Crate V-series and Palomino amp club....

I had a V-18, and now have a V33H, both went under the soldering iron to change up the preamps, using mods found at Blueguitar.org.

The V-33H underwent the "Soldano SLO" mods, it's now a 3-channel (actually 2-channel with a switchable boost on the clean that crunches it up) with usable B/M/T controls and the OD channel is smooth and has tons of overdrive on tap, and no mud...

I have a V1512, got a deal on one just shortly after they came out. I've played a lot of gigs with it, and it's been a great performer. I especially like the interactivity between the gain and the master volume allowing you to dial in just the right amount of pre-amp or power amp distortion. Which is why it's seen so many gigs. ;-) That and the fact it's a portable little package. :cool: CS

Always wanted a Crate when I tried one. It's just a bit expensive here in Australia. Always on the lookout for one on eBay.

I currently own a Palomino v8 I got brand new for 200,wondering if there are any fairly easy mods that might enhance this amp,this is my first tube amp and not sure of its potential any help is appreciated.

V33h chiming in, play it through 2 12 Jensen MODs. Haven't gotten to the Soldano SLO mods but will after i tackle a 6v6 texas blues special build. Pretty much only use it for the clean channel and run some amp modelling through it with my Korg ax3g. Heard great things about the SLO mods, can't wait to get to them.

hey eschle, ultralight here, how you liking the mod so far?

I have a V3112T and a V5.

Gotta join another club.
I got a USA made V32 Palomino. I use my Fenders mostly but sometimes this. When I get ambitious I A/B it with a Fender at a gig. Great amp that has it's own sound.

Crate V50-112 ... i found the custom creme tolex skins online ... http://lh3.ggpht.com/_YeJzt63xtWM/SUBJqDGqoZI/AAAAAAAAAJw/pz1lJZYyQik/s400/DSC00003.JPG

got a v33 head i need mods for, love the cleans on this! the gain sux, though, of course everyone already knows that .............this beast is loud too!!!!

I got a great deal on a "Made in USA" NOS Crate V1512T ($315, delivered, w/ 1-year factory warranty). Swapped out the Groove Tubes and Sovteks for JJs and EHs. Now she's ready to rock!

As Chris S. says, great tone in a simple, compact package.

I currently own a Palomino v8 I got brand new for 200,wondering if there are any fairly easy mods that might enhance this amp,this is my first tube amp and not sure of its potential any help is appreciated.

The Palomino V8 is a nice pickup for your first tube amp. Aside from a tube change and a speaker upgrade, I think the V8 is ready to rock-and-roll.

Check out the reviews on Harmony Central. If mods and upgrades are warranted, they'll be referenced in the reviews.

Enjoy it!

Always wanted a Crate when I tried one. It's just a bit expensive here in Australia. Always on the lookout for one on eBay.

There are several USA-made Crates on Ebay right now: V1512, V1512T and a V3112:

Crate V1512 & V3112 on Ebay (http://shop.ebay.com/items/?_nkw=crate+%28v1512%2C+v3112%29&_sacat=0&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313&_odkw=crate+%28v1512%2C+v3112%2C+v16%29&_osacat=0)

There is great value in these amps.

US made Palomino V16. Lovin it.

I'm in:

Crate V18 1-12.

The stock speaker in my opinion was garbage, so I dropped a Warehouse Veteran 30 in there, and WOW! Totally loving it!

I got a V18 112 when Musician's Fiend was blowing them out. I upgraded the speaker and reverb tank (Weber signature and Accutronics, respectively) and I've been using it pretty heavily since then. I think I've got a particularly good one: there's a good amount of clean headroom on tap, and since I changed the speaker the bass is well within reasonable levels. I keep waiting for the power supply to blow up or something, but so far, so good.

V5 owner here, got mine in The Great GC Blowout hysteria of a while back. It's currently residing on the mods bench, awaiting the upgrades mentioned in this thread: http://www.tdpri.com/forum/amp-central-station/145636-want-crate-v5-schematic.html

mud

I currently own a Palomino v8 I got brand new for 200,wondering if there are any fairly easy mods that might enhance this amp,this is my first tube amp and not sure of its potential any help is appreciated.

Honestly, the Palomino V8s I've heard/played all sounded great with just a guitar plugged in and the controls dimed. I can't say that there's anything I'd do to them....



