had her cook'n!! Very percussive, deep, punchy cleans and raunchy, dirtbaggy, haven't showered in a week overdrive!! Did not dial in a lot of the effects, was just love'n the guitar right into the amp. The guitar was a G&L Bluesboy, Seth lover in the neck and single in the bridge, maybe this had alot to do with the sound but it sure sounded good to me. Just thought I would chime in to see if anyone has tried out one of these amps.
I would like to try the 30-watt model, class A with el84's. 8)

[spyder]

Ho....I had the 15 watter for awhile....nice greasy sound that broke up just the right place....12" driver, well built case...best handle I've ever seen on a guitar amp....later, spyder

[Geyser]

I've been following the Crate threads very closely (there's been a lot lately). I had a Vintage Club 30 that was probably my favorite amp (despite numerous mechanical troubles) but alas it was stolen. I've since been playing through a 2x12 Deville but that amp is just too much for the small-club/bar gigs I play. I play hard rock and I need a little more grit than I can get out of the Fender. I've been very intrigued by these Crates and am very very close to pulling the trigger on one. For the most part, they seem like really great amps to use, especially for rock.

[Teleman]

Just today I was in a shop and played a V30 and V15 side by side. I was very impressed with both amps.

IMHO the V15 definately is a lot more amp than the blues jr i have.
The V30 had a great clean tone and the overdrive was pretty good but I would have liked to play around with it a bit more than I did. I've been thinking about the amps since i left the shop.

[stephent2]

I've got a post here "It's a Crate" detailing my joy over a V1512, played it on a gig last night. Great amp, no down side except the name "Crate".

the 15 watt V is just right for me for small to medium clubs.

[popthree]

I read a review on Zzounds about this amp. the guy claimed it is built by Ampeg.

[B3Nut]

Well...not really built by Ampeg per se. Crate and Ampeg brands are manufactured by St. Louis Music.

TP

[Chris S.]

Hee. ;-) There was a thread about these just the other day, and after doing a little digging I discovered I've been raving about the V1512 for almost exactly two years now. I love mine, use it often. :-) Oh, and what I read some time ago was that the V-series were being produced by the division of St. Louis Music that makes the Ampegs – unconfirmed rumor, but that's probably where the confusion stems from.

Speaking of confusion... has anyone else noticed that Crate has just redone the look of their entire line, so that they ALL now have the big silver "V" <u>shape</u> on the front? They still say "Crate" in big letters above, but they look like the V-series amps. Unless they've really redesigned/revamped (sorry about the pun...) the guts of the things I think it's a really poor move on their part, as it's only going to further the confusion between the regular Crate line (which has been plagued by problems) and the V-series. Or else it's a really smart move. Heck, what do I know anyway? CS

[popthree]

i played a v1512 just the other day....after seeing the posts on here about it. I really liked it alot. i have been looking for something with more clean headroom than my champ but not wanting anything ridiculously large. I've watched countless princetons being bid beyond my budget on ebay. Anyway, I think this crate may be just what I've been hunting for. I'm going to try and find a used one, but if all else fails, will buy new and enjoy the 5 year warranty. I'll probably put a larger reverb tank in it though...like the bj, the verb is kinda wimpy for my taste.

[bender72]

So is it a Crate amp? or is the V-Series a whole different company? :?

It probably doesn't matter because they've got a very good sound to them, and that's all that matters. 8)

[stephent2]

V series is the same company as the Crate of old (St Louis Music), but built in the U.S. of A.

[B3Nut]

SLM can turn out a superb product when they want to. I've had an Ampeg BA-112 (50-watt 1x12 compact bass combo) for years, always excellent tone and no blarfs or snarfles. It's semi-retired since I got an Ampeg B-25 2x12 bass combo in rough but working shape at a garage sale for $10, and I kinda prefer tubes for bass as well as geetar. :) I'm itching to try one of the Ampeg Jet reissues, 15W EL84 amp with 'verb and trem...gotta be a swampy little box.

TP

[telest]

Teleman, stephent2, or any others,
Teleman, about the V1512 and your comparison to the Fender BJ. I'm in the market for a small amp and have owned a couple of BJs in the past. The BJ offered enough clean headroom for low level play... How does the V1512 compare there. Any other comparisons welcome as well. Thanks.