V33h chiming in, play it through 2 12 Jensen MODs. Haven't gotten to the Soldano SLO mods but will after i tackle a 6v6 texas blues special build. Pretty much only use it for the clean channel and run some amp modelling through it with my Korg ax3g. Heard great things about the SLO mods, can't wait to get to them.

hey eschle, ultralight here, how you liking the mod so far?

I really like the mods on my V33H. Interestingly enough, the mods seemed to drop the available volume on the V18, but had no effect on available volume for the V33. The mods affected both channels, but if you install the resistor/cap/SPST switch (you do have to drill a hole in the faceplate) you have the option of toggling from crunch back to pretty much the original clean tone. If you don't do that part of the install, you basically put some crunch into the clean side that you can't really get out unless you run at low volumes.

The OD side was night and day. You'll just have to try it, but I can guarantee that if you are only using it on the clean channel because the OD channel sounds like crap, the SLO mods will definitely address that issue in a very good way. There's everything from hot blues to classic rock to 80's hair metal available on the OD side when all is said and done.

The mods took me less than 4 hours to do, including dismantling the amp and putting it back together, and I think I spent something like $14 on parts from Mouser (excl. shipping)...

I have a 3212.
Anybody have any thoughts about the solid state rectifier in this amp, and if it would be desireable...or even possible...to have a tube rectifier?

I got a V18 112 when Musician's Fiend was blowing them out. I upgraded the speaker and reverb tank (Weber signature and Accutronics, respectively) and I've been using it pretty heavily since then. I think I've got a particularly good one: there's a good amount of clean headroom on tap, and since I changed the speaker the bass is well within reasonable levels. I keep waiting for the power supply to blow up or something, but so far, so good.


V18 112 here too. Traded a pedal and paid $96 at local Sam Ash. Took the speaker from my dead AD50VT (vox/celestion), JJ pwr tubes and a 12 AT 7 in V1 and AU7 in V3. Been gigging the hell out of it for a year now. No issues (except the 'verb but I use delay instead), and I usually get compliments or asked to turn down in the bars I gig in.

Lots of clips at: http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=783993

I have a Blues Jr. and SCXD too. Line out of the SCXD into the V18 = OH YEAH!!!

I got the V-5, for 69.99, thinking I'll get my feet wet learning how to mod an amp for the first time.

Should have known the project was doomed from the start. After I put the amp on layaway, my car needed 530 dollars to pass inspection. Then my mom had triple bypass surgery, then my cat got diagnosed with diabetes.

If I had a tele, I'd write a country song about it.:lol: I finally got some money from yard work and brought the amp home. My enthusiasm to mod it is about as good as the amp sounds right now, not so great. I've got this brand new amp, and it sounds like crap.

I have Crate VC5212W and Crate V50 palomino.I will change speakers in V50 to G12M25 in few days.And I will try to change EL34 to TAD tonebone adapter with EL84.I will write result of my testing.

I have an old VC 30 , I put Eminence Tonespotter in it. Changed the tubes to JJ`s in the power section and Tung Sols in the pre. This thing rocks!!

I purchased a new refurbished V32 112 and I like it so much I bought a second used one on eB@y.
I do not see any mods on either... but my refurbished one sounds much better. Just a beautiful chime!
I have compared it side by side with Matchless, Custom Collins, Custom Whitley, Marshall JTM45, Marshall 50 watt Plexi...
Man, It holds it's own! I am talking strictly clean ch... here of course.
They are both Vet made... I installed the same tubes and TT speakers in both.

This used eb@y one seems to have a touch of that inherent 500 to 800K ugly Peavey mid thing.
I'm thinking it could be the OT... and of course to much bass and gritty gain... etc...
Here are a list of mods I have found... Is there anything else I can do?

"C54 and R31 form a low boost in the tone stack, try a jumper across this network (R31)
"Jumper R31 to take out the Bass boost circuit, this will help to tighten the bottom end"
"Remove the damn Bass boost (jump R31)"

*******

"Clip C38 to smooth out the gain"
"Try different values or bypass the decoupling cap, that will clean up the gain a bit"

*******

"Change the slope resistor to 56K, this makes the tone stack controls work a little better"
"Change the slope resistor (I have 44K & 56K switchable) stock is 33K.

******

"Upgraded transformer from mercurymagnetntics.com"

I purchased a new refurbished V32 112 and I like it so much I bought a second used one on eB@y.
I do not see any mods on either... but my refurbished one sounds much better. Just a beautiful chime!
I have compared it side by side with Matchless, Custom Collins, Custom Whitley, Marshall JTM45, Marshall 50 watt Plexi...
Man, It holds it's own! I am talking strictly clean ch... here of course.
They are both Vet made... I installed the same tubes and TT speakers in both.Testdrove the V16 and V32 last year during the GC blowout, and wound up buying the V16 for my then-current needs. Those needs changed, and I just picked up a used V32 in Sept. I don't think I'm getting rid of the V16!


This used eb@y one seems to have a touch of that inherent 500 to 800K ugly Peavey mid thing.
I'm thinking it could be the OT... and of course to much bass and gritty gain... etc...

As for the Peavey thing, I was talking to my tech yesterday about some possible V32 mods, and he stated the Palomino's boost circuit was extremely similar to the Classic 30's, so maybe there are some inherent similiarities in the tone stack?

Here are a list of mods I have found... Is there anything else I can do?

"C54 and R31 form a low boost in the tone stack, try a jumper across this network (R31)
"Jumper R31 to take out the Bass boost circuit, this will help to tighten the bottom end"
"Remove the damn Bass boost (jump R31)"

*******

"Clip C38 to smooth out the gain"
"Try different values or bypass the decoupling cap, that will clean up the gain a bit"

*******

"Change the slope resistor to 56K, this makes the tone stack controls work a little better"
"Change the slope resistor (I have 44K & 56K switchable) stock is 33K.

******

"Upgraded transformer from mercurymagnetntics.com"Looks like the mods you've uncovered will help get rid of the the 'too much bass' and 'gritty gain' problems. If not, there is a huge thread over at The Gear Page started by rhythmrocker in the Amps And Cabs section that may be what you're looking for. (* I apologize in advance, as I'm fairly new here, in case there is some protocol about mentioning TGP, or other guitar sites in general. If necessary, I'll remove the reference from this post. *)

MIA Palomino V3212, running JJ's and EH's. Great tone, simple package. Works well with my Digitech RP500.

Just got a V50 112 for cheap on craigslist. Hard to find mods for the V50 for some reason.

US made Palomino V16. Lovin it.Me too.

The guys in my band love my tone, and I get inquiries about it from other bands and guitarists in clubs where we play. I run my Nashville Tele w/vintage noiseless pups through it.

It doesn't have a lot of front-end headroom, but the power tubes break up quite nicely. I may try a 12AU7 at the next re-tube.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/517/medium/gap01R.jpg

My Crate V-18 cuts off and on with noise, the tubes are fine, aswell as the guitar I use and cables. What could be wrong?

I have a V50 with one 12 which I changed out with a Celestion and it sounds great and not had a minutes trouble out of it in the two years I have had it.

I have the V33h and the matching 2x12 cab. I usually play it through a Park 4x12 though.

Bought a VC30 brand new in early '90's. Put a Weber California in it for a bit more clean headroom. I've gigged it ever since. Retubed several times. It's been a very good little amp and I get compliments on the sound.

I have a V1512, got a deal on one just shortly after they came out. I've played a lot of gigs with it, and it's been a great performer. I especially like the interactivity between the gain and the master volume allowing you to dial in just the right amount of pre-amp or power amp distortion. Which is why it's seen so many gigs. ;-) That and the fact it's a portable little package. :cool: CS

Just put a V1512 on layaway, waiting for Uncle Sam so I can get it out......sounds awesome and I look forward to gigging it!

I have 2 VC508 I painted and modded and the VC 30 got it new when they first came out. Shes seen a lot of gigs never had a problem. I put an Eminence Tonespotter in it , JJ`s and Tung Sol`s . Great amps !!

http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp158/donnie55/My%20Gear%20as%20of%201-23-10/amps2.jpg

Made a deal, picked up the V15. Loving it so far....pix, clips soon!

I have a V16 Palomino I bought used. My Classic 50 was on the fritz and I needed an amp to replace it so I could run my pedals into it. It worked nicely in that capacity then a several months ago I started using the amps distortion and using another pedal to boost it for solos. Totally into this tone right now! This V16 really rocks! Thinking about getting a V8 for home and maybe modding.