Steve

[Teleman]

The V1512 can stay cleaner at a higher volume than a blues jr. You can also dial in a nice amount of "grit" and most any volume level with the gain and level controls.
I'm thinking of putting my BJ up for sale and getting the Crate I liked it that much

[telest]

Teleman, sounds like what I'm after. Take care.

Steve

[stephent2]

Others have nailed it. stays clean at higher volume than a blues jr.

The Crate is more "open" and not boxy sounding like the BJ. The V1512 is heavier so i suspect the V's cabinet is constructed of better materials.

[Joe-Bob]

Well, today finally I broke down and ordered a new V-3112 combo amp. I'm getting one with the optional Tone Tubby speaker. I've played through them briefly before and liked what I heard. They are a little hard to find, especially since GC is going to be carrying their own version. I think the black looks better anyway. I was trying to decide between this and a DRRI, and I finally decided that channel switching is a feature that I really use a lot, plus line out is really handy to have.

[telest]

According to the Crate site the V3112 is an enhanced single channel amp. Meaning...? Where did you order yours and how much? Thanks.

Steve

[Joe-Bob]

Well, OK, I think you are correct.
But it has a separate clean and overdrive switch with separate gain and level for the overdrive. It also has a boost switch. The manual says you can use the footswitch to go from the clean to overdrive channel, as well as switch the boost on and off. I guess it can be considered a single channel amp in that it only has one set of tone controls, but has a separate switchable drive circuit so it can be used like a two channel amp. I guess that's what they mean by enhanced.

I ordered mine from a friend who owns a guitar store, he's giving me a discount, so I don't think it would be fair to disclose the price. Just a quick online seach produced $550 for one with a Celestion at music123. List is $799. I know the optional Tone Tubby speaker adds $100 to the list. I also asked him to order a dust cover for it.

[telest]

Yeah I downloaded the manual and it's similar to a Fender or Peavey "2 channel" amp. The "enhanced" term threw me. I think I'm going to get either the 15 or 30 watter myself.

Steve

[John Thigpen]

I've got a V3112 and think its a great sounding amp. The "channel switching" makes it very versatile, because you effectively get four settings/volume levels off the footswitch...clean, boosted clean, distorted and boosted distorted. Very handy. I use the clean channel most of the time, but the distortion channel's usable too.

John

[telest]

I ordered the V1512 last night, should get it Friday. If I were gigging I would have probably gotten the V3112 for the versatility. I'll see how little brother does this weekend.

Steve

[Joe-Bob]

Did you opt for a Tone Tubby speaker, or the stock Celestion?

[stephent2]

I find the V1512 more than enough amp to gig with, my band does not play loud but can grow to a 6 piece.

I like the celestion 75/80 that came stock, it's pretty smooth, nice bottom. I'm trying to get my hands on a TTubby so's I know the diff.

[telest]

Joe-Bob, I went with the stock Celestion speaker. MF had them for $400 shipped, and I didn't see an option for the TT speaker. I think the stock amp will do for home playing. My dog won't know the difference and my wife shuts it out. (Can't blame her after 20 years of the same riffs).

stephent2, I'm with you that 15 watts is plenty to gig with. I thought the V3112 would go the extra mile with two channels and boost. Although for the most part I like to use OD pedals for my drive needs. Set the amp clean with a bit of break up and go from there. I'll check back in after the amp arrives and offer my .02. See ya.

Steve

[telest]

Well I got it today and my first impression is...it's not my thing. :? Don't care for the voicing. It has a nasally tone I can't dial out, kind of a Vox type thing I guess? Not that it's bad, just not what I'm looking for. I don't know if speaker break in will make a difference or not. Back it goes I reckon. Too bad, it's a stout little amp.

Steve

[gtrwrks]

I've been gigging the 50 watt, two 12" combo for the past year or so. Right away, I had the tubes changed (it came from the factory with not-properly biased, mis-matched Groove Tubes) and replaced the speakers to Reverend All Tones. I really dig the amp, don't use any of the effects though or the 2nd/"overdrive" channel - just a couple of boxes into the clean channel. Most of the venues I play are pretty large, I'm able to push it pretty hard and it sounds fantastic.

I would like to check out one of the smaller models for smaller gigs. I'm using this 5212 primarily for a pop/top 40 country band, a 'classic' country group and a blues group - this thing handles all of these chores really well, but it's a little too big for a jazz group I occasionally work with. I've been considering a Hot Rod Deluxe for this smaller gig, but I'm not really that close to buying, so it's all academic for me at this point.