Clip of the new (to me) V1512: http://soundclick.com/share?songid=8777350

Classic Vibe Strat on the left dirty (and clean intro) and CV Tele (50's) on the right side of the stereo spectrum. Not bad for our 1st clip, I haven't even gone inside to evaluate tubes!

I have a V18 212, which is insanely loud for 18 watts. Can't go past 2 in the house (with the gain up). Definitely suffers from the lack of high end as commonly mentioned but I got a Tonemender pedal (Jay66...thanks!) which brightens it up really well. That pedal also makes my ZT Lunchbox sound like a Fender, which is nice.

I am intrigued by the Palomino 16 being so much smaller in size than the V18, which is a behemoth.

Richey88 - Nice track! That adequately showcases the amps growl

Richey88 - Nice track! That adequately showcases the amps growl

Yup, having a good time with it.....taking it to a jam tonight! We'll see how she cuts the mustard! Back with a reportsoon.....

Any of you with Palominos have issues with running hot (so hot the vol/tone knobs get real warm)? Just curious, have read about some issues with heat, wondering how they hold up. i like the V series amps.

US made V3112 owner here, It's a great amp. I'm still running her stock, but will doing tube and speaker swaps soon. Lately I have been running a Bad monkey overdrive into the front end, and it's just awesome. The stock cleans are some of the best around though, just incredible.

Any of you with Palominos have issues with running hot (so hot the vol/tone knobs get real warm)? Just curious, have read about some issues with heat, wondering how they hold up. i like the V series amps.

I have a buddy that owns the V32 Palomino, and he gets concerned all the time about the heat too. But still, after years of service, nothing but warm knobs, and lots of heat venting through those top vents.

It's basically convection-air type cooling: Letting the heat "rise", and go out the vents, instead of forcing it to build up inside the cab and spill out on the backside.

Now my V18 has smaller transformers, and doesnt put out the heat like the V32 or the V50, so, my amp does not have the vents on top.

Now, I have besides my one "overly concerned about the heat" friend that has a V32, I have another friend that has several of the Palomino series from the V5 all the way up to the top of the heap, and he absolutely loves his V32, and uses it as his main gigging amp. And he's one that owns several booteek, and vintage amps, and in his words, it stomps em all into the ground! He did change out the speaker, adn dropped an Eminence "Tonker" in it, and proclaimed it took the amp from being ok, to great.

90's VC20, no verb, 10" speaker. Bought it used as a backup for next to nothing when my other amp let the smoke out. It sounds quite like a little JCM 800! Nice for small gigs and jams.

In my band, both of us use the Palomino MIA V16's, we use 2 Bill M modified Blues Jr.'s for backup. Gigging with these amps for a couple of years now, the Bjr's eat the tubes faster than the Crates and seemed to be a bit more fragile, overall they have a slight warmer tone to my ear. The Palomonio's do get hot, all we do is get the solder joints redone about every 6 months. I love both amps, but the Crate needed no mods and is just dirty delicious. If I find the V16 for $250.00 or less, I grab it up!

Any of you with Palominos have issues with running hot (so hot the vol/tone knobs get real warm)? Just curious, have read about some issues with heat, wondering how they hold up. i like the V series amps.

On some models (like the Vietnamese 3212 I had) there is a resistor that can get so hot that it cooks the mid pot.
Email me and I'll send you a great easy mod that will move the resistor and change its value slightly to make the output tubes run a tad cooler (and last longer) with no sacrifice in tone.

Bought a V1512T on ebay a little while back. I work on a ship in West Africa most of the year, so I had it sent there on a container (with plenty of other stuff), but I'm not there to try it out yet... Sounds like I should probably order some tubes and a reverb tank to take with me when I go back.

My Palamino v8 doesnt seem to get near as hot as my Pro Junior does,but it sure has a lot different sound.kind of more Maeshall like or Voxy,man this thing loves hbs.Just picked up a Les paul the other day and damn,tone for days and days,single coils sound great too just not as hot and better cleans,rocks though.

mid 90s Vintage Club 2110. Made in St Louis.

I got this nice USA made V16 a couple weeks ago for 225 off Craigslist. I love it, great chimey cleans and Marshall raunch with the gain dimed. Thinking of putting a Greenback in it, and a longer reverb tank (though the stock reverb isn't as bad as people make it out to be IMO) tempted to put some chicken head knobs on it and a dark burgundy alligator tolex job. Though I think it looks great in its stock form, I like to make amps my own once I decide to keep em.

This one is a keeper for sure. I have been trying to find a local Palamino for a long time. I still want to get the V-30 or 32 someday. Too bad Loud tech bought out SLM, Crate was onto something with their USA V-Series amps. I think Loud tech farmed out the remaining stock to Vietnam production once they bought out SLM. I hear them amps sound good too, but some of the components are mix n match. Happy to report this one isn't, it has all brass shaft pots and such.

I think someday these little palaminos, especially the US - SLM made ones are going to be collectable, great tone for not a whole lot of money. On second thought, maybe I should leave the tolex be.

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee83/timmer114/06132130.jpg

Project V update:

Replaced the 70/80 with a C-Rex (OMG I love it.. and its not even broken in yet?)

Replaced knobs with simple black chickenheads from AES
Replaced verb with 17 inch Accutronics (went back to stock tank)
Put in a fresh set of Groove Tube S Golds medium breakup (Rebranded JJ's)

This little amp sounds sooo huge for its size, I am just floored at how good this sounds. I am even starting to warm up to the stock verb. Although I tried a 17 inch Accutronics 4 spring the amp circuit just doesn't have enough to push it much past a nice airy verb. If I want to go surf a bit I have to stick with the stock verb.

Anyone ever try the 17 inch long verb in there V16? I wonder if there is a way to push a long tank harder with a SS verb circuit.. maybe a smaller resistor somewheres..

I am tempted to build a jointed Pine enclosure for this guy that is maybe just an inch or 2 bigger all around and stash the original in the closet. Nice weekend project, but I don't have a joiner and would have to do it manually..

Hi there, greetings from the UK. I have a small problem and I hope someone can help:

I've just taken delivery of an old-ish Crate Vintage Club 50 2x12 all-valve combo (think it dates from 1995-6). Unfortunately, in transit some wires have come loose:

The green & black wires from the transformer have come loose. Where on the speakers do I connect them? Is it one wire to each speaker or both wires to one speaker?

Also, the connecting plate that attaches to the speaker chassis (is it called the speaker jack board? It has the push-on connectors, anyway) has come loose on one of the speakers and is kind of floating around. Should that be soldered back into place or affixed in some other fashion?

I have downloaded a PDF manual for this amp, which is handy but doesn't answer these questions.

Cheers
Rob

US made Palomino V16. Lovin it.

Got the same. A real little full-tilt tone monster.

I have VC5212W (white), VC5212 (black), V50 Palomino ( the same design like VC50-but diferent output tubes), V33H + V212B.

I have a Palomino V16. I use it with humbuckers. Very little clean. I might try a guitar with single coils to see if they clean up better. I still find the gain a little too much at even 4. I have JJ's in them now. 3 12ax7's. Anyone try a lower gain tube in V1?
I can get pretty close to AC/DC sound out of the amp.
What settings do you guys use in the eq and gain?

Heat
I put a fan in the back of mine.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/539/medium/8658.jpg

Reverb
I put a MOD 4BB3C1B 17" w/bag. I like the sound, although it's still not a Fender... Perhaps a NE5532 op-amp instead of the TL072 would help.

Settings
I used to run:
GAIN = 3 or 4
TREB = 1 or 2
MID = 1 or 2 + Boost
BASS = 8
VOL = 6 to 8
REV = 4
This gives a very thick sustaining blues tone.

To get a more Fender-like sound:
GAIN = 3
TREB = 10
MID = 1
BASS = 4
VOL = 8
REV = 6

I just got a Palomino V32H that I love. It is amazing the volume this can create paired with my new Eminence Legend 1258 speaker. The reverb makes a humming noise when I turn it up so I removed the tank; I think the tank has a faulty connector. I don't really use reverb so I don't know yet if I will replace the tank or not. http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/nifenste/Guitar/Crate%20V32H/IMG_8937.jpg

My Palamino V8 is shy.

http://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/z440/TTSC2/Amp%20Stuff/2ndupload127.jpg

I want to replace seventy-80 in v3112.I play tx. / modern blues & trad. / tx. country w/ single coils & hh. Going to build a 1x12 cab. Need input on best speaker for both genres & best for each style

"I'm bad news just like you" - J.W.

Does anybody post on this club or am I doin' something wrong?

" I 'm bad news just like you" - J.W.

Man, I gotta get another Palomino- I loved that thing w/ my Les Paul.

I want to replace seventy-80 in v3112.I play tx. / modern blues & trad. / tx. country w/ single coils & hh. Going to build a 1x12 cab. Need input on best speaker for both genres & best for each style
Does anybody post on this club or am I doin' something wrong?We post, just sometimes a bit slowly. :mrgreen:

Check these out. Wonderful info on mods to the Palomino V32 and V series V3112 head's and combo's guts, transformers, tubes, speakers, etc. You'll have to wade through them to get the specific speaker info, but there's a metric TON of useful info in here. Here's a couple to get you started.....

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=510151

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=743677

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=841672

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=82470

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=763828

Just did two gigs with my V32 (USA made combo). One indoors, one outdoors. I almost forgot how much I love this amp. Jeez, I almost sold it. Silly me. I a/b'd it at both with my deluxe reverb (old fender, deluxe or pro, always gonna be my #1). Both gigs miced through a system. What a nice sound menu. DR/V32 clean/V32drive. Pedals in front plus a phase 90 and a delay in the Crate's loop. Yeah!

Don't know if this qualifies as a V-Series amp, but I just acquired a VTX65 solid state combo. I won't be getting it until the end of the month, so I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with this particular amp.

I saw it on Craigslist after reading a few positive reviews for the RFX Series amps, which is exactly the same thing except for different cosmetics, so I went ahead and bought it.

If anyone has any comments about the VTX amps, or if this thread is for tube amps only, let me know. Thanks.

I had a SS XT120R. Loud as h***. Say what you will, I liked that amp. Great for metal. Decent cleans. Had a middle setting that could do the Peavey SS Bandit Lynyrrd Skynnrd sound OK. There was a 65 W 1x12 version that was similar, I think that what you are getting is a similar model. . Also could do a great processed sound.

I just picked up an american V16 Palomino for $200... I think it sounds good but I want to go with a different speaker... Has anyone here swapped speakers? What did ya use?

EDIT: by the way, I will mostly be running Teles through this thing clean, using the dirt for a blues tone.

Just picked up a V16 on CL for $200. Tolex is a bit rough but still in good shape. I replaced the stock speaker with a Canibus Rex. Really helped the bottom end on this one. Takes pedals well also.

I traded a Squier Cyclone for a Crate V33H. I'm running it through an old Peavey Classic 115E cab with an Eminence Legend 1518. The cleans are nice, the gain channel is OK and a little muddy. I knew the Steve Aloha had documented mods before I made the trade so I had intended to do the mods. I finally ordered the parts, and did most of the mods yesterday. I have three resisters left to replace. Two are for the reverb circuit and one is for the clean channel.

It took me most of the day to complete the mods. The hardest part was figuring out how to get the chassis out. Good lord that was ridiculous. I also had some issues where I had to add length to a cap's legs and then connect it to another cap. I also found it hard cleaning out solder from the little tiny holes on the circuit board even with a solder sucker. It is always that last little bit that doesn't want to come out.

The gain channel is incredible now! Clear distortion all the way up the gain knob. On the clean channel there is a switch for clean and crunch. I'll have to re-evaluate that once I get that last resister put in it. When switched one-way it sounds a little muffled and when switched the other way it is a little hotter and crystal clear.

People still love these amps?

A buddy of mine has had a 5w Palomino for a couple of years and still loves it and I've got a V18 that I won't let go of.:twisted:

I have a USA Palomino 32v and absolutely love it.

I bought the MIA V16 Palomino when they first came out.
The tone is the best- everyone from other band members to random people ask what that amp is that sounds so good.
I keep trying to buy a new amp- I've looked at old tweeds, AC15's, 1974x's- doesn't matter, none sound as good as this amp to me.

I have a USA Palomino 32v and absolutely love it.

+1 here.
I've had this amp for years and could never let it go.

I have a Palomino 50v and it's all I could ask for. Love it !

I had a V3112 a few years back and replaced the speaker with a Weber ceramic Blue Dog. That sounded great! i already had the speaker, but I don't think they're terribly expensive.

got a v1512t that i sure do love.

THis one has never been re-tubed since new and I think its definitely time.
Can I just replace them or do I need to get a tech to bias the amp?

mid 90s Vintage Club 2110. Made in St Louis.
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/attachments/amp-owners-clubs/50945d1275421335t-crate-v-series-palomino-amp-club-crate-jpg